On Thursday, 6 November 2025, a SCIENTIFIC HOUR on the topic Fire Safety as a Challenge for Energy-Efficient Building Design was held in the conference hall of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architecture, and Urban Planning, University of Mostar. The lecture was given by Marija Jelčić Rukavina, Ph.D., from the Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zagreb (Department of Materials). 

The presentation addressed the mechanisms of fire spread on facades and design solutions for reducing and mitigating the consequences of such fires. The obligation to increase the energy efficiency of buildings in European Union countries also directly affects fire safety requirements. Thicker layers of thermal insulation, especially if made of combustible materials, increase the fire load of buildings and the risk of fire spreading to adjacent spaces and upper floors, as well as the emission of large amounts of smoke. Major fires in buildings with combustible insulation, such as the Grenfell Tower fire in London in 2017, have drawn attention to this issue, which is often simplified to a "combustible vs. non-combustible" debate. However, the actual risks and safety impacts are much more complex and require a professional approach.