• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.138-148
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• 2016

A firefighting simulation was developed in order to assess the physical work capacity of firefighters. The simulation consisted of eight common firefighting tasks, including walking with radiant heat for 3 min while wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE). Nine professional firefighters performed the test a total of three times with a 5 min rest interval between each session. The entire series of tests took approximately 30 min to complete ($381{\pm}30s$). Rectal temperatures were found to increase from $37.4{\pm}0.3^{\circ}C$ to $38.5{\pm}0.4^{\circ}C$, while heart rates were found to increase from $92{\pm}18bpm$ to $185{\pm}13bpm$ during testing. Time to completion of the test drills and non-modified physical fitness values showed a significantly negative correlation (r = -0.728, p < 0.05). Firefighters who had longer periods of firefighting service had longer duration time and also recorded higher scores using an integrated scoring system of time to completion (TTC) and physiological strain index (PhSI). The results indicated that the determination of TTC alone can be a misrepresentation of capability, as it neglects to account for accumulated heat strain. The simulated firefighting test provided a useful insight into physical fitness level, but also the comprehensive work capacity of the firefighters when assessed based on TTC and PhSI.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.66-77
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• 2019

To secure the safety and improve the work efficiency of forest firefighting crews, performance evaluation criteria for safety helmets were developed in this study. Because the standards for forest firefighting safety helmets are not available in Korea, we began our study based on the standards for firefighting safety helmets used by the Korea Fire Institute (KFI). Eleven test items were selected excluding 15 other items out of the 26 test items that, through the consultation of stakeholders and the review of foreign standards, were initially included in our study. Two types of general safety helmets and one firefighting helmet were tested by applying KFI standards, and the results were compared. The general safety helmets did not meet the standards of the retention system and chin strap. Additionally, polyethylene and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene materials were found to be especially weak under heat conditions. We compared the criteria of KFI, International Standardization Organization (ISO) 16073, National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) 1977, NFPA 1971, and British Standards European Norm (BS EN) 443, and finally selected 11 test items and their acceptance criteria suitable for the work environment of forest firefighting crews in Korea.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.489-502
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• 2020

This study shows the difference between groups with multivariate analysis of fire prevention activities, special investigations of fire safety, and fire safety management according to the management method of apartment houses and the inspection of firefighting facilities. The results of the analysis are as follows. First, there was a significant difference in fire prevention activities according to the quality of inspection of firefighting facilities. This means that fire prevention is high if the fire safety manager's ability to inspect firefighting facilities is excellent and the fire safety inspection is conducted in accordance with national fire safety standards and checklists. Second, there was a significant difference in the fire safety special investigation according to the management method of the apartment buildings. The manual operated by the management entity and the management entity's management and execution help the organization members to expedite work. This expedition of work creates a high possiblity to get a good evaluation from the special investigation of fire safety. Third, analysis of fire prevention activities showed a significant interaction between the inspection of firefighting facilities and the management method of apartment buildings. The analysis shows that that there is a positive correlation between the level of fire prevention and both the fire safety manager's ability to inspect firefighting facilities and the degree to which the inspection is conducted to meet national fire safety standards.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.386-392
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• 2017

Background: Fire service workers often implement multiple duties in the emergency conditions, with such duties being mostly conducted in various ambient temperatures. Methods: The aim of the current study was to assess the firefighters' physiological responses, information processing, and working memory prior to and following simulated firefighting activities in three different hot environments. Seventeen healthy male firefighters performed simulated firefighting tasks in three separate conditions, namely (1) low heat (LH; $29-31^{\circ}C$, 55-60% relative humidity), (2) moderate heat (MH; $32-34^{\circ}C$, 55-60% relative humidity), and (3) severe heat (SH; $35-37^{\circ}C$, 55-60% relative humidity). It took about 45-50 minutes for each firefighter to finish all defined firefighting activities and the paced auditory serial addition test (PASAT). Results: At the end of all the three experimental conditions, heart rate (HR) and tympanic temperature (TT) increased, while PASAT scores as a measure of information processing performance decreased relative to baseline. HR and TT were significantly higher at the end of the experiment in the SH ($159.41{\pm}4.25beats/min$; $38.22{\pm}0.10^{\circ}C$) compared with the MH ($156.59{\pm}3.77beats/min$; $38.20{\pm}0.10^{\circ}C$) and LH ($154.24{\pm}4.67beats/min$; $38.17{\pm}0.10^{\circ}C$) conditions (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in PASAT scores between LH and MH (p > 0.05). Nonetheless, there was a measurable difference in PASAT scores between LH and SH (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These consequences demonstrate that ambient temperature is effective in raising the physiological responses following firefighting activities. It is therefore argued that further increase of ambient temperature can impact firefighters' information processing and working memory during firefighting activity.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.14-22
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• 2014

Hydrocarbon fires and explosions in petrochemical plants have occurred repeatedly every year. But domestic law of fire protection system is insufficient for the worst case scenario. In this study, we analyzed domestic and foreign standards of fire protection system in petrochemical plants and surveyed firefighting equipment of 32 petrochemical plants in ulsan petrochemical complex. Finally, it is necessary to design fire water supply based on the worst case scenario in petrochemical plants and firefighting equipment such as fixed water spray system, elevated monitor nozzle, water curtain, large amount foam monitor system should be installed for the worst case scenario in petrochemical plants.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.97-102
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• 2019

This study suggests a solution of an incentive system from the viewpoint of the external effect on the renting of firefighting qualifications and on rental agencies. Currently, the Human Resources Development Service of Korea does not have a penalty for neglecting to perform a search into qualification lending and rental agencies. In the short term, the penal clause should be strengthened so that companies and qualification holders cannot borrow or lend their qualifications. In addition, the Human Resources Development Service of Korea will increase the number of personnel dedicated to investigating the loaning of qualifications. It is necessary for the government to establish a penalty for neglecting to investigate the lending of qualifications for the Human Resources Development Service of Korea. In the long term, the state needs to make only minimal regulations. Also, the state needs to make companies and qualification holders feel like they benefit more when they are not borrowing or lending qualifications. The anticipated effect of this study is that the government will intervene appropriately by applying firefighting qualifications according to market principles. It can also be used as a basis for the revision of related laws on the renting of national technical qualification certificates and the investigation of rental agencies.

• Journal of Korea Society of Digital Industry and Information Management
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.57-68
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• 2018

This paper presents a smart firefighting appliances monitoring system based on big data analytics platform using GS1 for Smart City. Typical firefighting appliances are fire hydrant, fire extinguisher, fire alarm, sprinkler, fire engine, etc. for the fire of classes A/B/C/D/E. Among them, the dry chemical fire extinguisher have been widely supplied and 6 millions ones were replaced for the aging ones over 10 years in the past year. However, only 5% of them have been collected for recycling of chemical materials included the heavy metals of environment pollution. Therefore, we considered the trace of firefighting appliances from production to disposal for the public open service. In the paper, we suggest 1) a smart firefighting appliances system using GS1, 2) a big data analytics platform and 3) a public open service and visualization with the analyzed information, for fire extinguishers from production to disposal. It can give the information and the visualized diagrams with the analyzed data through the public open service and the free Apps.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.33-44
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• 2020

This study analyzed how the installation of a pressure gauge in the indoor fire hydrant of an apartment building affected identifying pressurized water in the pipe, making it easier to conduct internal inspection on the fire suppression system, and ensuring reliability of fire suppression. The following are the study's results: First, identifying pressurized water in the indoor firefighting pipe had a positive effect on the installation of a pressure gauge in the indoor fire hydrant. This implies that a higher level of identification of pressurized water in the indoor firefighting pipe had a positive impact on improving the installation and use of a pressure gauge in the indoor fire hydrant. Second, making it easier for the fire safety officer to inspect the fire suppression system had a positive effect on the installation of a pressure gauge in the indoor fire hydrant. This suggests that if it becomes easier for the apartment building's stakeholder to conduct internal inspection or the firefighting facility manager to carry out inspection on the fire suppression system, it would have a positive effect on the installation of a pressure gauge in the indoor fire hydrant. Finally, ensuring reliability in fire suppression had a positive effect on the installation of a pressure gauge in the indoor fire hydrant. This implies that if it becomes easier to identify pressurized water in the indoor firefighting pipe, for the fire safety officer to conduct internal inspection, or for the firefighting facility manager to carry out inspection in accordance with the fire suppression system's internal inspection requirements, it would increase reliability in fire suppression, making it more necessary to install a pressure gauge in the indoor fire hydrant.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.54-63
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• 2015

Volunteer fire department is a private firefighting organization which is set up in Seoul, metropolitan cities, city/eup/myeon to assist firefighting service. It actively participates in prevention and aid of various disasters as well as in fire prevention/extinguishment to protect people's lives and property and to promote regional development. In short, it is a nonpaid, voluntary, private service organization; it is composed of residents in the area who have spirit of service and sacrifice, wish to join, and work in their own occupation while assisting firefighting work. Yet, voluntary fire department of such nobility and sincerity has not been vitalized, and accordingly, studies regarding this issue have been conducted in firefighting organizations and academia. Therefore, purposes of this research are 1) to analyze issues of current situation through looking at basic training for new volunteer firefighter, unification of power to appoint and dismiss captain and crews of the volunteer fire department, volunteer fire firefighters with a few good people, and vitalization of female volunteer firefighters; and 2) to propose vitalization measures based on the findings above.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.385-394
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• 2023

Objectives: Firefighters could be exposed to a range of toxic chemicals during firefighting. When tyre burns, various toxic chemicals including volatile organic compounds(VOCs) could be emitted. In this study, the researchers assessed the VOC exposure of firefighters during tyre fire suppression through biomonitoring. Methods: There was a big tyre fire on 12 March 2023. Of the responding firefighters, we recruited 14 participants to collect their urine after firefighting. One week later, researchers collected firefighters' urine again right after their off-duty period. We analyzed each metabolite of benzene, toluene, xylene, and styrene in urine and compared their exposure level based on sampling time. Results: The detection rate for metabolite of benzene, toluene, styrene, and xylene in urine sampled at each time was 43%-64%, 100%, 86%-100%, and 100%, respectively. Except for the benzene, metabolite levels measured in urine after firefighting were similar to that from off-duty period. However, the median concentration of benzene metabolite in urine sampled after firefighting was three times higher compared to that from off-duty period(34.2 ㎍/g crea. and 10.9 ㎍/g crea., respectively.) The estimated airborne concentration of benzene calculated from metabolite level in urine was 0.16 ppm, which exceeded the recommended exposure level set by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Conclusions: This study shows that firefighters could be exposed to the high level of VOCs including benzene during their firefighting especially at tyre fire. These results could be used as a valuable data to prove firefighters' exposure to hazardous chemicals during their duty.