This file photo provided by the Daejeon Fire Department shows the scene of butane canister explosion.
SEOUL, July 6 (Korea Bizwire) — The government is considering a measure that would require butane canisters to have an explosion prevention function starting in 2023.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced a plan to require all types of butane canisters to be explosion proof by revising the enforcement ordinance of the High Pressure Gas Safety Management Act by the second half of this year.
Butane canisters can explode when their internal gas pressure increases after they are heated. The explosion prevention function creates a fine crack before the canister explodes, aimed at lowering the internal pressure by emitting the gas.
Over the past five years, 78 cases or 80 percent of the 97 butane canister accidents were caused by explosions. The explosion prevention function would be able to contribute to preventing 75 out of 100 butane can-related accidents.
However, given the time needed for manufacturers to invest in new facilities and update their products, the government decided to implement the mandatory measure from the year 2023.
The ministry also decided to improve the label warnings on butane canisters.
To make it easier for consumers to understand the precautions that need to be taken, the ratio of the size of the warning picture to the size of the canister will be enlarged from 1/35 to 1/8.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
