Speakers to address key safety challenges in high-rise buildings

The 8th International Tall Building HRB Fire Safety Conference is scheduled to take place in London from 2nd to 4th December 2024.

This event will run alongside Anticipate London at the ExCeL exhibition centre.

Notable attendees will include Peter Apps, an award-winning journalist and author of Show Me the Bodies: How We Let Grenfell Happen, which won the Orwell Prize in 2023.

The conference will cover pressing issues such as electric vehicles, façade fire risks, and international safety insights.

Speakers from countries including the UAE, Germany, and Belgium will contribute their expertise.

The event is expected to draw delegates from various professions, including architects, fire engineers, and safety professionals.

International experts to discuss global fire safety practices

A wide range of international speakers will provide updates on their respective countries’ best practices in tall building fire safety.

Topics on the agenda include new guidance for managing green walls as cladding and updates on fire safety regulations for high-rise buildings.

The conference will allow industry leaders and professionals to examine various approaches to improving fire safety, with presentations covering façade testing, firefighting strategies, and evacuation techniques for vulnerable individuals.

The sessions will provide an in-depth look at current international regulations and fire safety advancements.

Industry leaders to address key fire safety innovations

Keynote addresses from prominent figures will provide insights into emerging fire safety challenges.

Among the key topics discussed will be the “Golden Thread” concept, a framework for maintaining the safety and integrity of buildings throughout their life cycle.

Other presentations will cover the increasing importance of tenant engagement and the risks posed by electric vehicles in tall buildings.

Ben Levy from the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) will lead one of the keynote sessions, while speakers from organisations such as the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority and prominent UK-based architects will contribute to discussions on fire prevention, façade safety, and risk management.

Tribute planned for Paul Grimwood during the conference

The conference will also pay tribute to the late Paul Grimwood, a leading figure in fire safety research and innovation.

Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to visit the FIREX exhibition and explore the latest fire safety products and technologies from various suppliers.

With a strong focus on networking, the event aims to bring together industry professionals from around the globe, providing a platform for the exchange of ideas and the analysis of different fire safety policies and procedures.

Full Programme for the 8th International Tall Building HRB Fire Safety Conference (2-4 December 2024)

Monday 2nd December 2024

Chairperson: Andrew Bulmer, CEO The Property Institute

• 10:00 Official opening – Peter Apps, author of Show Me the Bodies
• 10:10 Keynote 1 – TBC
• 10:50 Presentation 1 – Jim Glockling: Green & Living Walls as Cladding: Introducing New Joint Guidance on Managing Risk
• 11:20 Presentation 2 – Ian Doncaster (SCA): Construction of Smoke Shafts
• 11:50 Presentation 3 – Nick Atkinson, Ambar Kelly: Riser Shaft Fire Safety
• 12:20 Presentation 4 – Fiona Critchley, Gerda Security: HRB Fire Doors – Where Are We?
• 12:50 CTec Presentation

Chairperson: Amanda Long, CEO of Construction Product Information Limited

• 14:00 Keynote 2 – Ben Levy, High Rise Lead, NFCC
• 14:40 Presentation 5 – Capt. Eng. Mohamed Alhanaee, Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority
• 15:10 Presentation 6 – Michael Spearpoint: HRB Evacuation Research
• 15:40 Presentation 7 – Julie Butterworth & Andy Fry, TPAS: Tenant Engagement
• 16:10 Day 1 Question Time with Sir Ken Knight, Colin Todd, Gary Strong, Monima Harrison, and Prof. Ed Gale

Tuesday 3rd December 2024

Chairperson: Jane Duncan, RIBA

• 10:00 Official opening – Hayley Burgess, Immediate Past President IFE and Practising Fire Engineer
• 10:10 Keynote 3 – Paul Bussey: Architects’ View of the Two Stair Challenge
• 10:50 Presentation 8 – Charles White, Hydrochute UK: Refuse Chute Fire Safety
• 11:20 Presentation 9 – Sreenivas Narayanan, Siderise: Façade Fire Safety
• 11:50 Presentation 10 – Karel Lambert: Murphy Visits Brussels: The Story of a Fire in an Older High-Rise Building
• 12:20 Presentation 11 – Adam Briggs, Citizen Housing Group: Preparing a Safety Case for HRBs – A Case Study
• 12:50 Tribute to Paul Grimwood

Chairperson: Kizzy Augustin, Partner at Mishcon de Reya

• 14:00 Keynote 4 – Ben Blackwood, Ballymore
• 14:40 Presentation 12 – Elspeth Grant: Status of PEEPS in HRBs
• 15:10 Presentation 13 – Conor Logan: BS 9991 – What’s Changed?
• 15:40 Presentation 14 – Oliver Sapsford: Research into Crisis Command Decision Making
• 16:10 Day 2 Social Housing Fire Safety Question Time with Claire Norman, Adam Briggs, Fiona Critchley, and Ian Moore

Wednesday 4th December 2024

Chairperson: Dr Gavin Dunn, CEO FPA

• 10:00 Official opening – Mark Hardingham, Chair of NFCC
• 10:10 Keynote 5 – Prof Paul Christensen: Electric Vehicles Fire Safety Update
• 10:50 Presentation 15 – Paul Hayles, Canary Wharf: Feedback Lessons from a Sub-Service EV Fire Desktop Exercise
• 11:20 Presentation 16 – NAAD: Fire Safety Issues with Dampers in High-Rise Buildings
• 11:50 Presentation 17 – Sam Bryant, OFR: Balconies Research
• 12:20 Presentation 18 – Prof. Guillermo Rien, Imperial College: Latest Research
• 12:50 Andy Slater: Overview of IFSM

Chairperson: Annie Pantelli, Head of Operations at 22 Bishopsgate

• 14:00 Keynote 6 – Tom Roche, FM Global: What the Insurer Thinks
• 14:40 Presentation 19 – Jonas Schwering, Frankfurt am Main Fire Service, Germany: Impact of Grenfell Fire on Frankfurt Fire Service
• 15:20 Presentation 20 – Michael Kinsey: Elevating Safety: Challenges with High-Rise Residential Fire Lift Evacuation
• 15:50 Presentation 21 – Russ Timpson: Dealing with the After Fire Crisis
• 16:10 Presentation 22 – Jason Hull, Ukraine: High-Rise Firefighting in a Warzone

Tall building fire safety conference in London to cover high-rise challenges and solutions: Summary

The 8th International Tall Building HRB Fire Safety Conference will be held from 2nd to 4th December 2024 at the ExCeL centre in London.

The event will feature international speakers addressing challenges such as fire safety in electric vehicles, façade risks, and the “Golden Thread” concept.

Peter Apps, author of Show Me the Bodies, will deliver the opening address. Industry professionals from the UAE, Germany, Belgium, and the UK will share their expertise.

A tribute to Paul Grimwood will also be included, along with opportunities for networking and visiting the FIREX exhibition.