Installation of Early Response Type Sprinkler Heads
Enhanced Fire Resistance Inside Underground Parking Lots
Development of Unmanned Fire-Fighting Vehicles and Robots
From now on, fire safety facilities will be installed without blind spots in underground parking lots where electric vehicles can park, and wet sprinkler systems that can operate quickly in case of fire will be installed.
On the 27th, the National Fire Agency announced that after operating a task force (TF) involving related ministries, it will promote a "Comprehensive Fire Safety Plan for Electric Vehicle Fires in Underground Parking Lots" containing such countermeasures. This measure comes in response to a fire that occurred last August in the underground parking lot of an apartment in Cheongna International City, Incheon, causing property damage worth about 3.8 billion KRW and increasing the phenomenon of "electric vehicle phobia," which bans electric vehicles from entering underground parking lots.
The TF established customized fire-fighting facility installation standards for electric vehicle fires. The standards were improved to require the installation of extinguishing and alarm facilities in all underground parking lots. In particular, wet sprinkler systems, which always have water in the pipes and operate quickly in case of fire, will be installed. Analog smoke detectors will be installed in electric vehicle charging zones for rapid fire detection, and sprinkler heads will be strengthened to be "early response type," with two or more installed per parking space. However, some exceptions will be allowed for small-scale parking lots where installation is difficult due to site conditions.
For existing buildings, inspections of already installed fire-fighting facilities will be strengthened. In addition, fire stations will guide building managers to install improved fire-fighting facilities when promoting long-term repair plans through fire safety consulting.
To prepare for post-fire occurrences, internal fire resistance will be enhanced. To prevent combustion spread caused by combustible ceiling materials, fire extinguishing pipes will be insulated with fire-retardant materials or better, and the fire resistance of ceiling, wall, and column finishes inside underground parking lots will be strengthened.
Due to the spatial characteristics of underground parking lots, which make it difficult for fire personnel and equipment to enter in case of fire, collaboration with companies will be pursued. The National Fire Agency is working with Hyundai Motor Company to develop unmanned fire-fighting vehicles optimized for extinguishing fires in large underground spaces. Additionally, cross-ministerial research and development (R&D) will be promoted to respond to electric vehicle fires. Currently, 31.3 billion KRW has been invested to develop sensors and robots that support firefighters' operations.
Hong Young-geun, Director of the Fire Prevention Bureau at the National Fire Agency, said, "We will do our best to continuously inspect and supplement improvement tasks so that fire safety for electric vehicle fires and overall fire safety in underground parking lots can be strengthened."
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