• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.111-120
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• 2016

This study is intended to provide legislative direction for fire products life expectancy. Domestic and international laws relating to fire products life expectancy have been reviewed, and the results of a Fire Safety Manager Consciousness (FSMC) survey were analyzed. The FSMC survey has been designed in order to assist with the establishment of appropriate fire safety policy. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 660 fire safety administrators from 17 municipal and provincial districts, with the intention of gaining expertise on the extension of life-span for 32 fire products. The survey also asked for candidates opinions on future policy direction. Based on the survey results and the review of policies within other nations, we have devised a set of policy issues with the intention of extending the life-span of fire-safety items. The survey result revealed that 79.3% of Fire Safety Managers (FSMs) concurred with the establishment of legislation regarding the maintenance and correct care of fire-safety products. Overall, over 30% of FSMs were in favor of regulations regarding Ddry chemical fire extinguishers (77.3%), fire detectors (44.6%), fire hoses (44.4%), gaseous agent fire extinguisher (40.6%), automatic descending life lines (36.2%), exit lights (35.9%), air respirators (35.9%), extinguishing systems for residential cooking facilities (33.9%), automatic spray-type extinguishing units (33.9%), emergency lights (31.2%), and gas leakage detectors (30.7%). Especially, among these, dry chemical fire extinguishers (60.0%), detectors (20.0%), and fire hose (18.8%) were identified as the fire products primarily in need of maintenance legislation. The general consensus is that fire products older than 10 years need to be replaced. Based on the survey results, there was general agreement that fire product life expectancy is in need of legislation. This study recommends the introduction of fire product life expectancy legislation in phases.