Annual Forest Products Council Conference - 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008 & Saturday, August 23, 2008
Eagle Crest Resort - Redmond, OR

Eagle Crest Resort Ridge Golf Course

(JAPAN) PSI Receives Overseas Recognized Performance Evaluation Status (ORPEO) Approval from MLIT (see below for the application procedure)

The Eugene Engineered Wood Products office of Professional Service Industries, Inc. (PSI) is pleased to announce that the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation (MLIT) has APPROVED PSI’s Application as an Overseas Recognized Performance Evaluation Organization (ORPEO).  Official Approval Documents were presented to PSI by MLIT on 18 June, 2004 with American Embassy dignitaries in attendance.  A press conference was held afterward at the International Press Club with reporters representing a number of Japanese building journals.   

As the only accredited ORPEO, PSI will provide the necessary services to manufacturers or their agents desiring Ministerial Approval of building products exported to Japan. PSI will be able to provide the same services as our Japanese Designated Performance Evaluation Organization (DPEO) counterparts. PSI anticipates a more efficient and expeditious process for all overseas manufacturers.

Effective July 1, 2003, the Japanese Building Standards Law (BSL) required that all building materials containing formaldehyde or chlorphyrifos used in habitable rooms be prohibited. This was to provide countermeasures to Japanese Sick House Issues. The application and implementation of this law has proven to be a complicated, involved and time-consuming process.

For wood-based products, formaldehyde is the primary issue.  Restrictions basically apply to all materials that contain adhesive resins and/or glued components such as plywood, OSB, doors, cabinets, etc.  For these, a formaldehyde emission rate has to be determined by an organization approved by the Ministry.

For building material products to be accepted in Japan two primary processes are available.

• The first process involves the manufacturer certifying their products under the Japanese Agriculture (JAS), or Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) system. This is a more expensive and time consuming process that includes ongoing monitoring by a Japanese Registered Certification Organization (RCO) or Registered Foreign Certification Organization (RFCO).   PSI has already attained RFCO accreditation and currently provides this service under JAS to several manufacturers. This process is more desirable of products such as plywood, OSB, Glu-lam and Laminated Veneer Lumber products.
• The second process is by means of Ministerial Approval.  This process requires that the manufacturer or their agent submit an Application to an approved ORPEO (PSI) or DPEO (as described above).  The application process would include an unofficial test of the product in consideration, review of the manufacturing process and quality system.  A final official test would be run on the product to confirm the product meets the formaldehyde emission level in the application.  An evaluation report would be prepared by the ORPEO  (PSI) or DPEO and submitted to MLIT for Ministerial Approval.

Emission rates are identified by a Star Rating.  The most desirous rating is the F**** (Four Star) applied to products emitting the lowest level of formaldehyde.

APPLICATION:

 Interested parties may contact Randy Webb (1-800-324-5024 or e-mail randy.webb@psiusa.com) to receive the APPLICATION PACKET.  Refer to the Procedures Summary for the process detail.