1. FIRE SAFETY SKILLS & COMPETENCIES
Ensuring the fire safety of buildings is a complex issue that requires competent professionals with clear roles and responsibilities, who are involved during the design, construction and maintenance phases of buildings. Modern Building Alliance believes that knowledge and capacity building is a necessity, especially to accompany the sustainable transformation of the building stock. The specialization of Engineers in the principles of Passive & Energy Fire Safety is imperative in Greek Universities.
There is a global call for professionalization of Fire Safety Engineering by professionals, academics and stakeholders in several EU Member States including Greece. From Australia to the USA and the EU, recognition of Fire Engineers is requested to support the transition from prescriptive legislation to a “Performance-Based Approach” that will address the ever-evolving fire protection challenges. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) launched the ISO/TC 92/SC4 Committee, with experts from around the world working on standardization and strengthening fire protection.
The Modern Building Alliance believes that knowledge and capacity is a necessity, especially to accompany the sustainable transformation of the building stock thus proposes to conduct a study analyzing the market needs for Fire Protection and supports the creation of a harmonized certification framework for Fire Engineers. This will allow the free movement of fire protection services in the Member States. It is also proposed that Fire Protection Engineering be applied more widely and more quickly in Member States’ regulations.
2. "FIRE SAFETY COMPETENCY"
The energy transition and the renovation wave are two important elements of the EU Green Deal. Both will strengthen climate protection and economic recovery, while improving the quality of life of EU citizens.
The energy transition is bringing about structural changes in global energy production and consumption. In this context, the building stock occupies a central place. The trend towards higher energy efficiency, sustainability and circularity includes the use of new materials, new construction systems and new construction methods for safe and affordable buildings. However, this transformation will necessarily introduce new fire hazards.
The role of engineers on specialized fire safety issues -Fire engineers- is imperative.
Read more at European Fire Safety Week 2020.
3. Architects Survey on Fire Safety Competency
In June 2020, Modern Building Alliance Europe commissioned USP Marketing Consultancy to launch a survey targeting architects from eight European countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom. The research aimed to find out how fire safety capabilities are considered during the design phase of the building. A sample of 835 architects, working in offices composed of at least two architects, excluding smaller projects, he replied. The majority focuses mainly on residential buildings and deals with both new construction and renovations.
