Panasonic Homes announced on December 13th that starting from January 6th, 2022, the company will commence sales of the FORTINA X; a steel frame freestanding home design that comes standard with Panasonic’s Air Lohas central air conditioning system.
According to Panasonic’s website, the large panel steel frame structure (in Japanese, 大型パネル構造) that FORTINA X employs is a "solid block body" that integrates panels for the exterior walls, floors, and the roof.
Large panel steel frame design CG. Source: Panasonic Homes.
The key point is that the frame design is a Monocoque Structure, which means that the entire building can firmly bear both vertical and horizontal load and stresses, similar to the framework used in boats and aircraft.
This large panel steel framework is of particular importance in places prone to earthquakes and typhoons.
Since the whole structure is weight bearing rather than just key parts, using this framework provides greater customization of internal layouts relative to wood frame construction.
Unique designs such as atriums and other void spaces that allow greater access to natural light can be configured with increased variety compared to wood frame builds.
The FORTINA X also employs Panasonic’s Air Lohas ventilation system.
Air Lohas uses a single, central air conditioning unit to ventilate not only living rooms but also operational spaces such as corridors and washrooms.
The system utilises a HEPA filter which can remove dust, pollen, and Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5) from the air.
Compared to ordinary central air conditioning systems, Air Lohas claims to reduce energy consumption by roughly 26%.
The energy savings due to the Air Lohas installation reduces the amount of solar panels that would need to be installed in order to meet Zero Energy Home compliance requirements.
The FORTINA X will be sold nationwide except in Hokkaido and some other areas.
The price of the structure starts at 30 million yen (including tax; land sold separately), and Panasonic Homes aims to sell 1,000 buildings in the first year of sales.
Further Reading
Panasonic Home’s FORTINA X sales start press release (Japanese only; December, 2021)
