KAFF 2026 exhibition highlights low-carbon and fire safety technologies

The 21st KAFF exhibition, held from October 28 to 30 at COEX Hall D in Samseong-dong, Seoul, showcased advanced construction solutions including resource-circulating products and fire safety materials. The event featured technologies such as semi-non-combustible insulation and eco-friendly aggregate made from industrial by-products like lithium slag.

The KAFF 2026 exhibition, held from October 28 to 30 at COEX Hall D in Samseong-dong, Seoul, showcased high-efficiency and low-carbon construction technologies, fire safety materials, and resource-circulating products. Now in its 21st year, KAFF 2026 is a professional B2B exhibition hosted by the Korea Institute of Registered Architects that connects the entire construction industry, including architectural design, construction, and building material distribution.

The event focused on examining the field applicability of technologies aligned with carbon neutrality and ESG management, providing a platform for practicing architects and construction professionals to verify product performance and discuss cooperation. Participating companies operated booths to promote their technical capabilities and seek opportunities to incorporate their products into new designs.

The exhibition floor featured a wide range of structural and functional materials affecting building performance and safety. In response to strengthened fire safety regulations, semi-non-combustible and flame-retardant exterior wall insulation, as well as semi-non-combustible urethane boards that passed real-scale fire tests, were positioned in key areas. Safety control solutions combining smart home IoT technology with architectural hardware were also displayed, including composite fire doors with enhanced airtightness and insulation, and automatic opening systems integrated with facial recognition technology. Visitors reviewed material specifications meeting architectural safety standards by examining fire performance test reports alongside physical cross-section samples.

Alongside safety materials, the event introduced resource-circulating recycled products and technologies to reduce environmental impact by utilizing industrial by-products and upcycling construction waste. Eco-friendly aggregate technologies that refine and process industrial by-products like lithium slag and fly ash to replace cement and admixtures, as well as resource-circulating concrete products with reduced greenhouse gas emissions, were exhibited with prototypes and demonstration cases. Permeable eco-blocks utilizing limestone and ceramic resources from abandoned mine areas in Gangwon State, along with landscaping-integrated paving block systems designed to increase the ecological area ratio, were also installed on-site.

In the section for heating-related flooring and wall materials affecting indoor comfort and energy efficiency, products combining multiple functions such as insulation and inter-floor noise reduction were notable. Installed functional flooring and dry hot-water heating systems allowed visitors to verify construction methods and thermal conductivity performance. Integrated solutions capable of reducing heating and cooling energy throughout a building's life cycle were also presented, including breathable waterproof ventilated wall materials that reduce heat loss while aiding moisture discharge, and vent systems for fireproofing and condensation prevention in basement levels.

Waterproofing agents and parking lot flooring materials, which directly relate to building durability and maintenance, also drew interest at the exhibition. To address the frequent re-construction issues caused by cracks and wear in parking lots, demonstrations were held for high-durability PVC parking lot flooring sheet methods with improved abrasion and chemical resistance, as well as eco-friendly flame-retardant solvent-free flooring with low organic solvent odors. Composite sheet waterproofing and rootproofing methods to reduce leakage risks were also introduced. Building owners and construction company representatives, seeking to reduce long-term management costs for parking lots and underground structures, made specific inquiries regarding construction periods and estimates.

Inside the exhibition hall, specialized support booths have been set up to guide visitors through relevant standards such as the Green Building Certification (G-SEED) and Environmental Label Certification. The Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI) introduced an eco-friendly construction material information system for practicing carbon neutrality and a roadmap for the Green Building Certification reorganization, which is scheduled for a full revision in 2027. Information was also provided regarding the use of products that have obtained Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), low-carbon product certification, and Good Recycled (GR) certification, as well as the linkage structure between building permits/financial benefits, such as floor area ratio relaxation and acquisition tax reductions.

Meanwhile, an exhibition of Hanok architectural design works, which modernly reinterpret traditional wooden structures, was prepared. A wooden structure model reproducing the traditional bracket structure of Sudeoksa Daeungjeon at a 3:1 scale and the joining methods of major Hanok components were displayed, attracting the attention of visitors. Design drawings and panels for "New Hanok," which supplement insulation, soundproofing performance, and residential convenience to suit modern lifestyles, were also placed alongside, allowing visitors to compare the compositional methods of traditional wooden structures with design plans applied to modern housing in one place.

Along with the Hanok works exhibition, design plans and scale models by modern architects formed another pillar of the exhibition. In the works exhibition hall of the Seocho-gu Architects Association, which is under the Korea Institute of Registered Architects, architectural models and perspectives that reinterpret the boundaries between modern urban environments and residential spaces were revealed. From public architecture that communicates with citizens to narrow houses and community spaces, design plans that harmonize creative spatial structures with the latest exterior materials simultaneously delivered the aesthetic value of architecture and the practical usability of space to visitors.

Consultations regarding the institutional foundation and transaction information of the architectural industry were also conducted. The Korea Price Research Center and the Supply Chain Linkage Support Headquarters provided guidance at the onsite booths on construction and architectural material estimation data, which serves as the standard for calculating construction costs, and the mandatory application system for the supply price linkage index following fluctuations in raw material prices. A dedicated material information service system for architects was also introduced. This system is a tool that supports design practitioners to check certified material information required during the design stage in real time and link it with CAD/BIM data.

An official from an eco-friendly material distributor operating a booth at the site stated, "Recently, the first items that building owners and designers check are not simply the unit price of the material, but the presence of certified Environmental Product Declarations and fire safety test reports." They added, "By conducting face-to-face consultations with architects who are discussing actual design implementation at the exhibition site, we are gaining practical help in developing supply channels."

At this exhibition, a touchpoint was provided for early-stage companies in the fields of proptech, eco-friendly building materials, and smart construction solutions to view product displays along with certification, material registration, and design implementation procedures. In the conservative architecture and construction market, early-stage companies face constraints in time and resources when trying to secure designers and contractors through their own sales networks alone. The certification systems and material information services introduced at the site can be utilized by early-stage companies to identify the certification requirements and material registration procedures necessary for market entry. Early-stage companies need to examine the certification requirements such as G-SEED, EPD, and GR applied to their products and consider registering in the architects' association material database. Based on this, the task for attracting investment and continuous commercialization is to promote "Spec-in"—ensuring their products are reflected as 'designated materials' in drawings from the early stages of design—and to build networks with certification agencies and design firms.

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