The South Korean authorities introduced a set of measures to stop fires and explosions in battery manufacturing factories by proposing particular security administration requirements for such factories on Tuesday.
The latest set of measures comes after the deadly fireplace at a lithium battery plant in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, on June 24, which resulted in 23 deaths. Because the incident, a job power consisting of officers from the Ministry of Inside and Security in addition to different ministries and consultants was fashioned, with the objective of lowering battery manufacturing facility fires and minimizing additional human and materials damages from such fires.
On Tuesday, the federal government introduced that amendments might be made to the Hearth Prevention and Security Management Act, the place lithium batteries might be designated as a “particular flammable materials.”
Designating lithium batteries as particular flammable supplies, that are outlined as supplies that pose decrease fireplace hazards however are troublesome to extinguish as they unfold quickly, will assist to set particular requirements by legislation on the best way to stack and retailer lithium items and would require factories that take care of lithium supplies to be constructed with fireproof constructions and smoke-proof supplies.
Within the case of the manufacturing facility fireplace at Hwaseong, the hearth was seen to have been triggered and to have had an even bigger influence because of lithium batteries being stacked on prime of each other in a single place.
The federal government added that solely non-combustible supplies, comparable to concrete and bricks, might be allowed for use to construct the outside partitions of factories coping with particular flammable supplies comparable to lithium. Semi-combustible supplies, comparable to sandwich panels beforehand allowed for these factories, have been closely criticized for his or her excessive fireplace danger following the manufacturing facility fireplace in June.
The federal government can even work to develop fireplace extinguishers deemed efficient in extinguishing fires brought on by lithium batteries, by first setting fireplace extinguishing requirements for coping with such fires by December this yr. Different supplies, comparable to fireplace extinguishing brokers used particularly for extinguishing lithium battery-caused fires, might be developed by 2028. Specialised sensor methods that may each predict and detect fires brought on by batteries can even be developed to be put in inside battery factories by 2028.
By legislation, factories coping with particular flammable supplies can even be required to put in alarms outfitted with flashing lights to help fast evacuation, in addition to present masks particularly for fireplace evacuation.
As many employees at such factories, together with victims of the Hwaseong manufacturing facility fireplace, are overseas nationals, the federal government added that it could make fundamental security and well being training necessary for all overseas employees getting into the nation, together with training on correct fireplace evacuation strategies in addition to security tips in coping with dangerous chemical substances.
The measures would cowl all employees on E-9 and H-2 visas. Nonetheless, many overseas employees are in Korea on different visas, together with a few of the victims of the Hwaseong manufacturing facility fireplace.
As much as 200 factories which are susceptible to fireplace and explosion that haven’t been inspected and supervised inside the final three years will endure inspection led by the Ministry of Employment and Labor by the top of 2024. Among the many 200 factories, the federal government can even present help to people who require help in putting in services and provides wanted for extinguishing fires and correct evacuation.
“The federal government will totally handle and examine the implementation standing of such modifications on-site, by revising related legal guidelines and implementing laws with related organizations to be sure that the ready measures are utilized on the sector as quickly as attainable,” stated Inside Minister Lee Sang-min Tuesday.
