The Research on a Systematic Method for Selecting Building Materials started in 1960 in the Building Research Institute.

This is a revised report of the third report which has been published as the BRI Report No. 50 in 1970, and is dealt with the test methods proposed as the elements of the selecting system of building materials.

In Japan, the interest in the performance concept in building is getting greater along with the growing requirement for realizing the better housing level and industrialization of buildings.

The research on a Systematic Method for Selecting Building materials is now recognized as one of the main studies which enables us to make a systematic approach to the performance concept, and in some universities and colleges this research has been adapted in the course of architectural engineering.

Taking such present situations into consideration, we decided to publish this report, although we know that there are so many problems are left incomplete.

For example, the items of performance evaluating methods contained in this report are only about fifty, however they should be more than one hundred which are corresponding to the one hundred performance requirements being taken into our system, because we have finished at first these fifty methods to make clear the performance of dwelling houses.

Dr. K. Shirayama
Head, Materials Division

Research member at present
K. Shirayama, Chief of the group, Dr.
K. Kondo, Chief Res. Eng. Materials Div.
F. Saito, Chief Res. Eng. Materials Div.
T. Nireki, Chief Res. Eng. Materials Div.
K. Ito, Res. Eng. Materials Div.
F. Tomosawa, Res. Eng. Dr. Materials Div.
K. Kawase, Res. Eng. Dr. Materials Div.
H. Suzuki, Res. Eng. Dr. Materials Div.
K. Kamimura, Chief, Dr. Research Planning & Information Div.
Y. Takahashi, Res. Eng. Production Div.
S. Oka, Res. Eng. Fire & Physics Div.
Y. Mimura, Res. Eng. Dr. Fire & Physics Div.
K. Imaizumi, Chief, Dr. Agrement Section
S. Sugawara, Res. Eng. Dr. Agrement Section
M. Ito, Eng. Materials Div.