2026 Building Fire Safety Symposium

We are seeking submissions that:

• Reflect the IFSS Common Principles, addressing fire safety across the building lifecycle (see “Program Tracks” dropdown below).
• Explore design strategies, research findings, and educational approaches that enhance fire safety in modern construction.
• Provide insights on safe integration of innovative materials, including foam plastics, in compliance with recognized codes and standards (e.g., IWUIC, NFPA 285).
• Share perspectives on emerging challenges such as energy storage systems, WUI considerations, and retrofit applications.
• Highlight collaboration opportunities among designers, code officials, manufacturers, and testing laboratories to advance fire safety knowledge.

Important: All submissions must be educational and non-promotional. Please avoid product-specific content, proprietary endorsements, or material comparisons.

2026 Program Tracks

Track One: Fire Prevention Across the Building Life Cycle

How thoughtful design, construction practices, and building operations help prevent fires and support safe, efficient buildings.

• Example topics: design features that reduce ignition risks, safe construction practices, reducing wildfire exposure, maintaining building safety systems, and planning for safe upgrades and retrofits.

Track Two: Advances in Fire Detection & Communication Systems

Improving early warning and communication to help protect occupants and support coordinated response.

• Example topics: new detection technologies, effective alerts and notifications, digital communication with fire services, smart sensors, and improving system compatibility in today’s buildings.

Track Three: Enhancing Occupant Protection & Means of Escape

Designing buildings that help people stay safe and evacuate quickly and confidently.

• Example topics: clear and reliable egress design, planning for a range of occupant needs, reducing smoke movement, and using technology to support better evacuation decisions.

Track Four: Containment Strategies in Modern Buildings

Keeping fire and smoke from spreading by using the right design strategies and building features—helping ensure assemblies perform safely.

• Example topics: dividing buildings into protected areas, improving airflow and smoke control, enhancing fire resistance in common assemblies, and the role of automatic suppression in limiting fire spread.

Track Five: Extinguishment & Emergency Response Effectiveness

Design and planning choices that help fire services respond quickly and safely while minimizing impacts on people and buildings.

• Example topics: collaborating with fire services in advance, challenges in unique building types, ensuring dependable water and system performance, addressing new energy technologies, and reducing environmental impacts.

• April 24, 2026: Deadline for presentation proposal submissions.

• May 8, 2026: Notification of proposal acceptance.

• July 17, 2026: Final presentation content and materials due.