Regulations on Fire Compartmentation for Semiconductor Plant Piping Spaces Eased... MOLIT Announces Legislation Notice

Quality Recognition Standards for New Fire Protection Materials to Be Established

Going forward, if sprinklers are installed in the facility piping spaces of semiconductor plants, it will no longer be necessary to divide each floor into separate fire zones using concrete floors.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced that it will begin taking public comments on amendments to the Enforcement Decree of the Building Act and the Rules on Standards for Evacuation and Fire Protection Structures of Buildings from July 15, 2026, to August 24, 2026.

Semiconductor plants often undergo frequent changes to their manufacturing processes, which leads to frequent additions or relocations of facility piping. Previously, each time the plant layout changed, solid concrete floors had to be demolished and reconstructed, which was a major issue at construction sites. Under the new amendments, if sprinklers are installed and subject to expert review, it will be possible to forgo the installation of inter-floor fire zones.

Regulations that have hindered the development of new fire safety building materials will also be lifted. Previously, quality recognition for new products was possible only in the area of fire-resistant design. Fire doors, fire shutters, fire-resistant filling materials, and composite materials—four categories of products—have lacked verification standards for new products, which limited their introduction to the market. The ministry has now improved the system to allow separate recognition criteria to be established for these materials following deliberation by an advisory committee.

Additionally, the standards for installing composite fire shutters, which combine fire doors and automatic fire shutters, have been clarified to specify that a separate fire door is not required when such a composite unit is installed. Furthermore, the requirement to include the preparer's date of birth when writing material quality control documents will be eliminated to protect personal information.

Jung Seungsoo, Director of Building Safety at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stated, "This amendment is designed to reasonably incorporate changes in the industrial field and new technologies into the building system while ensuring fire safety in buildings. We will continue to improve the building system rationally by prioritizing public safety and actively reflecting the voices of the industrial sector."

The full text of the amendments can be found on the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s website under ‘Policy Data - Legal Information - Legislative/Administrative Notices.’ Comments or suggestions can be submitted via mail or the website.

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