On 28^th October, Prof Grunde Jomaas, ERA Chair holder of FRISSBE Project and Head of the Department for Fire-Safe Sustainable Built Environment at ZAG, delivered a presentation at a webinar hosted by the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE). The event attracted more than 350 online attendees from around the world.

The session explored the growing intersection between fire safety and the green transition, focusing particularly on the fire risks associated with photovoltaic (PV) systems on building roofs. Prof Jomaas explained how the rapid pace of building electrification and renovation (driven by climate and energy goals) requires a fundamental rethink of existing fire regulations.

In his talk, Prof Jomaas highlighted that current national fire codes often treat PV installations as simple add-ons to existing roofs, without fully accounting for their changed fire safety characteristics and system-level performance. He shared findings from a series of large-scale fire tests conducted at ZAG, illustrating how these systems behave under real fire conditions and offering recommendations for improving roof fire safety.

The presentation concluded with a discussion on the urgent need for new testing standards and research-based approaches to ensure that sustainability goals are achieved without compromising fire safety.

The webinar underscored the importance of collaboration between researchers, regulators, and industry to develop safer and more resilient buildings in the era of green transformation.