[THESAFEKOREA] Fire safety isn`t optional it`s competitiveness

Fire safety isn`t optional it`s competitiveness

Department stores are spaces visited by

thousands, even tens of thousands of people every day.

Great brands and a pleasant environment attract customers, but for a space to earn long-term trust, the most important factor is ultimately safety.

In particular, business interruptions caused by fire go far beyond simple facility damage.

They directly affect the department store’s brand image as well as the operations of its tenants and partner businesses.

A single fire can bring an entire space to a halt.

That is why fire safety management in department stores should never be taken lightly.

Department Store Fires That Automatic Systems Couldn’t Prevent

The 2022 fire at a major outlet mall in Daejeon left a deep shock on many people.

One of the most painful revelations after the accident was that the very systems designed for safety failed to function properly.

The fire alarm system had reportedly been turned off due to repeated false alarms, and the automatic door locking system (EM-LOCK) also failed to operate normally during the incident.

As a result, toxic smoke rapidly spread throughout the underground parking area, leading to severe casualties.

Whether indoors or outdoors, the risk of fire in department stores always exists

In the past, a fire broke out in the outdoor parking lot of a department store in Seongbuk, Seoul, and was extinguished in about 50 minutes.

Fortunately, there were no major casualties, but the aftermath caused inconvenience as customers were unable to move their parked vehicles for some time.

In another fire at a large shopping mall in Bucheon, the damage spread to the 3rd and 4th floors of the building, leading to temporary business suspension on those floors.

Department store fires are not problems that end simply by extinguishing the flames.

They can lead to business interruptions, loss of customer trust, damage to tenant brands, facility restoration costs, and anxiety among employees and visitors.

Depending on the scale of the damage, the impact can last for months or even years.

Fashion designer Choi Baek-ho, who lost everything due to a past department store fire

Choi Bok-ho, widely known as a fashion designer, once shared through a television program that he had lost the entire foundation of his business due to a department store fire.

He explained that the fire destroyed in an instant the space, assets, and workplace he had built over many years.

Eventually, he was forced to close his dress shop and carry the burden of debt, describing it as one of the darkest and most difficult periods of his life.

Like this, fires go far beyond simple property damage.

They can destroy someone’s time, livelihood, and years of hard work, which is why preparation and safety measures are more important than ever.

Growing EV Adoption, Rising Fire Risks

Particularly in recent times, alongside the rapid expansion of EV adoption, the importance of responding to "Thermal Runaway" is escalating quickly.

This is because the nature of EV fires is fundamentally different from that of conventional vehicle fires.

An EV fire is characterized by a sudden, explosive temperature rise, the high possibility of reignition, the release of dense smoke and toxic gases, and prolonged suppression times.

Therefore, how quickly we can contain the spread in the early stages of a fire will make a world of difference in the overall scale of damage and the scene's safety.

SAFEDOME Deployed in Department Store Fire Safety Drill

In line with this trend, SAFEDOME—an innovative EV fire response solution—was recently utilized as a practical training device during a department store fire safety drill. SAFEDOME is an advanced EV fire containment system.

Conventional fire blankets, typically used for early-stage vehicle fire response, often require a team of two or three personnel equipped with full protective gear to deploy.

SAFEDOME redefines this approach with a structured design that allows a single operator to easily move and install the equipment alone.

By swiftly covering the burning vehicle to contain the initial spread, SAFEDOME secures the critical "golden time" for fire response, preventing the situation from escalating into a major disaster.

Staff Experience SAFEDOME’s Rapid Initial Response Firsthand During Drill

The reaction from the scene was simple: "It’s much faster and easier than expected."

With conventional fire blankets, multiple people often need to move in unison, and the time required to put on protective gear and deploy the blanket can make an immediate response difficult in urgent situations.

On the other hand, staff who used SAFEDOME firsthand reported that they could immediately feel the difference. They highly praised how a single person could swiftly move and install the equipment alone.

In particular, the feedback centered on the fact that "anyone on-site can respond immediately," which made them deeply realize the actual effectiveness and vital importance of early-stage fire response.

"For a department store, aesthetics are everything. Will this look okay?" 

Some department store officials might worry, wondering, "Is it really okay to place this kind of equipment right in plain sight?"

However, looking at it from another angle, it actually sparks curiosity among customers.

"What is that?"

When they find out it’s a dedicated safety solution built to respond to EV fires, their perspective shifts. Instead of seeing just a "luxury facility," wouldn't they feel that this is "a company that takes safety truly seriously"?

Preparing for safety behind the scenes, even where it isn’t visually obvious, is what ultimately elevates the trust and value of a space.

If you have any questions or would like to inquire about SAFEDOME, please feel free to contact us at any time. Thank you.