Approximately the same model building to a comfortable Parfait house, with a large opening for windows, heavily tiled external walls and a wide balcony was built for the test. Estimating the weight of furniture, 60kg/m² loads were also added. Although full-size tests featuring the building repeatedly subject to violent vibration represent hostile conditions, we nevertheless plan to conduct tests under such conditions.

The Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake was known as an inland earthquake, occurring near cities with very strong instantaneous shock waves. On the other hand, the Tokai Earthquake, which is predicted to occur in the near future, may be an interplate earthquake. This type of earthquake has its hypocenter under the sea and the quake continues for longer than that of an inland earthquake, meaning the consequent damage to buildings may be greater.

We have tested Heim under various seismic waves of inland and interplate earthquakes and confirmed its safety following each seismic wave.

When a building is exposed to shocks from an earthquake, the force is concentrated on the joints. For the Heim's unit, posts and beams are welded through joint-pieces (steel plate reinforcement) and it forms a box frame structure* with integrated posts and beams. Unlike an ordinary frame structure, where the posts and beams are jointed with bolts, this is a very strong structural unit with no weak areas. In addition, the posts and beams are always made to form rectangles, in order to minimize the deformation and damage of the building incurred.

The strength of a post and beam depends not on the thickness but on the sectional area. When a Heim's strong single unit is connected to other units, the joints of the units become stronger, with 2 or 4 posts and beams forming large sectional areas. In particular, the floor beams of the second floor, which are exposed to the maximum shock from the earthquake, form sectional areas as large as 350mm x 150mm. This unit structure will be able to cope with the seismic intensity from the largest earthquake.

Heim comprises several combined units, between which the joints are firmly connected via high-tension bolts. These high-tension bolts, 16mm in diameter, with semi-permanent strength and usually used for bridgework, are used to connect units vertically. Eight bolts, each of which bears 1 ton (9.8kn) of shear force, connect units horizontally, while four anchor-bolts, each bearing 2.2 (21.6kn) ~ 12.2 tons (119.6kn) shear force connect the entire unit to its foundations. Every unit and set of foundations are integrated into a single strong structure without any weak area.

The flexibility of the box frame structure and external walls that absorb earthquake energy prevent sudden destruction, even when exposed to the largest seismic motion.

Heim's box frame structure, like a high-rise building, absorbs earthquake energy by bending slightly. The external walls also have a structure capable of absorbing the earthquake energy. With this box frame structure and the external walls, the acceleration (response acceleration) to which the building is exposed diminishes compared to that of a brace structure building, which resists the acceleration by its own strength.

When the box frame structure building is exposed to the maximum earthquake energy, the resulting acceleration is smaller, meaning it avoids sudden destruction, unlike buildings using their own strength to resist this energy. Focusing on potentially falling furniture and remaining inside the building until the quake stops may therefore be safer than evacuating outside.

Each external wall material slightly deforms, synchronizing to the quake affecting the building structure, and the entire external walls absorb the seismic shock. Meanwhile, the gasket masonry joints method is adopted for the joint external walls and these gaskets also function as shock-absorbing material. When the building structure reverts to its normal shape after being subjected to the violent stresses of a great earthquake, the structural design also allows the external walls and gasket to return to normal conditions. There is little fear of the external walls cracking or falling.

The outer wall materials are fixed between posts with special clasps called studs, which are designed to absorb the energy from seismic shocks. The effect of the quake is thus also decreased by the energy absorbing effects.

The mat foundation has attracted attention since the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake and is used in Heim as one of the standard features. Unlike a continuous footing system, that bears load via a line, via which seismic force is channeled into the ground, the mat foundation bears load over its whole surface and seismic force flows from the surface into the ground to protect the building on its foundation. The mat foundation thus has superior earthquake resistance as well as functions to control the liquefaction phenomenon and differential ground settlement, helping to enhance the building safety.

Heim demonstrated the ability to reduce quake impact during full size tests

The figure for acceleration (gal) shows the magnitude of ground motion caused by the earthquake. The response ratio, meanwhile, shows the value indicating how many times the acceleration to the foundation is magnified and reaches each floor. The smaller the value, the more the building is stable and further the damage is minimized. The response ratio of Parfait was measured as a ratio of 1.36 on the second floor during full size tests. This value is much smaller than ordinary houses built using conventional buildings. The stability and strength of Heim to resist earthquakes are therefore verified in its design.