Supplementary Legal Guide

Use Classification "Item 16 (Mixed-use)" in the Order for Enforcement of the Fire Service Act

1. Main Fire Protection Equipment Required for Mixed-use (Item 16-B)

By attaching an office or workplace, the area lines and standards that trigger installation obligations change.

• Automatic Fire Alarm System:
  • For a standalone warehouse (Item 14), installation is generally mandatory for 500㎡ or more. However, if uses such as offices or workplaces are attached, the installation obligation may arise from 300㎡ or more depending on the conditions of the entire building or specific compartments.
• Indoor Fire Hydrant System:
  • In principle, installation is mandatory for a total area of 700㎡ or more (1,000㎡ to 1,400㎡ or more for fireproof structures, etc.).
• Sprinkler System:
  • Required for the entire building if it is 6,000㎡ or more (for rack-type warehouses, etc., specified based on structure).
• Evacuation Equipment (Evacuation Ladders, Guide Lights, etc.):
  • Depending on the number of floors and capacity (number of employees) of the office or workplace, the installation range of evacuation ladders and guide lights (guide signs) expands.

2. Determining Whether it is "Mixed-use (Item 16-B)" or Suffices as "Primary Use (Subordinate Relationship)"

If the attached office or workplace is very small and indispensable for warehouse operations, it may not become a mixed-use (Item 16) and instead be treated as a "subordinate use (integrated facility) of the warehouse (Item 14)."

• Cases recognized as subordinate use (Treated as Item 14 Warehouse):
  • When the area of the office or workplace is small, such as 10% or less of the entire building AND less than 300㎡ (*Depends on the review standards of the municipal fire department).
  • When the office or workplace functions solely for the convenience of managing and operating the warehouse.
• Cases falling under Mixed-use (Treated as Item 16-B):
  • When the office or workplace is large and independent operations are conducted.
  • When there is actual activity akin to a "factory/workplace (Item 13)" such as cargo sorting or processing in most parts of the building.

3. "Compartmentation" and "Fire Prevention Management" Requiring Attention

• Use Compartmentation (Fire Compartments):
  • In the case of Item 16-B, by partitioning the space between the warehouse portion and the office/workplace portion with fireproof walls or specific fire prevention equipment (fire shutters or fire doors), it may be possible to apply installation standards separately for each use.
• Supervising Fire Prevention Manager and Fire Prevention Plan:
  • If offices or workplaces are leased to different companies (multi-tenant), and the capacity reaches 30 persons or more, the appointment of a supervising fire prevention manager and the notification of an overall fire prevention plan become necessary.

💡 Practical Key Point: Because the operational standards for the "area requirements deemed as subordinate use" vary depending on the fire department (prevention division) having jurisdiction, it is recommended to conduct prior consultations with the fire department bringing a floor plan during the layout design stage.