On 11 May 2026, the International Conference on "Fire Safety: comparison Italy - Europe" brought together fire safety specialists, engineers, regulators and industry representatives in Milan to discuss the evolving landscape of fire safety engineering across Italy and Europe.
Held at the Milan Fire Brigade Command headquarters, the conference provided a focused and highly informative platform for examining differences between national and European approaches to fire safety, while addressing the growing complexity of sustainable and high-performance buildings.
Among the participants was Emanuela Gallo, who attended the event on behalf of EUMEPS and followed discussions on regulatory developments, façade safety and the integration of fire resilience into Europe’s sustainability agenda.
Fire Safety and Sustainable Building Design
One of the central themes of the conference was the relationship between sustainability objectives and fire safety performance in modern construction.
During his presentation on fire safety design for building envelopes, Piergiacomo Cancelliere highlighted the increasing demand for buildings that are not only energy-efficient, but also sustainable in terms of material impact and lifecycle emissions. The discussion reflected the broader transition towards resource-efficient and climate-neutral construction practices across Europe.
A key point raised during the session concerned the limitations of the current European Union Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), which still does not explicitly integrate fire safety and seismic resilience requirements. Speakers underlined the growing need for innovative SAFRA solutions — sustainable and fire-resistant building systems — capable of combining energy-saving performance with robust fire protection standards.
The conference reinforced the importance of ensuring that circular economy objectives and energy efficiency targets are aligned with comprehensive fire safety requirements throughout the building lifecycle.
Addressing the Challenges of High-Rise Buildings
The issue of fire safety in high-rise buildings was another major focus of the event.
Davide Luraschi examined the growing challenges posed by taller, more complex urban buildings, while questioning why fire risk continues to be underestimated in many projects.
Several concerns were raised during the discussion:
- fire safety is still frequently perceived as an additional cost rather than a fundamental design priority;
- understanding of real fire behaviour remains limited;
- compliance often stops at minimum regulatory requirements because of budget constraints.
Throughout the conference, a consistent message emerged: cost reduction and insufficient technical knowledge should never determine the fire safety standards of the buildings in which people live and work.
Lessons from the Grenfell Tower Tragedy
One of the most impactful moments of the conference was the presentation by John Briggs on the Grenfell Tower fire.
Referring to the inquiry reports published nearly a decade after the tragedy, Briggs stressed that the disaster was entirely avoidable. The findings revealed failures across the entire construction chain — from design and procurement to testing and execution.
The presentation also highlighted serious concerns regarding the manipulation of fire performance data and the approval of non-fire-retardant cladding materials, exposing systemic weaknesses in testing and certification processes.
The session served as a strong reminder of the importance of transparency, technical competence and rigorous enforcement of fire safety standards throughout the construction sector.
Strengthening Dialogue Across Europe
The conference demonstrated the value of continued dialogue between regulators, engineers, industry stakeholders and fire safety experts at European level.
As buildings become increasingly innovative, sustainable and energy-efficient, integrating fire resilience into future legislation and building practices remains essential. The discussions in Milan highlighted the need for a more holistic and technically robust approach capable of supporting both sustainability ambitions and occupant safety across Europe’s built environment.