Geosan ENG Achieves Complete Suppression in 1 Minute 12 Seconds During Accredited Demonstration Test

Water discharge and suppression in progress (water is being discharged from the upper tank while the alarm light is operating) / Photo by Geosan ENG

Geosan ENG has successfully detected an electric vehicle (EV) battery fire at the pre-thermal runaway stage and fully suppressed it within 1 minute and 12 seconds during a verification test conducted by an accredited institution. This marks the first case in Korea where a "preemptive suppression" EV fire response technology, previously unattainable with conventional fire extinguishing systems, has been proven effective in real-world conditions.

Geosan ENG (CEO Lee Yongcheol) announced that it successfully completed demonstration tests of its electric vehicle fire suppression system, GEVF1 (Geosan Electric Vehicle Fire Suppression System No.1), at the Disaster Prevention Technology Test Center of the Korea Testing & Research Institute (KTR) in Hongseong, Chungnam, on December 24 and 29 last year. The first test targeted a battery pack unit, while the second test was conducted on an actual electric vehicle, with thermal pads attached inside the battery to replicate real fire conditions.

According to the test results, when off-gas generated just before thermal runaway was detected from the battery, GEVF1's multi-sensor was activated. The fire protection screen was deployed, the water tank was raised, and a large volume of water was discharged in sequence, resulting in complete fire suppression within 1 minute and 12 seconds. As the battery was fully submerged in water, the possibility of re-ignition was also eliminated.

EV fires are known to experience thermal runaway when the battery temperature exceeds 800 degrees Celsius, causing combustion to continue for several hours and requiring up to 10 times more water compared to conventional vehicles. Traditional extinguishing methods have struggled to fully suppress such fires, as they cannot penetrate the inside of the battery. GEVF1 detects the onset of off-gas, which occurs before thermal runaway, and immediately submerges the battery with a large volume of water, fundamentally overcoming these limitations.

Chairman Lee Yongcheol stated, "We developed GEVF1 after experiencing firsthand the limitations of existing methods at EV fire sites. As safety is a right for everyone, we plan to supply the system at a reasonable price to spaces with electric vehicles, such as apartments, logistics centers, and public facilities." The company is targeting commercialization in the first half of 2026.

GEVF1 is designed to detect smoke, heat, and off-gas, automatically deploy the fire protection screen and water tank, and then discharge water. It can be integrated with existing building fire safety systems. The system also offers 24-hour monitoring and regular inspection services. Geosan ENG has secured one US patent and five domestic patents, and plans to expand into overseas markets including Vietnam, Northern Europe, and the United States.

The Disaster Prevention Technology Team at the Korea Testing & Research Institute stated, "The test was systematically conducted according to the pre-established experiment plan, and stable operation was confirmed throughout the entire process."

Meanwhile, Geosan ENG, founded in 1995, is a specialized architectural engineering company that provides integrated services in architecture, fire safety, electrical, communication, and mechanical systems, offering one-stop solutions from design to maintenance.