Prof Grunde Jomaas, ERA Chair holder and Head of the FRISSBE department at ZAG, presented at the ENBRI (European Network of Building Research Institutes) High-Level Summit in Brussels, Belgium on the 29^th May 2024. This gathering brought together top managers from ENBRI institutes to discuss strategic objectives and roadmaps related to construction research and innovation.

During his presentation titled “Mitigating Fire Risks in Connection with the EU’s Green Deal Ambitions”, Prof Jomaas articulated the fire risks associated with the implementation of the REPowerEU Strategy and the Green Deal measures. While these initiatives offer important benefits for energy and climate goals, they also introduce new risks, including fire hazards, for EU citizens and industries. Emerging technologies and materials, such as biobased materials, PV systems, batteries, hydrogen, advanced materials, and harmful chemicals, lack sufficient fire risk assessment. Addressing this gap is vital for a safe and just implementation of the green transition.

The ENBRI High-Level Summit provided a beneficial platform for top managers to align their zero-carbon approaches and discuss creating healthy indoor environments. On the second day of the Summit, Prof Grunde Jomaas joined for lunch and later attended Board Meeting Issues held at the SINTEF office in central Brussels. Among the attendees were Dr Aleš Žnidarič (Director of ZAG) and Prof Legat serving as the ENBRI coordinator at ZAG.

ENBRI institutes play a pivotal role in the national and EU innovation framework, addressing major EC actions like the Green Deal and New European Bauhaus. Prof Jomaas’ presentation emphasized the importance of comprehensive research and data on fire risks. FRISSBE remains committed to advancing fire safety research, contributing to the broader goals of the Green Deal and REPowerEU Strategy.