LG Electronics Initiates Development of Fire Prevention Technology for Home Appliances

Starting with Air Conditioners, Planned Application to Various Home Appliances in the Future

From the left, Jinsimwon, Head of LG Electronics Air Solution Research Center, and Sangbeom Lee, Head of Gwangju Regional Headquarters at Korea Electronics Technology Institute, are taking a commemorative photo after signing a business agreement. / Photo by LG Electronics

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Pyeonghwa] LG Electronics is embarking on the development of innovative technology to prevent fires in home appliances, aiming to provide differentiated customer experiences in the safety sector.

On the 12th, LG Electronics signed a business agreement with the Korea Electronics Technology Institute to jointly verify and standardize technology that prevents fires caused by electric arcs in home appliances.

LG Electronics has developed innovative technology that prevents fires by automatically cutting off the power supplied from the indoor unit to the outdoor unit when an arc occurs in the power cord or outlet of air conditioners. LG Electronics and the Korea Electronics Technology Institute will thoroughly verify this technology to secure sufficient reliability and will continue to cooperate for future commercialization and standardization.

Arcs can occur due to various causes such as ▲partial wire breakage or puncture ▲loose power connections ▲wire damage caused by furniture pressure ▲exposure of wire insulation due to external environmental factors. In particular, most air conditioner fires are caused by arcs.

According to the ‘Electric Disaster Statistical Analysis’ by the Korea Electrical Safety Corporation and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, over 80% of electrical fires last year were caused by arcs. The statistics show that electrical fires were concentrated in July and August, the summer months when air conditioner usage surges.

The fire prevention technology developed by LG Electronics can detect arcs and cut off power without installing physical circuit breakers, making it applicable to various sites. LG Electronics plans to first develop and verify fire prevention technology for air conditioners and then expand the related technology to various home appliances.

Lee Jae-sung, Vice President and Head of the Air Solution Business Division at LG Electronics H&A Business Division, said, “We will ensure the safe use of various home appliances in daily life, including LG Electronics’ premium air conditioners,” adding, “We will continue efforts to provide a customer experience on a different level.”

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