Priority Determination of Response Strategies for Electric Vehicle Fires in Underground Parking Lots Using an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)

With the rapid expansion of electric vehicles (EVs), the probability of fires in underground parking lots and the risk of complex damage have increased, necessitating the establishment of systematic and priority-based response strategies. Previous studies utilizing full-scale experiments simulating EV fires in underground parking lots confirmed that overhead sprinkler systems alone can effectively block the spread of fires to adjacent vehicles. This study analyzes the relative importance of EV fire response strategies derived from focus group interviews (FGIs) with four experts. Survey results from 38 relevant experts showed a consistency ratio (CR) of 0.027, indicating high reliability. Among upper-level factors, life safety and evacuation strategies were evaluated as the most critical with a weight of 0.410. In the global weight analysis of the sub-factors, emergency alarm system (EAS) recorded the highest priority (0.171). Additionally, the evacuation route design (ERD) and fire detection speed (FDS) were emphasized as key elements. These results align with previous findings, suggesting that response systems centered on life safety should be prioritized. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that overhead sprinkler systems can serve as critical facilities for the initial response to EV fires. The findings of this study provide foundational evidence for the development of policies and technical strategies related to EV fire response.