Kompetenz Brandsicherheit

We are your partner for questions concerning the fire safety of building materials and components, fire-protection solutions for buildings, and the interpretation of fire-protection regulations.

We support companies, planners and authorities in questions regarding the fire safety of buildings and facilities.

Institute for Timber Construction, Structures and Architecture IHTA

We conduct research into innovative, resource-conserving and energy-efficient buildings, and support you from the building design phase through to construction and redevelopment.

Service portfolio

We support you in the development of building materials and components that have to meet fire-protection requirements and elaborate conceptual solutions in the field of fire safety.

Research projects commissioned by companies and institutions
Technology developments tailored to the size of the company (from micro-enterprises to industrial companies)
Support in applying for research funding from national and international funding organisations (including Innosuisse, FOEN)
We work with SIPIZ AG to provide fire-resistance testing of components. Fire-resistance tests are performed in accordance with the general principles for determining fire-resistance duration.
Consultancy and expert appraisals

Training and continuing education

The VKF fire protection regulations are among the most innovative and progressive fire-protection regulations in Europe. Apart from regulating the essentials and defining parameters, they also offer planners and implementers a degree of freedom in fulfilling the specified protection goals. Well-trained specialists and good planning tools are required to comply with the high standards. Working closely with Lignum, sia and other institutions, we have developed a broad range of training courses for anyone involved in construction to deepen and expand their knowledge. These include:

CAS Brandschutz für Architektinnen und Architekten

Information on fire safety is also included in our training courses:

Knowledge and technology transfer

We aim to transfer all non-confidential research into practice. To this end, we hold events and lectures, write specialist articles, conduct tours, organise workshops, and present our results at trade fairs.

Holzbautag Biel 2024

Areas of expertise

We have in-depth knowledge of fire-protection regulations and are well connected with fire-protection authorities and fire-protection planners in the field. Our team includes specialists in building physics, fire safety, materials, load-bearing structures and timber construction. This enables us to cover a wide range of issues and to develop practicable solutions.

Our areas of expertise include:

Classification, development and use of building materials
Construction and detailed solutions of components with fire, sound, heat and moisture protection requirements.
Development of alternative fire-protection concepts

Institute for Timber Construction, Structures and Architecture IHTA

Fire safety is one of the key areas of focus of the Institute for Timber Construction, Structures and Architecture IHTA. At the IHTA we focus on innovative, resource-saving and energy-efficient buildings. We support you from the design to the constructional implementation to the built environment. Other key areas of focus:

Infrastructure

Our partner SIPIZ operates a laboratory for fire protection. The component to be tested is set up in the laboratory as a 1:1 scale model and then exposed to fire.