Seoul upgrades underground arcade ads with fire-resistant materials

Seoul Facilities Corp. announced Sunday that it has been applying self-developed quasi-noncombustible materials to advertising fixtures in major underground shopping arcades to reduce fire risk.

The corporation has already completed upgrades to advertising facilities at five underground arcades — Gangnam Station, Jamsil Plaza, Jamsil Station, Yeongdeungpo Station and Yeongdeungpo Rotary — as well as nine connecting passages. Work is also underway at the Gangnam Terminal underground arcade.

Noting that some advertising materials use paper, plastic and other flammable substances, the corporation drew on its facility management experience to develop a quasi-noncombustible advertising sheet in-house.

The product passed performance tests conducted by an accredited testing agency. Depending on the characteristics of each facility, the corporation also introduced quasi-noncombustible LED display panels and replaced existing plastic advertising covers with tempered glass.

Given the weight of tempered glass, the corporation reviewed structural safety for the installation and established separate design standards. These material safety standards have since been applied in stages to advertising bids and contract renewals.

To ensure the standards are met on site, the corporation plans to review material documentation and test results before advertising fixtures are installed, and to inspect whether compliant materials are actually used during construction. The corporation also intends to expand the use of noncombustible and quasi-noncombustible materials to other underground arcades going forward.

Han Guk-young, president of Seoul Facilities Corp., said the corporation had applied fire safety standards rigorously to every advertising fixture because underground arcades are spaces large numbers of citizens pass through every day. "We will continue to do our best to create safe underground arcades where citizens can use them with peace of mind," Han said.