Samsung C&T builds safer Raemian apartments with advanced fire-safety technology

Samsung C&T is rolling out a series of fire-safety technologies at its apartment developments, stepping up efforts to prevent fires and strengthen safety management. The measures range from automatic fire-suppression systems to smoke-evacuation equipment designed to make its Raemian complexes safer for residents.

Samsung C&T said Wednesday that a smart charging unit featuring a self-extinguishing function has been installed at the Raemian Ellavine construction site in Banghwa-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, to guard against fires caused by the growing use of secondary batteries.

At present, secondary batteries used for power tools at apartment construction sites are charged inside dedicated storage units made of non-combustible materials. Automatic diffusion fire extinguishers mounted on the ceiling of those units help with initial response, but have proven insufficient for fully suppressing secondary-battery fires.

In response, Samsung C&T jointly developed the smart charging unit with Korea Fire Equipment Manufacturing. The unit holds 8 liters of fire-suppression liquid proven effective against lithium-ion battery fires. Three temperature sensors and two suppression-agent discharge nozzles automatically detect a fire during charging and release the agent. A cooling fan is also built in to prevent overheating.

The risk of secondary-battery fires is spreading beyond construction sites into everyday residential spaces, including electric bicycle batteries inside apartment complexes. Samsung C&T plans to install smart charging units in the common areas of new Raemian complexes so residents can safely store and charge secondary batteries.

The smart charging unit has been available for purchase since May through Homenic, Samsung C&T's apartment lifestyle care platform app.

Samsung C&T is also developing a high-performance smoke-exhaust system called the reversible heat-resistant fan in partnership with Donghae Giyon, a specialist in air-conditioning systems. Conventional underground parking garage ventilation fans serve only basic ventilation purposes, leaving fire response entirely dependent on sprinklers. The reversible heat-resistant fan operates in low-airflow ventilation mode under normal conditions, then switches in real time to optimal airflow volume and direction to expel smoke when a fire breaks out.

In the event of an electric vehicle fire in particular, the fan forces toxic gases out at maximum airflow while forming an air barrier around the charging area, buying residents and rescue workers enough time to evacuate and enter safely.

Samsung C&T also proposed a collaboration with fire-equipment specialist Paratech to jointly develop a leak-detecting sprinkler. The sprinkler head cover is fitted with a drain port that allows workers to visually confirm any leakage at a glance, enabling early detection of potential malfunctions and helping prevent fires. The design also guards against water damage from accidental activation, raising both the quality and safety of the residential environment. Samsung C&T plans to roll out the technology sequentially across new Raemian complexes.

The company has established a dedicated Fire Safety Technology Group within its housing development division, staffed primarily by holders of fire-safety certifications. The team sets fire-safety standards tailored to apartment construction sites and develops new fire-safety technologies. It also conducts fire-safety manager training and on-site inspections, building a prevention-focused safety management framework that goes beyond legal compliance.

"We are continuously expanding our organization and technology development efforts to prevent fires at apartment construction sites and to create residential facilities that remain safe from fire even after residents move in," a Samsung C&T official said. "We will deliver a living environment where customers can feel secure, underpinned by an integrated fire-safety system that covers both construction-site safety and everyday residential safety."