From May, Sprinkler Installation Becomes Mandatory in Motels and Other Accommodation Facilities

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] Starting from May, lodging facilities such as motels and inns will also be included in the mandatory targets for fire safety performance reinforcement in buildings. When designated as a mandatory target for fire safety performance reinforcement, the installation of sprinklers will be compulsory.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 5th that, with the new enforcement of the 'Building Management Act' from May, it will additionally announce the legislative proposals for related enforcement ordinances and enforcement rules, as well as issue an administrative notice for the establishment of administrative rules containing detailed standards for building management.

The Building Management Act was enacted and promulgated in April last year following frequent large-scale fire accidents such as the 2017 Jecheon complex building fire and the 2018 Miryang hospital and Gukil Goshiwon fires. It designates building types vulnerable to fire and requires reinforcement of safety performance such as the installation of fire extinguishing equipment. The Act will be enforced starting from May 1, one year after its promulgation.

The additional legislative proposal requires mandatory fire safety performance reinforcement for lodging facilities if they meet fire vulnerability conditions, such as buildings of three or more floors using combustible exterior materials and lacking sprinkler systems. This follows concerns over frequent fire accidents in lodging facilities like motels, including the 2018 Jongno-gu inn arson case. Buildings designated by the Fire Agency Chief as likely to cause significant human or property damage are also included in the mandatory targets.

To reduce the burden on building owners, it has been clarified that applications for building permits and demolition permits can be submitted simultaneously. Currently, building permits and demolition permits must be processed separately.

The administrative rule proposal specifies the methods and standards for reinforcing fire safety performance in buildings. Reinforcement methods for target buildings are presented as mandatory and optional methods according to structural types, enabling building owners to easily select reinforcement methods. Mandatory methods include reinforcing the ceilings of pilotis in first-floor pilotis buildings, and installing sprinklers in general buildings.

The additional legislative proposal period for the enforcement ordinance and enforcement rules is 40 days from the 6th to the 15th of next month, and the administrative rule proposal period is 20 days from the 6th to the 26th. After consultations with related ministries and regulatory reviews, the rules will be enforced on May 1.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.