Mossman: First off, why haven't Residential Gas Alarms become as popular in other countries as they have in Japan?
Kato: The situation varies from country to country, but when it comes to Europe and the United States, which we have been approaching for a long time, I think the biggest difference between them and Japan is their culture.
Moss Man: What are the cultural differences?
Nishiue: The reason why Residential Gas Alarms have become so popular in Japan is because of the strong belief of LPG and city gas companies that "if we sell gas, we must also sell safety." On the other hand, I feel that the Western mindset is still deeply rooted in the idea that "gas accidents at home are the individual's responsibility."
Kato: So even if gas companies in Europe and the United States understand how useful gas alarm are, there is no business model in place where gas companies purchase them and sell them to end users.
Mossman: I see. But this time Con Edison, the energy company in New York State (NY), has chosen our gas alarm, right?
Nishiue: Actually, there was a big gas explosion in the Con Edison supply area in 2014. It happened in an apartment building, so many residents were killed and it became big news.
Kato: In the United States, gas explosions caused by aging gas pipes are occurring frequently. It is said that a gas explosion occurs about every 10 days.
MOS Otoko: We haven't heard much about gas explosions in kitchens in Japan in recent years. Why is that?
Nishiue: gas alarm are widespread in Japan, and other safety devices such as silicon sensors are also widely used. In addition, because Japan is prone to earthquakes, gas pipes are being replaced with new ones and maintenance is progressing, for better or worse. On the other hand, the United States is a country with a much longer history than Japan, and I have heard that a large amount of old gas pipes are still in use.
Kato: Following that accident, we received information through Figaro Engineering , a group company of our company, that Con Edison was collecting gas alarm from gas alarm manufacturers around the world and evaluating them. Figaro is a well-known gas sensors manufacturer in the United States, so I think that's how they got the information.
Nishiue: Fortunately, a few years earlier our company had developed a new gas sensors sensor called a MEMS sensor that aimed to achieve ultra-low power consumption, and had succeeded in developing * the world's first battery- Residential Gas Alarms.
Kato: We proposed a battery-powered product based on that device, which had a battery life of about five years at the time, to Con Edison, and our gas alarm was selected from among the many gas alarm manufacturers.
Moss Man: So, what was the reason you were chosen?
Nishiue: I haven't heard the details, but I think it was probably because it is battery-powered and has a long life, and because MEMS sensor are suitable for mass production and are therefore inexpensive. I also think that our track record of selling many Residential Gas Alarms in Japan was recognized.
Kato: Since then, the lifespan of alarm for the US market has been extended even further.
Moss Man: When did you start recruiting and how many do you have now?
Kato: Con Edison began installing them in stages from 2019, and I understand that gas alarm have now been installed in approximately 150,000 homes in New York City. Other gas companies are also seeing an increase in deliveries.
Nishiue: When I visited Con Edison the other day, they told me that " the alarm have already detected many gas leak , some of which could have led to serious accidents."
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Mossman: That just goes to show how seriously deteriorated the gas pipes are.
Kato: Of course, this isn't just the case in New York. We are actively promoting our product to other gas companies so that we can deliver gas alarm to more homes in the future.
Nishiue: Now in the United States, standards for the installation of Residential Gas Alarms are finally being finalized, and the stage is finally being set.
Kato: The newly established installation standards recommend that gas alarm.
Moss Man: Does that mean it's mandatory?
Kato: The installation standards for the whole of the United States have yet to be decided, so the question is how quickly each state will move forward with enacting regulations.
Nishiue: In America, states are independent like individual countries. Within each state, there are cities and towns. It's not easy, but I think it's definitely a good trend.
Kato: Our company's biggest goal is to "Eliminating gas accidents around the world" so to that end, we would like to promote the use of gas alarm in this vast country of America and eliminate as many gas accidents as possible.
Nishiue: Of course, the situation is the same in Europe as it is in the United States when it comes to aging gas pipes, so I think we need to spread this technology to Europe as well.
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Mossman: What about other countries?
Nishiue: Our company has had a local company in China for quite some time now, and has been selling battery-powered gas alarm, which are gradually becoming more well-known.
Kato: In Southeast Asia, where LPG is just starting to become popular in homes, I hear that LPG accidents are on the rise, just like in Japan about 50 years ago. People are not used to handling it, and safety devices are not as widespread as in Japan.
Mossman: So there is demand for Residential Gas Alarms all over the world, and now is our chance to "Eliminating gas accidents around the world"! Thank you very much.
*Developed in April 2015 in collaboration with Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd., Osaka Gas Co., Ltd., and three other gas alarm, including our company.