Fine DNC, a global company specializing in parts and materials (co-CEOs Hong Sungchun and Kim Jongchan), announced on June 24 that its patented product, the "indoor foldable evacuation staircase," has been selected as a first-round LH SME Growth New Technology for 2025, thanks to years of accumulated technological expertise.
The "indoor foldable evacuation staircase" independently obtained a patent in June 2022 and received approval from the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in September last year, being recognized as an alternative facility for evacuation spaces in high-rise buildings such as apartments. With its selection as an LH SME Growth New Technology, the product's technological prowess has been further validated.
Since 2017, Fine DNC has introduced the innovative "outdoor foldable evacuation staircase" to the domestic market, which previously lacked reliable apartment fire evacuation facilities. The product has received positive reviews from relevant markets and institutions. Recently, the company installed the system in 938 households in the Seonhwa District of Daejeon and entered the large-scale construction market. Based on this experience and technological capability, the company has now completed its lineup with the new "indoor foldable evacuation staircase," which incorporates cutting-edge technology.
The company's "indoor foldable evacuation staircase," like the existing "outdoor foldable evacuation staircase," serves as a regular safety railing under normal circumstances but can be quickly transformed into an emergency staircase for rapid escape in urgent situations such as fires. The key difference is that it allows for safer, bidirectional indoor evacuation, enabling a large number of people of all ages to escape quickly without bottlenecks.
According to current regulations, multi-family residential apartments with four or more floors are required to install various types of evacuation devices or spaces to prepare for situations where evacuation via the main staircase is difficult during disasters such as fires. In most multi-family residences, it is not possible to use more than two direct staircases. Additionally, apartment evacuation spaces (such as balconies) are usually very small (2 square meters) or have been structurally altered or repurposed as storage, rendering them ineffective as evacuation spaces.
With these issues in mind, Fine DNC introduced the foldable concept for its "indoor foldable evacuation staircase" to enable more efficient use of evacuation spaces. Designed for installation in balconies and outdoor unit rooms, it offers about 30% cost savings compared to typical evacuation facilities, providing the dual benefits of space utilization and securing evacuation infrastructure.
Unlike conventional evacuation devices such as controlled descent devices, rescue chutes, evacuation ladders, ropes, slides and poles, and evacuation traps, the "indoor foldable evacuation staircase" features a fence-type railing integrated into the stair structure, offering fall prevention and guidance functions. This makes it easy to use for children and the elderly. In apartments, it does not cause privacy or noise concerns for upper, lower, or adjacent units, and if the alarm system is activated during operation, it can also serve a security function. Furthermore, the product is semi-permanent, as it can be reused an unlimited number of times unless directly exposed to flames during a fire, thanks to its simple foldable restoration mechanism.
Fine DNC expects that this LH new technology certification will contribute to stable sales growth in the public procurement and supply markets. In addition to its independently obtained domestic patent, the company is also pursuing international patents and overseas certifications, aiming to establish a bridgehead for expansion into overseas markets as well as the domestic market.
Meanwhile, CEO Kim Jongchan of Fine DNC stated, "Although our performance has not met expectations due to market conditions, we expect to see results in 2025 thanks to our continuous development efforts and mass production preparations for our clients and the market. Alongside the foldable evacuation staircase, our component development business for secondary batteries, conducted in partnership with leading domestic and international clients, is progressing smoothly. In particular, preparations for our previously underperforming Slovakia site have been completed, and mass production will begin in earnest next year."
He added, "We are also steadily securing new clients, and with the technical certification of the indoor foldable evacuation staircase, market interest is increasing. We expect this will contribute to improved performance through new contracts."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
