Influence of Spatial, Environmental, and Managerial Factors on Stairwell Fire Door Opening in Apartment Buildings

doi:10.15683/kosdi.2025.9.30.707

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2025 Vol.21, Issue 3 Preview Page Next Page

Original Article

Influence of Spatial, Environmental, and Managerial Factors on Stairwell Fire Door Opening in Apartment Buildings 공동주택에서 공간적·환경적·관리적 요인이 계단실 방화문 개방에 미치는 영향: 김상훈¹ㆍ이재영²*
Sanghun Kim¹, Jaeyoung Lee²*; ¹Master’s Degree, Department of Fire Administration and Disaster Management, Dong-Eui University, Busan, Republic of Korea
²Assistant Professor, Department of Fire Administration and Disaster Management, Dong-Eui University, Busan, Republic of Korea

30 September 2025. pp. 707-717

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Abstract

Purpose: This study analyzes the impact of spatial, environmental, and management factors in apartment buildings on the usability of stairwell fire doors, identifies issues, and suggests improvement measures. Method: Seven research hypotheses were established, and a checklist-based field survey was conducted. Survey items included building scale, layout, age, lobby floor area, window installation, fire door condition, type of door closer, presence of obstructions, and door operation. These factors were analyzed for their influence on fire door malfunction and opening rates. Result: Many fire doors remained open regardless of door closer type, with 54.9% of malfunctions caused by intentional obstruction. Fire door opening rates were significantly associated with building age, decreasing with larger lobby areas but increasing with higher levels of obstructions near doors and within stairwells. Conclusion: Expanding lobby floor area and managing obstructions are effective in reducing fire door opening rates, while resident education and awareness campaigns are also necessary.

Keywords

Apartment building

Fire door

Door closer

Elevator lobby

Evacuation stairs

연구목적: 본 연구는 공동주택의 공간·환경적 특성과 관리 요인이 계단실 방화문 사용성에 미치는 영향을 분석하고 문제점을 도출하여 개선방안을 제시하고자 한다. 연구방법: 공간·환경·관리 요인에 따른 7개 가설을 설정하고 체크리스트를 활용한 현장조사를 실시하였다. 주요 조사항목은 건물 규모, 공간적 형태, 경과 연수, 승강장 바닥면적, 창호 설치 유무, 방화문 상태, 도어클로저 종류, 적치물 유무 및 방화문의 개폐 여부 등이며, 이를 통해 요인이 방화문의 비정상률과 개방률에 미치는 영향을 분석하였다. 연구결과: 다수의 방화문이 도어클로저 종류와 관계없이 개방된 상태였으며, 비정상률의 54.9%는 임의적치물에 의한 고정에서 비롯되었다. 또한 방화문 개방률은 건물 경과 연수와 유의한 상관이 있었고, 승강장 바닥면적이 넓을수록 낮은 경향을 보였다. 반면 방화문 인접부 및 계단실 적치물이 많을수록 개방률이 증가하였다. 결론: 승강장 바닥면적 확대와 철저한 적치물 관리가 방화문 개방률 저감에 효과적이며, 입주민의 인식 개선을 위한 교육·홍보가 필요하다.

키워드

공동주택

방화문

도어클로저

엘리베이터 승강장실

피난계단

References

Choi, B.-Y., Kang, B.-S. (2024). “A study on the perception of fire and evacuation safety among apartment complexes.” Journal of Community Safety and Security by Environmental Design, Vol. 15, No. 3, pp. 85-104. 10.26470/JCSSED.2024.15.3.85
Dong-A Ilbo (2020). “Searched for an emergency exit but found a machine room… Two residents unable to escape the fire.” https://www.donga.com/news/article/all/20201203/104261408/1 2020, December 3.
Enforcement Decree of The Building Act, Presidential Decree No. 35521, Art 34~Art 35. Republic of Korea
Fire Prevention News (2024). “Apartment fire in Banghak-dong that left 32 casualties had open fire doors.” https://www.fpn119.co.kr/209936, 2024, January 1.
Ha, J.-I.(2019). “A study on the improvement of fire protection door performance in apartment houses through analytic hierarchy process (AHP).” Journal of the Society of Disaster Information, Vol. 15, No. 4, pp. 540-547. 10.15683/KOSDI.2019.12.31.540
Hong, G.-Y. (2003). A Study on the Fire Safety Planning and Application for a High-Rise Apartment. Master’s Thesis, Kyonggi University.
Joongboo Ilbo (2023). “[Updated Report 2] One dead, one in cardiac arrest, and 82 slightly injured in Hwaseo-dong apartment fire in Suwon.” https://www.joongboo.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=363581497, 2023, March 7.
Kim, G.-S. (2010). Investigating the Actual Condition of Fire Doors and Improving the Evacuation Capacity in the High-rise Building. Master Thesis, Kyungpook National University.
Kim, H.-J., Yoo, J.-S. (2008). “On a method for computing quantiles of grouped data.” Journal of The Korean Data Analysis Society, Vol. 10, No. 6, pp. 3453-3464.
Kim, H.-K., Choi, D.-C., Lee, D.-H., Hwang, H.-S., Kim, H.-M. (2022). “A numerical analysis study on the influence of the fire protection system on evacuation safety in apartment houses.” Journal of the Society of Disaster Information, Vol. 18, No. 1, pp. 38-50. 10.15683/KOSDI.2022.3.31.038
Kim, J.-W. (2013). “A study on risk management measurers about high-rise apT.” Journal of the Society of Disaster Information, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 178-187.
Kim, S.-H. (2025). The Effects of Spatial and Environmental Characteristics on the Usability of Staircase Fire Door in Apartment Houses. Master Thesis, DongEui University.
Kim, S.-H., Min, B.-Y., Choi, S.-M. (2015). “Fire cause analysis of high-rise apartments.” Review of Architecture and Building Science, Vol. 59, No. 5, pp. 23-28.
Kim, Y.-S., Lee, Y.-L., Son, Y.-H., Kwon, Y.-J. (2024). “Optimizing maintenance strategies for public fire doors in apartment buildings: Study on deterioration patterns and replacement timing.”Journal of The Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation, Vol. 24, No.3, pp. 115-121. 10.9798/KOSHAM.2023.24.3.115
Lee, Y.-S. (2017). “A study on actual condition and improvement method of fire door in apartment building.” Journal of Disaster Management, Vol. 17, No. 6, pp. 261-268. 10.9798/KOSHAM.2017.17.6.261
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) (2008). Technical Standards for Performance Testing of Door Closers, NEMA Notification No. 2008-29. Republic of Korea.
National Fire Agency of Korea (2023). “In apartment fires, waiting in place may be safer than immediate evacuation [Press release].” https://www.nfa.go.kr/nfa/news/pressrelease/press/?mode=view&cntId=2053, 2023, December 28.
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (2004), Building Act, Act No. 20194, Art 2. Republic of Korea.

Information

Publisher :The Korean Society of Disaster Information
Publisher(Ko) :한국재난정보학회
Journal Title :Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
Journal Title(Ko) :한국재난정보학회논문집
Volume : 21
No :3
Pages :707-717
DOI :https://doi.org/10.15683/kosdi.2025.9.30.707

[1] Choi, B.-Y., Kang, B.-S. (2024). “A study on the perception of fire and evacuation safety among apartment complexes.” Journal of Community Safety and Security by Environmental Design, Vol. 15, No. 3, pp. 85-104. 10.26470/JCSSED.2024.15.3.85

[2] Dong-A Ilbo (2020). “Searched for an emergency exit but found a machine room… Two residents unable to escape the fire.” https://www.donga.com/news/article/all/20201203/104261408/1 2020, December 3.

[3] Enforcement Decree of The Building Act, Presidential Decree No. 35521, Art 34~Art 35. Republic of Korea

[4] Fire Prevention News (2024). “Apartment fire in Banghak-dong that left 32 casualties had open fire doors.” https://www.fpn119.co.kr/209936, 2024, January 1.

[5] Ha, J.-I.(2019). “A study on the improvement of fire protection door performance in apartment houses through analytic hierarchy process (AHP).” Journal of the Society of Disaster Information, Vol. 15, No. 4, pp. 540-547. 10.15683/KOSDI.2019.12.31.540

[6] Hong, G.-Y. (2003). A Study on the Fire Safety Planning and Application for a High-Rise Apartment. Master’s Thesis, Kyonggi University.

[7] Joongboo Ilbo (2023). “[Updated Report 2] One dead, one in cardiac arrest, and 82 slightly injured in Hwaseo-dong apartment fire in Suwon.” https://www.joongboo.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=363581497, 2023, March 7.

[8] Kim, G.-S. (2010). Investigating the Actual Condition of Fire Doors and Improving the Evacuation Capacity in the High-rise Building. Master Thesis, Kyungpook National University.

[9] Kim, H.-J., Yoo, J.-S. (2008). “On a method for computing quantiles of grouped data.” Journal of The Korean Data Analysis Society, Vol. 10, No. 6, pp. 3453-3464.

[10] Kim, H.-K., Choi, D.-C., Lee, D.-H., Hwang, H.-S., Kim, H.-M. (2022). “A numerical analysis study on the influence of the fire protection system on evacuation safety in apartment houses.” Journal of the Society of Disaster Information, Vol. 18, No. 1, pp. 38-50. 10.15683/KOSDI.2022.3.31.038

[11] Kim, J.-W. (2013). “A study on risk management measurers about high-rise apT.” Journal of the Society of Disaster Information, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 178-187.

[12] Kim, S.-H. (2025). The Effects of Spatial and Environmental Characteristics on the Usability of Staircase Fire Door in Apartment Houses. Master Thesis, DongEui University.

[13] Kim, S.-H., Min, B.-Y., Choi, S.-M. (2015). “Fire cause analysis of high-rise apartments.” Review of Architecture and Building Science, Vol. 59, No. 5, pp. 23-28.

[14] Kim, Y.-S., Lee, Y.-L., Son, Y.-H., Kwon, Y.-J. (2024). “Optimizing maintenance strategies for public fire doors in apartment buildings: Study on deterioration patterns and replacement timing.”Journal of The Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation, Vol. 24, No.3, pp. 115-121. 10.9798/KOSHAM.2023.24.3.115

[15] Lee, Y.-S. (2017). “A study on actual condition and improvement method of fire door in apartment building.” Journal of Disaster Management, Vol. 17, No. 6, pp. 261-268. 10.9798/KOSHAM.2017.17.6.261

[16] National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) (2008). Technical Standards for Performance Testing of Door Closers, NEMA Notification No. 2008-29. Republic of Korea.

[17] National Fire Agency of Korea (2023). “In apartment fires, waiting in place may be safer than immediate evacuation [Press release].” https://www.nfa.go.kr/nfa/news/pressrelease/press/?mode=view&cntId=2053, 2023, December 28.

[18] Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (2004), Building Act, Act No. 20194, Art 2. Republic of Korea.

Journal of the Society of Disaster Information ISSN:1976-2208(Print) 2671-5287(Online) 한국재난정보학회논문집

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