Gyeonggi Fire Department to Conduct Emergency Inspections of Pilotis Buildings for Two Months in August and September

The Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters will conduct emergency safety inspections of pilotis buildings in the province over the two months of August and September.

Pilotis buildings are structures where the lower part of the building is left open with only columns remaining, often used as parking lots. While this design is advantageous for space utilization, it has been pointed out as a structural vulnerability because smoke and flames can quickly spread to upper floors in the event of a fire.

In fact, a fire that broke out on July 17 in a pilotis-structured apartment in Soha-dong, Gwangmyeong, began in the parking lot on the open first floor and rapidly spread to the upper levels. Experts have analyzed that the structural openness accelerated the upward movement of smoke and heat, thereby increasing casualties. This fire resulted in as many as 65 casualties.

Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters

Kim Jaebyung, head of the provincial Fire and Disaster Headquarters, stated, "Pilotis structures have a vulnerability to fire," and added, "We plan to conduct fire safety inspections of pilotis structures in the province over the two months of August and September."

Meanwhile, the provincial Fire and Disaster Headquarters plans to propose institutional improvements to the National Fire Agency regarding pilotis buildings. These will include making fire compartment installation mandatory, strengthening standards for non-combustible finishing materials, and improving sprinkler installation standards.