Rain Test of Container House

The container houses at the Nagoya Asian Games exposed structural, electrical, drainage, and other issues during a heavy rain test, demonstrating significantly inadequate protection in extreme weather conditions.

Structural Aspects: The container-style accommodation facilities at the Nagoya Port District Garden Pier were made of wood and showed significant vulnerability during the heaviest rainstorm on record in the area (with an hourly rainfall of 104.5 mm). Approximately 400 athletes and staff were urgently evacuated to safe areas due to the risk of water accumulation and only returned two hours later, reflecting doubts about the structural stability of wooden container houses under extreme rainfall and the risk of damage from flooding or immersion.

Electrical and Facility Aspect: The heavy rain caused leaks in multiple Asian Games venues, with a large amount of rainwater flooding the first floor of the main media center, forcing journalists to move their equipment upstairs. Although there was no explicit mention of water entering the electrical circuits inside the container houses, the prevalence of leaks in the venues suggests that the electrical systems of the temporarily erected container houses may lack effective waterproofing, posing risks of short circuits or electric shocks. Additionally, the normal operation of electrical appliances such as air conditioners and refrigerators inside the container houses may also be affected by the humid environment.

Drainage and Water Accumulation Risks: The container accommodation area was located in a low-lying area of the port district, inherently posing flood risks during the flood season. After the heavy rain, the road积水 (water accumulation) submerged the wheels, and the underground passage was filled with water, indicating that the regional drainage system could not cope with extreme rainfall. If container houses are not designed with reasonable slopes or drainage channels, water can easily accumulate on the ground, not only affecting living comfort but also potentially seeping into the interior through door gaps or ventilation openings, exacerbating the risks of structural corrosion and electrical failures.

Comprehensive Protection Capability: Temporarily erected container houses can meet basic living needs in normal environments, but their shortcomings in disaster resistance were fully exposed during a once-in-a-century heavy rainstorm. Although steel container houses theoretically possess lightning protection, earthquake resistance, and wind resistance capabilities, the wooden structure in the Nagoya case clearly did not meet the same standards, and the overall plan was a makeshift solution to cut costs, without fully considering safety and security under extreme weather conditions.