In the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, there were many reports of damage caused by furniture falling over. Analysis of these reports reveals that such tragic accidents were caused by cases where people were “trapped under furniture,” “evacuation routes were blocked by fallen furniture,” and “glass and stored items were broken and people were injured by shards of glass and stored items“.
Earthquakes and furniture tipping over have the following tendencies.
●Shallow-depth, tall furniture tends to fall over.
●Furniture placed on carpets or tatami mats is more likely to topple over than on hard floors such as wooden flooring.
●Furniture is more likely to fall over on the upper floors and upper stories of a building.
* Particular attention should be paid when these factors are combined.
●Do not place tall furniture in rooms with carpets or tatami mats.
●Place furniture leaning against the wall, not leaning forward.
●Store heavy items at the bottom and light items at the top.
●If doors or drawers have locks, make it a habit to lock them on a regular basis.
●Glass doors should be covered with shatterproof film.
Don't forget to use earthquake-proof fittings. There are many types of earthquake-proof fittings. If you do not use them correctly, they will not be effective. Read the instruction manual carefully before use. Please take this opportunity to inspect the furniture in your home.