July 2026 – The Modern Building Alliance (MBA) will bring together its national networks for the first time in person on 21 October in Brussels — a milestone gathering that unites representatives from 10 European countries under one roof.

The meeting marks the formal kick-off of a reinforced alliance structure, transforming what have been loose country-level partnerships into a coordinated, EU-wide network. The goal: sharpen the MBA’s collective voice to defend market access for performance-based, sustainable fire safety solutions as EU rules on building safety and sustainability continue to evolve.

Bringing all ten national networks into the same room for the first time is a turning point for the alliance. It sets the foundation for synchronized advocacy — connecting local regulatory intelligence from member states directly to EU-level positioning, and ensuring the industry speaks with one voice across Brussels and national capitals alike.

More details on the agenda and participating networks to follow.

7 July 2026

The MBA hosted a webinar to help decipher the complexity behind the CPR Aquis and the future of facade testing. The Association brought together a high level line up of speakers to develop a conversation about this.

Speakers: Heikki Väänänen (European Commission, DG GROW), Johan Anderson (RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Convenor CEN/TC 127 WG 10), Roy Weghorst (Kingspan, Regulatory Affairs).

For decades, a façade system sold across Europe has had to be tested for fire performance in every market it entered, one test in Germany, another in Sweden, a third in the UK.

That patchwork testing is now, visibly, coming to an end. On 7 July 2026, the MBA brought together the three actors writing the next chapter, the Commission official steering the CPR Acquis Horizontal Sub-Group on Fire, the researcher who led the EU’s façade fire project and now convenes the CEN drafting group, and industry, for a candid conversation of where harmonization stands, what has effectively been decided, and where our national networks can still contribute to the outcome.

Read the executive summary

February 2026

The Modern Building Alliance (MBA) is proud to announce a significant leadership transition. Emanuela Gallo has been nominated as the new Vice President, stepping into the role previously held by Peter Ayrey, who served with distinction as Vice Chair.

This appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the Alliance as we roll out our “renovated” strategic vision for 2026. Emanuela brings a wealth of expertise and a fresh perspective that will be instrumental in strengthening our role as a Technical Centre of Excellence and enhancing our support for national networks.

A Legacy of Dedication

We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Peter Ayrey for his years of leadership and unwavering commitment. Peter played a crucial role in establishing the MBA as a credible voice in the plastic insulation market. His contributions have laid the foundation for our current success, and we wish him the very best in his future endeavours.

Driving the Future of Building Safety

As Vice President, Emanuela will work closely with our new management team to ensure the MBA remains at the forefront of the EU’s fire safety and sustainability agenda. “I am honoured to take on this role during such a transformative period for our industry. My goal is to ensure the MBA continues to provide the scientific clarity and collaborative platform our members need to thrive in a rapidly evolving policy environment.” — Emanuela Gallo

Please join us in welcoming Emanuela to her new role and thanking Peter for his exceptional service.

March 2026

MBA’s latest research paper, “Holistic Approach Towards Fire Safety of Facades: Proposed Regulatory Framework for Fire Safe Buildings”, has been officially selected for presentation at the 8th CILASCI Ibero‑Latin American Fire Safety Congress, taking place 8-10 April 2026 in Santander, Spain. This work represents an important step forward in strengthening fire‑safety approaches for modern façade systems, particularly in high‑rise buildings.

Our fire expert, Mr Frankly Okwara, will be presenting the findings at the conference, where he will outline how the B.I.O. (Building–Installation–Organisation) framework can be adapted to address façade-specific risks such as rapid vertical flame spread, hidden cavity fires, and performance gaps between small‑scale testing and real‑world fire behaviour. The paper highlights the need for system‑level assessment, large‑scale performance testing, and stronger quality‑assurance practices across the entire construction value chain. 

Why This Matters

Modern façade systems are increasingly multifunctional, balancing energy efficiency, sustainability, and architectural design. But with these advances come new fire‑safety challenges. Our paper emphasizes that achieving a safe design requires a holistic, integrated approach that ensures building design, fire‑safety installations, and organizational practices all work together to prevent façade‑driven fire spread. 

What’s Next

During the conference, our fire expert will present the framework, key findings, and implications for national regulators, designers, and the broader fire‑safety community. We look forward to engaging with experts across Europe and Latin America as we continue to support harmonised, performance‑based fire‑safety standards. 

March 2026

The Modern Building Alliance (MBA) is pleased to invite our stakeholders to the first National Network Meeting of 2026. Under our new management team, this session marks a pivotal moment as we reconnect with our national partners and unveil an enhanced strategic roadmap designed to deliver higher value and technical leadership to our entire network.

As the building sector faces unprecedented regulatory shifts, this meeting serves as your essential briefing on the scientific and political landscape for the year ahead.

Why You Should Attend:

• The 2026 “Big Picture” from the EU Commission: Get an exclusive update on DG GROW’s priorities. With the twin pressures of rapid electrification and the renovation wave, facade fire safety has moved to the center of EU policy. We will analyze what these new mandates mean for the plastic insulation industry.

• Deep Dive: UK Smoke Toxicity Report: The UK government has recently released its much-anticipated research on smoke toxicity. Our technical experts have conducted a comprehensive analysis of the findings. We will share detailed insights on how this report reinforces the industry’s position and strengthens our collective advocacy on this critical safety issue.

• New Management, New Value: Meet the new leadership team and discover our renovated service offering, built to provide national networks with the scientific evidence and best practices needed to succeed at a local level.

Event Details

Format: Online Technical Briefing
Focus: EU Regulatory Outlook & Smoke Toxicity Analysis
Who should attend: National association leads, technical experts, and industry stakeholders.

Register Here to Secure Your Seat