An Overview of the Current Fire Research and Fire Safety Design in Korea

C h a n g e s i n b u i l d i n g s y s t e m s a n d developments in architectural technology have become larger in scope and have led to taller and more complex buildings. These developments have also resulted in an increase of potential risks associated with building fires. During the past several decades, the construction of tall buildings has been booming in Korea. However, the fire safety design for buildings has not been properly established to catch up to these demands, and fire losses are increasing. It is essential to understand that fire safety engineering cannot prosper alone, and it is not even enough to be supported by research in that specific area. Fundamental research requires support from other disciplines and from multidisciplinary research groups. Performance-based design is becoming more common as facilities incorporate unique features to achieve aesthetic, cost and functional goals while maintaining safety levels for building occupants and emergency responders. Performance-based design allows for significant design flexibility; however, therein lies a great responsibility to maintain fire protection features that might go beyond those required by code. Without knowledge of the mitigating features, a well-intentioned contractor or designer could compromise the building's safety during future renovations.