Residential Fires Account for 27% of Cases...
More Than Half of Fatalities Occur at Home
Most Mattresses in Korea Still Lack Flame-Retardant Features
Simmons Has Produced Only Flame-Retardant Mattresses Since 2018
#In April 2020, a massive fire broke out at a new logistics center construction site in Icheon during urethane work, when welding sparks ignited flammable vapors. The accident resulted in 38 deaths and 10 injuries. Following the incident, the government formed the 'Interagency Task Force for Construction Site Fire Safety' and established fire safety measures for construction sites, such as installing fire blankets on flammable materials during welding and cutting operations.
#In March of this year, a massive wildfire that began in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang Province, spread to Cheongsong, Andong, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok, burning approximately 100,000 hectares of forest and destroying over 30 pieces of national heritage, making it the 'worst wildfire in history.' The National Heritage Administration issued an administrative notice for the enactment of 'Fire-Resistant Material Standards and Installation Guidelines for National Heritage in Case of Fire' to prevent wildfire damage to national heritage sites.
Whenever a major accident or disaster occurs, the government and related agencies announce various measures to prevent recurrence. However, there are ongoing concerns that legislative efforts regarding fire safety for items most closely connected to everyday life, such as flame-retardant mattresses, remain stagnant.
According to the National Fire Agency's '2024 Fire Statistics Yearbook' released on November 6, of the 405,977 fires that occurred between 2015 and last year, 110,133 cases (27.1%) took place in residential facilities. The number of fatalities (1,887) and injuries (8,876) in residential fires accounted for 60.2% and 43.8% of the total, respectively, making them the highest among all categories. The annual property damage from residential fires is estimated at over 65 billion won. Each year, residential fires cause damage comparable to national disasters.
One of the factors that exacerbates damage when a fire breaks out at home is the mattress. As the largest piece of furniture in terms of surface area and highly flammable, mattresses can trigger a 'flash over'-a rapid spread of flames during a fire. The smoke and toxic gases produced when the mattress interior burns are also deadly.
Despite the recurring incidents of indoor fires and the growing damage caused by mattresses, there are no mandatory fire safety regulations for mattresses in Korea. Mattresses are classified as 'products subject to compliance with safety standards,' the lowest regulatory level under the 'Electrical Appliances and Household Goods Safety Management Act,' which allows manufacturing and importing without separate pre-market safety testing.
Fire safety testing standards are also insufficient compared to those overseas. The 'KS G 4300' standard, which evaluates the fire safety performance of mattresses, allows certification if the mattress does not burn more than 10 centimeters when a lit cigarette is placed on it, raising concerns about its effectiveness. In 2017, the Disaster Prevention Testing Institute developed the 'KS F ISO 12949 (Domestic Standard Test Method)' simulating real fire conditions, but its adoption is not mandatory.
Major advanced countries have long recognized the risks posed by mattresses in indoor fires and have made fire safety standards for mattresses legally mandatory. Since 2007, the United States has required all mattresses manufactured or distributed domestically to pass '16 CFR Part 1633 (Standard Test Method for the Flammability of Mattress Sets).' In the United Kingdom, all household mattresses must meet the safety requirements of the FFRs (Furniture and Furnishings Fire Safety Regulations) and GPSR (General Product Safety Regulations). Key EU countries also enforce strict flame-retardant standards for household mattresses.
In Korea, as lifestyles have shifted from floor-based to bed-based living, the use of mattresses has become widespread, highlighting the need for mandatory regulations. In this context, sleep-specialty brand Simmons has proactively produced all its household mattresses as 'flame-retardant mattresses' tested to 'ISO 12949 (International Standard)' and 'KS F ISO 12949 (Domestic Standard Test Method)' since 2018.
The core of Simmons' flame-retardant mattresses is the proprietary 'Maximum Safety Padding.' This material is applied directly beneath the fabric, making it difficult to ignite even when exposed to sparks, and if a fire does start, the flames are naturally extinguished. In addition, the use of flame-retardant thread, seam tape, and non-slip nonwoven fabric on the mattress bottom further enhances fire resistance, helping to minimize damage during a fire.
Furthermore, in January last year, Simmons made its patented flame-retardant mattress manufacturing technology, acquired in 2020, available to the public free of charge to raise awareness of flame-retardant mattresses and promote a culture of fire safety.
An industry official stated, "As consumer awareness of sleep safety increases, some companies are introducing flame-retardant mattresses, but without mandatory national regulations, there are inevitable limitations."
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