The National Fire Agency announced the results of an emergency fire safety inspection conducted on 5,447 apartment complexes nationwide on the 29th.
According to the investigation results, 1,312 defects were found in 876 complexes. Major findings included ▲ leaving sprinklers inoperable with no water discharge upon activation ▲ tampering with receivers to prevent automatic operation ▲ damage to fire door automatic openers at underground parking lot entrances.
In this investigation, the National Fire Agency imposed fines on 62 of the defects identified and issued orders for corrective action on 1,245 cases.
This investigation by the National Fire Agency was conducted following an electric vehicle fire accident in the underground parking lot of an apartment in Cheongna-dong, Incheon, in Aug. During that incident, a fire, presumed to have started from an electric vehicle battery, destroyed 87 vehicles, and 23 residents inhaled smoke.
The fire authorities pointed out that the large-scale damage occurred because the sprinklers in the apartment were turned off at will. Subsequently, from Aug. 21 to Nov. 21, 19 city and provincial fire headquarters conducted a surprise inspection on 5,447 out of 15,467 complexes with sprinklers installed in underground parking lots.
Hong Yeong-geun, director of the National Fire Agency's Fire Prevention Bureau, said, “We ask that apartment officials make self-inspections a routine practice and manage to prevent blocking or closing of firefighting and evacuation facilities.”