The fire vulnerability of insulating materials for residential building energy efficiency: from unawareness of early applications to desirable formulation of certification protocols

Governments are implementing regulatory adjustments, performance standards, and economic incentives to increase the efficiency of existing buildings. Special attention is being given to improving the energy efficiency of the opaque envelope. This involves using insulationmaterials with high thermal performance, whichmay not be as safe in the event of fire. The use of external thermal insulation systems in building construction over the last 20 years has resulted in a significant reduction in safety. This is due to the potential for dangerous consequences, both structurally and for the safety of people, in the event of a fire. Evidence of these serious effects can be found in many buildings that have undergone envelope upgrading. It has been discovered that the placement of new products on building facades can contribute to the rapid spread of fire, regardless of the location of ignition inside or outside the building. This contribution aims to analyse the supranational regulatory system to understand its evolution, identify gaps, and highlight good fire safety practices for upgrading the performance of existing buildings. A survey was conducted to determine the causes of fires worldwide and to evaluate the contribution of certified and non-certified insulation systems. The aim was to assess the adequacy of EU fire safety thresholds and to identify production chains that have shown greater sensitivity to the identified issues. We considered environmental sustainability protocols aimed at improving the quality of the built environment.We questioned the scientific landscape to understand the actions being taken to extend certification to fire safety, an aspect that is still too often overlooked. Professional training to deal with fire risks in interventions on the building heritage is encouraged in all EU countries to varying degrees. Good disciplinary practices summarise this issue.