EU Green Week 2023 Webinar: The Role of Electrical and Fire Safety Skills in the European Green Deal

As official partners of the European Green Week 2023, Fire Safe Europe and the Forum for European Electrical Domestic Safety (FEEDS) will hold an event on the role of electrical and fire safety skills in the European Green Deal. The event will take place on the 7th of June 2023 (14h30-16h30 CEST) and will have the format of an online panel discussion. On this occasion, representative from the European institutions, stakeholders, and experts will discuss how to encourage the development of electrical and fire safety competencies needed for a safe energy transition.

To achieve its 55% emission reduction target, it is crucial for the European Union to make our buildings more energy-efficient, less carbon-intensive over their full life-cycle and more sustainable. The pathway in decarbonising the built environment requires construction professionals to implement innovative energy-efficient solutions, including electrification technologies such as photovoltaic (PV) panels and electric vehicle (EV) charging points and heat pumps. However, these innovations can affect the fire performance of a building introducing a new electrical load that can increase the risk of electrical fires if the electrical installation is not upgraded and appropriate fire safety prevention measures are not in place. Thus, the implementation of these decarbonisation solutions needs to be executed in a proper way to minimise the risks for the fire safety of buildings.

In this context, the European Union has crucial role to play in guiding construction professionals to decarbonise the built environment in a fire safe way. Indeed, initiatives such as the EU Pact for Skills, EU funding programs to up-skill and re-skill construction workers as well as common guidelines for accredited professionals can lead the transformation of the built environment while ensuring its fire safety.

Therefore, as official partners of the EU Green Week, Fire Safe Europe and FEEDS will organise an online panel discussion with representatives of the European institutions, stakeholders, and experts. Speakers will discuss how to encourage the development of electrical and fire safety competencies needed for a safe energy transition. In particular, the webinar will address the following questions:
1. Why are electrical and fire safety competencies key to decarbonising the built environment in a fire safe way?
2. How are requirements on electrical and fire safety skills and competencies currently integrated into EU policies and guidelines?
3. How can the EU boost electrical and fire safety skills and competencies through its targeted actions?

About Fire Safe Europe:
Fire Safe Europe is a European association representing companies and professional organisations aiming to improve fire safety of buildings. Fire Safe Europe's mission is to improve fire safety in buildings for people and society.

About FEEDS:
The Forum for European Electrical Domestic Safety (FEEDS) is a think-tank and a do-tank that brings together organizations aiming to improve electrical safety in dwellings. The Forum aims to contribute to a safe, just and ambitious Energy Transition mainly focused on electrification.