Testing solid fire extinguishing agents and fire retardants (Image courtesy of the Korea Forest Promotion Institute)
DAEJEON, Jul. 31 (Korea Bizwire) – The Korea Forest Service has designated two new products as innovative solutions for combating forest fires, the Korea Forest Promotion Institute announced on July 29.
The products, a solid fire extinguishing agent and a fire retardant, were developed by Daemyung Hitech Co., Ltd. through the Forest Science and Technology Commercialization Support Project.
These environmentally friendly products have passed non-toxicity tests conducted by the Korea Testing and Research Institute, among others.
They are expected to not only aid in fire prevention and extinguishment but also contribute to maintaining ecological stability, considering their minimal impact on soil and ecosystems.
The solid fire extinguishing agent is a portable version of the traditional liquid agent. (Image courtesy of the Korea Forest Promotion Institute)
The solid fire extinguishing agent is a portable version of the traditional liquid agent. Its lighter weight allows firefighters to carry larger quantities without the need for separate containers.
Tests conducted by the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology have shown that this solid agent is more than three times as effective as its liquid counterpart.
The developers have also created specialized equipment to adapt the solid agent for use with existing firefighting systems.
The fire retardant is designed to be spread in the path of advancing forest fires to contain and delay their spread.
It remains effective for up to three months, even in light rainfall of up to 5mm per hour.
This product has already seen real-world application during the 2022 forest fires in Uljin and Samcheok, where it was used to create firebreaks protecting critical infrastructure, including nuclear power plants.
The fire retardant is designed to be spread in the path of advancing forest fires to contain and delay their spread. (Image courtesy of the Korea Forest Promotion Institute)
These products have been designated as innovative based on their public benefit, market potential, and technological advancement.
This designation allows for direct contracts with government and local authorities for public procurement for three years from the date of approval, supporting initial market entry and public sector adoption.
Choi Mu-yeol, the director of the Korea Forest Promotion Institute, stated, “These products, developed through national R&D programs in forest science and technology, will help address challenges faced during natural disasters, contributing to more efficient forest fire prevention and extinguishment.”
He added, “We will continue to do our best to support the development of excellent products through our research and development projects.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
