Strengthening Preventive Measures to Avoid Flooding in Underground Spaces During Heavy Rain

Improvement of Safety Management System for Underground Facilities Including Underground Parking Lots

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on the 16th that it has prepared institutional improvement measures to prevent recurrence in underground spaces such as underground parking lots of existing apartment complexes in the metropolitan area where casualties occurred due to heavy summer rains last year.

Since September 14 last year, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety has been operating a dedicated task force (TF) for institutional improvement to prevent flooding in underground spaces, composed of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, local governments, and experts in related fields, discussing problems and improvement plans of the current system.

Under the current system, the installation of flood prevention facilities in underground spaces is stipulated under the 'Natural Disaster Countermeasures Act,' but there is no penalty provision for non-compliance, which limits enforcement. There have been many cases of flooding occurring in areas other than those designated as 'areas recognized as at risk of flood damage' according to the 'Flood Prevention Standards (Notice)' for underground spaces. Problems also included insufficient types of evacuation facilities to prevent flood isolation and a lack of detailed explanations regarding the installation of flood prevention facilities. Additionally, regulations related to facilities operated by relevant ministries do not meet flood prevention standards, and safety management of existing underground parking lots in apartment complexes is inadequate.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

To overcome these issues, penalty (fine) provisions for neglecting the installation and maintenance of flood prevention facilities in underground spaces have been introduced, and a provision delegating authority to local governments to operate flood prevention standards through local ordinances has been newly established to enhance legal enforceability. Furthermore, a basis for supporting the installation of flood prevention facilities in existing underground buildings has been prepared.

In addition, the scope of “areas recognized as at risk of flood damage” stipulated in the flood prevention standards has been expanded, and evacuation facility standards such as flood isolation prevention doors, open-type security windows, emergency escape ladders, flood entry blocking facilities for underground flooded spaces, and flood guidance facilities have been added. The flood prevention standards (notice) were revised on December 29 last year. To assist field workers in understanding related tasks, the explanatory booklet was revised to clearly explain, with detailed illustrations, the installation specifications and methods for entrance thresholds and railings according to expected flood heights, types and installation methods of water barriers depending on their installation locations, and more.

Installation standard revisions (draft) for five major facilities were prepared to ensure that underground facilities under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, such as underground roads, are installed in accordance with flood prevention standards. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to revise the Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rules of the Apartment Complex Management Act to include matters related to flood prevention and response in underground parking lots in safety management plans and to include parking lots in rainy season safety inspections.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety will distribute the “Standard Ordinance (Draft) for Supporting the Installation of Flood Prevention Facilities” to local governments to recommend the installation of flood prevention facilities, and will identify the budget required by priority for complexes where water barriers are not installed in existing underground parking lots, supporting installation starting from the most urgent areas.

Minister of the Interior and Safety Sangmin Lee stated, “We will promptly implement the improvement measures prepared this time for flood prevention in underground spaces together with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and local governments, and continuously inspect and supplement any deficiencies or additional improvement needs.”