On April 3, 2024, Istituto Giordano, in collaboration with the Italian Electrotechnical Committee, hosted a free webinar addressing fire risks associated with Building Applied Photovoltaic Systems (BAPV). The event garnered significant attention from industry professionals and researchers.

The webinar commenced with opening remarks from Salvatore Guastella, President of CEI CT 82, a welcome by Piergiacomo Cancelliere and a keynote presentation by Prof. Grunde Jomaas from ZAG - FRISSBE. Prof. Jomaas presented the comprehensive Fire Safety Guideline for Building Applied Photovoltaic Systems on Flat Roofs that the FRISSBE team has developed, thus providing valuable insights into risk assessment methodologies for such systems.

Following Prof. Jomaas's presentation, industry experts from Istituto Giordano, Efectis France, and FM Approvals shared practical experiences and insights on fire safety testing and standards compliance for BAPV systems. Notable presentations included Giombattista Traina's (IGT, host) exploration of CEI TS 82-89 as a tool for assessing BAPV panel behavior and Roman Chiva's (Efectis, online) discussion on the French experience with BAPV and fire hazards.

The highlight of the event was live fire demonstrations conducted according to CEI TS 82-89 standards, providing attendees with a firsthand look at fire behavior and safety measures. The interactive sessions facilitated engaging discussions and knowledge sharing among participants.

In addition to the rich content presented, the webinar embraced a hybrid format that attracted over 300 online attendees throughout the day. Fabio Parolini and Giovanni Manzini were present at IGT and they provided valuable insights into rapid shutdown systems and the development of national technical standards. The hybrid format also allowed Joanna Blaney (FM Approvals) to present from the US.

The success of the webinar underscores FRISSBE's commitment to advancing knowledge and collaboration in fire safety engineering. Stay tuned for future events and initiatives aimed at enhancing fire safety in the built environment.