Spray-on fire-resistant insulation set to make underground parking lots safer

A spray-on non-combustible insulation product is expected to bolster fire safety in underground parking garages, where installation ease has long been a challenge.

A building code amendment requiring that insulation materials used in underground parking garages meet non-combustible standards has cleared the National Assembly and is awaiting promulgation. Non-combustible is the highest fire-safety rating for construction materials, granted only to products that resist ignition, suppress the spread of fire and minimize the release of toxic gases.

Hyundai L&C says its EcoSpray is the only non-combustible insulation product on the domestic market that meets the legal requirements. The spray-type product can be applied regardless of spatial constraints, and its glass wool composition earned it the top rating in both thermal insulation and non-combustibility assessments.

Most non-combustible insulation products on the market come in rigid board form, making application on irregular surfaces difficult. Used alone, they also tend to fall short of statutory insulation standards. EcoSpray, by contrast, adheres directly to surfaces when sprayed, filling gaps completely. It meets insulation requirements on its own and received a Grade A rating — the highest thermal insulation classification, with a thermal conductivity of 0.034 W/mK — from the Korea Conformity Laboratories.

Its non-combustibility rating was certified by the state-accredited FITI Testing and Research Institute. The product showed almost no combustion when exposed to temperatures above 700 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes, the company said. It also performed more than 60 percent above the acceptable threshold in toxic gas emission tests conducted under fire conditions. It also received a Grade 1 sound absorption rating (NRC 0.94) from the Korea Conformity Laboratories, confirming its effectiveness in absorbing vehicle and mechanical noise inside parking structures.

"Inquiries about installation have increased sharply since July and August," Hyundai L&C said. "EcoSpray sales through August this year rose 31 percent compared with the same period last year."