As a result of the clear intention of SFPE to be a global organization attending the regional particularities, at the beginning of 2019 I was honored to be nominated as European Director. Almost one year ago, and What a year!
I have the mission to develop SFPE in Europe aligning all actions with the global strategic objectives. We have worked hard in 2019, and we have important challenges for 2020.
- Our first challenge is to grow in Europe, in chapters and members, to become an association representing the majority of the fire protection engineers. There good perspectives. In 2019, the number of SFPE members has increased, a new chapter has been created (Israel, included in SFPE Europe), and we can confirm that at the beginning of next year, other chapters will be created in Germany, Denmark and Finland, with projects to create chapters in other countries like Iceland and Romania, among others.
Not forgetting students, there are already three student chapters and some others coming.
- Our second challenge for 2020 is to offer interesting educational programs in Europe. Country chapters are organizing outstanding conferences and seminars attracting the most relevant fire protection engineers. There are projects to participate in University masters in different countries (Switzerland, Italy or Spain). And SFPE is also offering webinars focussed in Europe, which are free for SFPE´s members, regarding different aspects of fire protection. Efforts will continue, as this is one of the main objectives of our association.
- Another great challenge is the organization of a Symposium in Rome, on June 3-4 about “Engineering Solutions for Fire Protection of Heritage and Cultural Buildings”. We have proven that we can organize successful conferences, like the last SFPE European Conference of May 2019 in Málaga, and with your support, the Symposium of Rome will also be a great success.
- Fully integrated in the global organization, participation of the European members in SFPE´s technical committees is certainly encouraged, to help the works going on to publish new guides and codes, and all the activities promoted by our organization.
- In 2020 SFPE has the intention to participate in several important Fire Expos in Europe such as SICUR in Madrid, FIREX in London and Interschutz in Hannover.
- Our long-term challenge is to increase recognition of our profession; especially show the need for Fire Protection Engineers in our building industry and particularly within the AHJ organizations. We are working to promote our profession, in several projects, our base for this work is the SFPE Minimum Core Competences document. SFPE is already participating in the European Commission working group about fire protection, to better defend the fire protection engineers in the decision organs, having a decisive role in all aspects regarding fire protection.
A new legal entity is to be soon registered, that will help SFPE to be represented in the European Institutions with a unique voice, and to promote SFPE in Europe.
And, we are not alone in this objective, and for that reason we have already started cooperating with other associations like CFPA, IFE and Feani, with very positive perspective.
I have talked about our major challenges, but these are not the only ones. Others like increasing our participation in social media, improving the communication between chapters, or having discussion forums will be also considered in the next years.
Fully integrated in the global organization, we should work to develop SFPE in Europe, having in mind that this is an organization of fire protection engineers, of people.
The European train is moving and we should not miss it.
Jose Luis Fernández, SFPE European Director