[Reporter’s Notebook] The Cause Behind the Repeated Sandwich Panel Fire Disasters

The cause of the small flame that escalated into a major disaster resulting in the deaths of two firefighters was the sandwich panel. The fire that broke out at a meat processing factory in Mungyeong-si, Gyeongbuk, at the end of January quickly spread throughout the entire building, and the burnt structures began to collapse. Two firefighters lost their lives while extinguishing the fire. On the 13th, the Fire Agency announced the results of a joint investigation, pointing to the fire-vulnerable sandwich panel as the cause. Sandwich panels have been mentioned in every major fire disaster since the 1999 Sealand tragedy, which claimed 23 lives.

Sandwich panels are building materials consisting of two steel sheets with a core (insulation material) in between. They offer excellent insulation performance relative to their price and are used on the exterior walls of most factories and temporary buildings. The factory exteriors we commonly see on the streets are made of sandwich panels. Since the Sealand incident, the government has continuously strengthened the manufacturing standards for sandwich panels. In 2001, it mandated the use of fire-retardant materials for the core, and in 2021, the material standards were further tightened to require quasi-noncombustible or higher. Nevertheless, disasters continue to occur. The strengthened manufacturing standards have not been effective.

To meet the enhanced manufacturing standards, insulation materials such as glass wool made from fiberglass must be used. However, 60% of the domestic core material market is occupied by substandard expanded polystyrene (EPS) products. This material is commonly called Styrofoam. When a fire breaks out, the flames burn the Styrofoam between the steel sheets, spreading the fire and emitting toxic gases.

EPS is mostly produced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Producing glass wool requires equipment investments worth tens of billions of won, which SMEs cannot afford. Therefore, when the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport conducts crackdowns, many substandard sandwich panels filled with Styrofoam are frequently detected.

Only two or three large companies, such as KCC and Byucksan, produce core materials that meet the strengthened standards. The reality is that they cannot supply the entire national demand. At construction sites, substandard products are used, leading to a vicious cycle that results in fire disasters again.

The government plans to strengthen regulations related to sandwich panels following the Mungyeong disaster. However, to prevent disasters, support must come before regulation. In the short term, there is a plan to provide subsidies to encourage equipment investment by small and medium-sized insulation material manufacturers. In the long term, research and development should be supported for insulation materials that can be produced without heavy and large-scale equipment. With the general election approaching, both ruling and opposition parties are presenting fire-related pledges. It is hoped that effective support policies will be included.