Flames Soared Above Adult Height in Seconds... Inside the 44.4 Billion KRW Battery Fire Test Facility [Report]

First Report on 'Battery Fire Safety Test' at BST Zone
A Total Budget of 44.4 Billion KRW Invested, Opened Last April
Emerging as a Hub for Battery Safety and Technology Testing

On July 3, at the Battery Industry Support Center of the Korea Electronics Technology Institute (KETI) Chungbuk Specialized Complex in Ochang-eup, Cheongju, Chungbuk, a fully charged battery module containing four electric vehicle cells was placed in the center of a massive experimental chamber. When the researchers ignited the fuel tank beneath the module, heat began to rise from the battery, causing the airflow to shift dramatically.

The bottom of the module started to swell, and after about 15 minutes, a small spark spread along the cells, quickly igniting the entire module. Flames shot up well above the height of an adult man, with fire spreading to both sides as well.

On the 3rd, at the Battery Industry Support Center in the Chungbuk Specialized Complex of the Korea Electronics Technology Institute (KETI) in Cheongju, Chungbuk, when a fire was set to a fully charged battery module, flames soared to a height well above an adult man's height. Photo by Shim Sunga

This is the 'Battery Solution Testbed Zone (BST Zone)' fire testing building, where electric vehicle battery safety is verified by setting actual fires. The massive fire testing building, measuring 15 meters in width, 10 meters in length, and 10 meters in height, is equipped with devices to filter harmful gases and equipment to control indoor pressure. Notably, the lift-type extinguishing system, which cools residual batteries by immersing them in a water tank after a fire, was introduced here for the first time among testing facilities nationwide.

Jo Yongnam, senior researcher at KETI, explained, "The 40-centimeter-thick walls and 20-centimeter-thick steel doors prevent hazardous substances from escaping," adding, "Domestic companies can directly measure battery thermal runaway, gas emissions, and heat output here."

The BST zone fire testing building. The massive fire testing building, measuring 15m in width, 10m in length, and 10m in height, was equipped with devices to filter harmful gases and equipment to control indoor pressure. The lift-type extinguishing system, which cools residual batteries by immersing them in a water tank after a fire, was introduced for the first time among testing facilities nationwide. Photo by Shim Sunga

The BST Zone consists of three buildings: the Materials and Components Analysis Building, the Battery Performance Evaluation Building, and the Fire Testing Building. Opened in April, this center is the largest comprehensive secondary battery testing and research facility in Korea, with a total budget of 44.4 billion KRW, including government funding. It supports the entire secondary battery lifecycle, from materials and components analysis, to cell, module, and pack performance evaluation, as well as reuse and recycling. The center has established a foundation for close cooperation with leading domestic battery companies such as LG Energy Solution and Ecopro BM, which are located in the Ochang-eup area.

The Materials and Components Analysis Building and the Battery Performance Evaluation Building are dedicated to analyzing the physical and chemical properties of secondary battery materials and components, as well as evaluating their safety and reliability. They precisely measure not only the thermal stability and durability of materials, but also heavy metal content, and are expected to provide customized data required by companies during new material development.

Upon entering the Battery Performance Evaluation Building, a laboratory lined with single-cell charge-discharge equipment over 3 meters tall comes into view. Here, battery lifespan is verified through repeated charging and discharging, and performance changes can be tested under extreme cold and high temperatures.

On the 3rd, Jo Yongnam, senior researcher at KETI, Chungbuk Battery Industry Support Center, Chungbuk Specialized Complex, Korea Electronics Technology Institute (KETI), Cheongju, Chungbuk, is showing and explaining battery charge-discharge equipment at the Battery Performance Evaluation Building. Photo by Shim Sunga

Senior researcher Jo said, "The equipment that can evaluate 128 cells at 5V and 600A simultaneously is already fully booked for a year in advance," and added, "The 300A equipment is also reserved for more than 10 months by major corporations."

The facility is also equipped with a large chamber measuring 5 meters in length, 3 meters in width, and 3 meters in height. Senior researcher Jo explained, "This is for testing battery packs for various large mobility applications, such as electric buses, trucks, and energy storage systems (ESS)," adding, "It can test up to 1,200V."

The BST Zone is expected to continue expanding. By 2028, a 'Solid-State Battery Manufacturing Support Center,' a 'Big Data-Based Manufacturing Simulation Platform' for advanced process development, and infrastructure for evaluating the fire safety of high-energy-density batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) are planned to be established.

Song Junho, head of the center, emphasized, "This is an integrated space where not only commercialized battery materials and components, but also those for next-generation batteries, can all be tested," adding, "It will become a testing hub for enhancing the safety and technological advancement of the battery industry."