Government legislation ministry clarifies sprinkler exemption for factories

The government legislation ministry said Tuesday that factories and warehouses are exempt from installing sprinkler systems only if their roofs and outer walls are constructed entirely of non-combustible materials and feature fire-resistant structures.

Under the current enforcement decree, facilities with roofs or outer walls made of non-non-combustible materials or lacking fire-resistant structures must install sprinklers. The ministry explained that the use of the word "or" in the regulation implies that meeting either negative condition triggers the installation requirement.

The interpretation, issued as formal case number 26-0341 on July 14, applies specifically to facilities outlined in Article 10 of Appendix 4 of the Enforcement Decree. Officials noted that fires spread rapidly in structures where any part of the exterior fails to resist flames, posing significant risks to life and property, which drove the 2014 regulatory tightening.

As the agency responsible for providing authoritative legal interpretations for the executive branch, the Ministry of Legislation stated that this reading aligns with the Fire Facilities Act's primary goal of protecting public safety. The clarification resolves uncertainty regarding whether partial compliance with material standards was sufficient for exemption, confirming that both roof and wall structures must simultaneously meet strict fire-resistance criteria to avoid mandatory sprinkler installation.