Nap Room,
NEXCO Central Nippon (Central Nippon Expressway Company Limited) Hokuriku Expresswa,Takefu IC，

Capsule beds at the station for snow/ice removal staff led to improved employee satisfaction

In December 2020, the Takefu IC Management Facility (Station for Snow/Ice Removal Staff) on the Hokuriku Expressway, under the jurisdiction of Central Nippon Expressway Company Limited's (NEXCO Central) Kanazawa branch was opened after its relocation.
At this facility, which also operates as a station for the staff doing snow/ice removal from expressways, it is not uncommon for workers to work day and night for removing snow and ice, and spraying antifreeze agents during the snow season. With the relocation and opening of this facility, 34 capsule beds were installed to offer a fulfilling nap experience and the best possible rest to the workers when they are engaged in harsh labor.

Quality sleep in a safe environment

The former station was lined up with common bunk beds that are also used at home. Since teamwork is important in snow and ice work, a major advantage of bunk beds was that the workers could easily communicate with each other before and after naps and breaks. On the other hand, bunk beds have many disadvantages in terms of sleep quality, which we were able to improve by installing capsule beds.
The major difference between capsule beds and bunk beds is that the sleeping space is surrounded by panels. The B-CUBE model selected for this project has panels and a blackout curtain at the doorway, which not only ensures privacy from the surroundings, but also minimizes the light and noise from the nap room entering the capsule bed. Light and sounds caused by the entry/exit of other workers in the nap room do not interfere with your good night's sleep. A survey conducted after the installation of these capsule beds showed a high level of satisfaction.
The introduction of capsule beds also contributed to the prevention of transmission of COVID-19. Although the new station also had a nap room with bunk beds, measures to separate the beds from each other were necessary to prevent infection among occupants while they took a nap. On the other hand, the capsule beds were able to prevent infection without the need for additional measures because each bed is partitioned and equipped with an intake ventilation fan. The width of the aisle where the capsule beds face each other is approximately 1400 mm, giving you plenty of room to pass other occupants without direct contact.

B-CUBE with a simple blend of essential functions

B-CUBE plays a major role in improving the overall sleep environment, and at the same time combines all desirable functions in a simple design. It has a night panel with an LED light-control dial with which you can adjust the brightness to your liking, a digital clock with an alarm, an outlet for charging electronic devices such as smartphones, and a ventilation fan switch. The interior panel is colored white, and the exterior panel has a soothing dark tone, conveying a balance between the bed's interior and exterior. The green color of the blackout curtains matches the color of the curtains in the nap room.

Facility Overview

The Takefu IC Management Facility (Station for Snow/Ice Removal Staff) of Central Nippon Expressway Company Limited's (NEXCO Central) Kanazawa branch on the Hokuriku Expressway required relocation because the old facility was a hindrance in the construction of the Hokuriku Shinkansen between Kanazawa and Tsuruga scheduled to open in spring 2024. In December 2020, the new building of the management facility opened. Capsule beds offering privacy, sound insulation, and soundproofing have been installed in the nap room with the aim of improving employee satisfaction (ES) for snow and ice workers. The cafeteria space is larger than that of the old station, and is used for meetings and communication. With the aim of creating a good balance between naps and socializing, we have separated the nap room and the cafeteria.