The Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE), a world-leading professional society for fire protection and fire safety engineering, invites professionals from around the world to attend the 2026 SFPE Engineering Solutions Symposium: Fire Protection of Cultural and Heritage Sites, taking place November 12-13, 2026, in Venice, Italy. The symposium will bring together leading experts to address the complex challenges of protecting historic structures, cultural assets, and irreplaceable heritage sites from fire. 

This two-day, in-person event is designed to create in-depth discussions between fire protection engineers, architects, heritage authorities, building owners and managers, insurers, government officials, and fire service professionals. Through keynote presentations, technical sessions, and real-world case studies, attendees will gain insight into the latest approaches to protecting culturally significant sites. 

Key Learning Objectives include the following: 

  • Understanding the unique fire hazards and vulnerabilities present in cultural and heritage properties

  • Examining applicable codes, standards, and engineering guidance for historic and existing buildings

  • Explore active and passive fire protection strategies that support preservation goals

  • Evaluate fire detection, suppression, egress, and construction-phase fire safety solutions

  • Learn from notable cultural and heritage site fire incidents and recovery efforts

  • Gain perspective from architects, heritage authorities, fire brigades and international engineering leaders on balancing safety and conservation priorities

The symposium will feature contributions from experts representing academia, engineering practice, heritage preservation organizations, fire services, and regulatory authorities from around the world. The program is guided by an international committee co-chaired by Luciano Nigro, PE, and William Koffel, PE, FSFPE, SASHE, alongside a distinguished group of industry and technical leaders. 

“When a cultural or heritage site is lost to fire, the impact extends far beyond the building itself—it represents the loss of history, identity, and shared human experience,” stated Chris Jelenewicz, PE, FSFPE, CEO, SFPE. “Through this symposium, SFPE is bringing together a global community of experts to explore how fire protection engineering can help preserve these irreplaceable landmarks for future generations. The exchange of knowledge and experiences at this event will help advance solutions that balance life safety, property protection, and cultural preservation.”

Following two days of technical programming and discussions, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a special tour on November 14, providing real-world context to the engineering concepts and preservation strategies explored throughout the symposium. 

The event will be hosted at the Hilton Molino Stucky Venice, a beautifully restored historic flour mill situated on Giudecca Island, offering attendees a unique setting that reflects the symposium's focus on preserving structures while adapting them for modern use. 

Early-bird registration discounts are available through June 30, 2026.

To learn more and to register for the SFPE Engineering Solutions Symposium: Fire Protection of Cultural and Heritage Sites, visit www.sfpe.org/cultural-and-heritage-sites-symposium today.