LIXIL has developed "ALATECT," an earthquake-resistant renovation method that uses fiber sheets and can be constructed without altering existing walls.


It is said that there are currently more than 10 million existing houses in Japan that do not meet the current earthquake resistance standards, and the country as a whole is in urgent need of seismic retrofitting of houses. On the other hand, the burden on the occupants of these houses is so great that the retrofitting process has not progressed very well, as it requires the demolition of walls and ceilings.

LIXIL has developed the Aratect method, which is the "industry's first" quake-resistant renovation method that uses fiber sheets and can be installed from the interior without destroying walls.

The sheets are made of "ARATECT SHEET," a 1mm-thick sheet of aramid fiber, a high-strength fiber used for reinforcing bridge piers and bulletproof clothing. By fixing the sheet over the existing interior walls with special washers and screws, the company claims that the sheet will have the same strength (5.3 kN/m) as structural plywood after installation.


, the company claims that the new technology allows remodeling without dismantling not only walls but also floors and ceilings, thus enabling "short construction period, low cost," and quake-resistant repair work while still living in the house.

LIXIL will hold technical training sessions at 13 venues nationwide starting in April, and will gradually start selling the product to companies that have successfully completed the training. LIXIL will hold technical training sessions at 13 venues nationwide starting in April, and will begin selling the product to companies that have completed the training.