On May 21st and 22nd, the 4th EU Fire Safety Day International Conference took place in Zagreb, Croatia. Organized by the University of Zagreb Faculty of Civil Engineering and the Croatian Association for Fire Protection (HUZOP), this conference brought together international experts, stakeholders, and decision-makers to discuss the evolving challenges and innovations in fire safety within Europe's building stock.

On the first day, Nik Rus from FRISSBE delivered a presentation entitled "PV Fire Safety on Roofs - The Need for a Guideline." His talk emphasized the increasing need for clear guidelines to ensure the safe installation of photovoltaic (PV) systems on building rooftops. Nik highlighted the potential fire risks associated with PV panels and the necessity for comprehensive risk assesments to adequately mitigate these risks. Additionally, Dr. Aleš Jug, a professional research associate at FRISSBE, with over twenty years of experience in fire prevention and risk management, presented a talk titled "Fire Dynamics and Explosion Risks of Li-ion Batteries". Both Nik and Aleš have learned and enriched their knowledge about fire-related issues and brought new insights back to FRISSBE, leveraging their background in fire protection engineering and business continuity.

On the second day, Prof. Grunde Jomaas and Prof. José Torero featured in an online interview entitled "How do science and education systems tackle fire safety challenges connected to new technologies in buildings?". The session covered several pertinent questions, including:

• Funding for Fire Safety Research: The need for research funding to address fire safety risks associated with new technologies was a key point of discussion. They explored whether the European Commission has adequately recognized this issue and provided sufficient funding opportunities.
• Performance-Based Planning and Fire Safety: Professor Torero, known for his pioneering work in performance-based fire safety, discussed the critical mass of educated professionals needed to influence the field and how authorities can be involved in this complex subject.
• Handling Bio-Based Materials and New Technologies: The session delved into the challenges of using bio-based materials, wood, and new materials in large systems like façades, highlighting the need for harmonized standards and safe design practices.
• Lessons from the Grenfell Fire: Reflecting on the Grenfell Tower fire and its implications, the discussion examined whether significant lessons have been learned and how similar incidents can be prevented in the future.

About the Speakers:

Professor José L. Torero is the Head of the Department of Civil Environmental and Geomatic Engineering at University College London, with expertise in fire safety in complex environments and infrastructure. He is a fellow of several prestigious academies, including the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Professor Grunde Jomaas is the FRISSBE ERA Chair holder and Head of the Department for Research for Fire-Safe Sustainable Environment at the Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute (ZAG). The FRISSBE project focuses on the intersection of fire safety and sustainability, particularly photovoltaics, batteries, biobased materials, and mass timber.