Jeonbuk Fire Department Conducts Emergency Inspections of Multi-Use Businesses Using Sandwich Panels

Focused Inspection on the Risk of Rapid Fire Spread

In order to reduce the fire risk posed by sandwich panel buildings, which allow flames to spread rapidly and emit toxic gases during a fire, the Jeonbuk fire authorities have initiated a comprehensive inspection.

The Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Fire Headquarters announced on the 22nd that it will conduct emergency safety inspections targeting 15 multi-use businesses in the province that are constructed with sandwich panel structures.

The Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Fire Headquarters announced on the 22nd that it will conduct urgent safety inspections on 15 multi-use facilities with sandwich panel structures in the province, which are at high risk of fire spreading. Photo by Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Fire Headquarters

This measure was prompted by a major fire at an auto parts factory in Daedeok-gu, Daejeon, in March. The fire resulted in 14 deaths and 60 injuries, causing significant casualties. In response, the National Fire Agency decided to strengthen safety management of sandwich panel buildings nationwide.

The inspection will be carried out over a two-week period from the 26th of this month to the 12th of next month. The main focus will be on assessing the overall condition of facilities that are at high risk of rapid combustion in the event of a fire. Inspection teams will comprehensively check what types of sandwich panels are used in the interior walls and roofs of stores, and whether the finishing materials used in the construction are safe.

Sandwich panel structures are particularly dangerous because the properties of the insulation material inside allow fires to spread rapidly, while generating large amounts of toxic gas, which can easily lead to casualties. Notably, the 2020 fire at a new logistics warehouse construction site in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province (38 deaths), and the 2008 fire at a cold storage warehouse in Icheon (40 deaths), both saw polyurethane foam inside the sandwich panels ignite and emit large quantities of toxic gas, greatly exacerbating the damage. Experts have consistently pointed out that not only factories and warehouses, but also multi-use businesses frequented by the general public, face similar risks.

Lee Ohsook, Chief of the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Fire Headquarters, stated, "Sandwich panel buildings are dangerous because flames can spread rapidly and large amounts of toxic gas are generated during a fire. Through this inspection, we aim to eliminate vulnerabilities in advance and create an environment where residents can live with peace of mind."

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