A prefab wooden building made in Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, has been helping in the fight against the novel coronavirus. The Koriyama Mokuzai Association has begun sales of a modular building called the Hakobu that is produced using cypress from the prefecture.

　県郡山地区木材木工工業団地協同組合（郡山市）は、県産ヒノキを使った木製プレハブ「ＨＡＫＯＢＵ」の販売を始めた。県内の医療機関が発熱外来に活用するなど、新型コロナウイルス対策にも役立てられている。

　Measuring 2 meters wide, 4 meters long and 2.4 meters tall, the cabin-like structure is said to feature excellent acoustic and thermal insulation.

　木製プレハブは幅２メートル、長さ４メートル、高さ２．４メートルが基本で、高い断熱性や遮音性が特徴。

　These qualities have caught the attention of local medical facilities, which have enlisted the units as quarantine wards that help reduce the risk of infection when treating outpatients with fevers. The buildings can also be customized to create separate entrances for patients and medical staff, accommodate partitions, install air purifiers, and collect biological samples without physical contact.
　As the structures are delivered preassembled, they can reportedly be set up within as little as 15 minutes to two hours.

　発熱外来向けでは、医療スタッフと患者の出入り口を別々に設け、間仕切りや陰圧空気清浄機を付けて感染リスクを減らし、接触せず検体を採取できるようにするなど、用途に応じて柔軟に製造できる。前もって組み立ててから運ぶため、現地での設置時間は１５分～２時間ほどに抑えられるという。

　The group says they developed the product to promote the local timber industry and cater to new lifestyle demands amid the pandemic. In December last year, two hospitals in Motomiya and Sukagawa introduced the modules as waiting rooms and consultation rooms for feverish patients. Medical professionals responded favorably. "The natural wood is soothing and helps reduce the stress of our patients," one said.

　県産木材の普及を目的に開発し、新しい生活様式に対応した使い方を提案している。昨年１２月には、本宮市と須賀川市の２病院に、発熱外来や発熱患者の待合室として導入された。医療関係者から「木のぬくもりを感じられ、患者のストレスを軽減できる」などの声が寄せられているという。

　Apart from hospitals, the association has also proposed using the versatile structure as a pop-up retail shop at events or as a break room at construction sites. "As the coronavirus drags on, we wanted to find new ways to use local timber and help revitalize our community," said Masamichi Ito, general manager of the association.

（　Translated by The Japan News　）

　今後は病院のほか、イベント開催時の物販棟や建設現場の休憩所などとしての活用も提案していく。伊藤正道統括部長は「コロナ禍が続く中、多様な形で活用を提案し、県産木材の普及促進や地域活性化につなげたい」と話している。

　【　２０２１年１月１９日付・福島民友新聞掲載　】