The University of Edinburgh
Securing a safer future: 50 years of fire safety research and education
For more than 50 years, the University of Edinburgh’s academics in fire safety engineering have pioneered how the discipline is taught, shed light on the causes of major tragedies and made both built and natural environments safer.
The Edinburgh Fire Research Centre’s technically focused, collaborative and inclusive approach has led to the development of world-first educational programmes in fire safety engineering that have generated a legacy of knowledge around the globe.
Researchers have shaped significant regulations, making UK homes and buildings safer from fire, and have crafted national guidance which has been adopted by standards bodies in the UK, Europe, the US and Canada.
For example, the Centre has supported the development of innovative industry guidance that supports the net zero journey for timber structures within fire safety engineering, and multi-million pound new industry sectors, such as fire safety engineering consultancy.
Edinburgh University staff and Centre alumni were the most cited instructed experts reporting to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s final report in 2024.
Informing the guidance of national bodies across the globe, the Centre is also working with the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the World Bank, and other international NGOs, to support and enhance the fire safety of informal settlements and refugee camps, helping to protect the most vulnerable from the impacts of fires.
Graduates of the Centre have opened new frontiers in research and industry and are transforming the safety of built and natural environments worldwide.
The University’s commitment to developing the next generation of fire safety engineers can be seen in its wide portfolio of outreach activities, and the Centre continues to pioneer fire safety education across the UK.