On 15^th October, the ZAG Fire Laboratory in Logatec opened its doors to the public as part of ZAG’s Open Day 2026, held in the framework of the Science Month initiative organised jointly with the Slovenian Ministry of Education, Science and Youth. Two days later, on the morning of Saturday 17^th October, the laboratory held a dedicated session exclusively for firefighters, recognising the particular value of direct exposure to fire testing for those who respond to fires professionally. Together, the two events offered a diverse audience, from curious members of the public to practising fire safety professionals, a rare opportunity to step inside an active fire research and testing facility and to see, up close, the work that goes into making buildings safer.

Visitors received an introduction to both standard and customised fire tests carried out at the laboratory, and watched a series of live demonstrations covering six topics that illustrated the breadth and relevance of the team’s work.

The programme included a demonstration of fire risks associated with photovoltaic systems, presented using a small-scale model, followed by a display of fire dynamics in an enclosed space showing how a fire develops and how flame and smoke behave under controlled conditions. Visitors also saw a small flame test illustrating how different construction materials respond to ignition and what those results mean for fire safety assessments. A fire whirl demonstration offered a striking visual introduction to this fire phenomenon, while a further display addressed the fire risks associated with facade and scaffolding safety nets. The programme concluded with a demonstration of smoke detector activation, highlighting the critical importance of early fire detection in protecting both people and buildings.

The demonstrations were prepared and delivered by a dedicated team: Dr Aleš Jug, Aleksander Bergant, Manca Ahačič, Hana Jereb, Elijah Igweh, Nik Rus, Jonay Brito, and David Turk.

The Open Day was an important opportunity to connect the work of the FRISSBE team with a wider audience, demonstrating the role that fire research and testing plays in developing a safer built environment.