Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to Remove PMMA from 58 Soundproof Tunnels Installed

Announcement of 'Road Noise Barrier Fire Safety Enhancement Measures'
Institutional Improvements Including Establishment of Design Standards for Noise Barriers

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Wanyong] The government has decided to remove or replace the highly flammable polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) material installed inside soundproof tunnels. Additionally, to ensure the installation of fire-safe soundproof facilities, the government will establish design standards for soundproof facilities, including banning the use of PMMA materials, securing fire resistance performance of steel supports, and mandating the installation of evacuation doors and emergency escape routes at regular intervals.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the morning of the 2nd at the Yeollin National Policy Meeting held at the Government Seoul Office that it had discussed and finalized the 'Road Soundproof Facility Fire Safety Enhancement Measures.'

The fire site at the soundproof tunnel near Bukuiwang IC on the 2nd Gyeongin Expressway in Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, where 5 people died on December 29 last year.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

This is to alleviate public anxiety caused by recent consecutive fire accidents in soundproof facilities, such as the fire in the soundproof tunnel on the 2nd Gyeongin Expressway on December 29 last year and the fire in the soundproof wall on the Jungbu Inland Expressway on January 3, and to prevent recurrence of similar accidents.

Immediately after the fire accident in the soundproof tunnel on the 2nd Gyeongin Expressway, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport conducted a full survey of soundproof facilities (tunnels and walls) nationwide, confirming that 34% (58 out of 170) of soundproof tunnels and 14% (1,704 out of 12,118) of soundproof walls installed nationwide were using PMMA materials.

Based on the full survey results and discussions with experts and related organizations, the Ministry decided to issue orders to road management authorities to promptly replace the 58 soundproof tunnels using PMMA materials with materials that have higher fire safety.

Replacement will begin immediately with soundproof tunnels under the jurisdiction of the Ministry’s expressways and national roads, aiming to complete by the end of this year, and local government-managed soundproof tunnels will also establish replacement plans to be completed by February next year.

However, until the complete removal or replacement of soundproof tunnels is carried out, temporary measures such as partial removal or opening of soundproof panels on the upper or side parts of the tunnels, installation and inspection of fire extinguishing equipment, CCTV, and entry blocking facilities, and securing evacuation spaces will be ordered. For soundproof tunnels made of polycarbonate (PC) materials, road management authorities will also be instructed to prepare fire safety and disaster prevention measures.

Furthermore, the Ministry will establish design standards for soundproof facilities to ensure fire-safe installations, including banning the use of PMMA materials, securing fire resistance performance of steel supports, and mandating the installation of evacuation doors and emergency escape routes at regular intervals.

Soundproof tunnels will be included as ‘specific fire safety objects’ under the Fire Services Act, mandating the installation of fire facilities equivalent to general tunnels. The Ministry also plans to enact the Road Safety Act (tentative name) to consider introducing certification systems for fire-safe materials and construction methods, as well as road safety evaluation systems.

To strengthen inspection and management of soundproof facilities, soundproof tunnels will be included under the Facility Safety Act for safety and maintenance management plan establishment and regular safety inspections. For soundproof tunnels exceeding a certain length, the appointment of fire safety managers will be made mandatory as part of institutional improvements.

Additionally, joint training with related organizations (firefighting, medical, etc.) will be conducted at least once a year, and education for road tunnel managers will be enhanced to further improve on-site response capabilities to fire accidents in soundproof facilities.

Lee Yongwook, Director of the Road Bureau at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stated, “We will swiftly implement the measures prepared this time to ensure that no more accidents threatening the lives of the public occur in soundproof tunnels.”