The third appointment of the Polymer Additives Academy 2025 is set for October 29th in Mendrisio (Switzerland) at the Department of Environment Construction and Design, SUPSI – University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland.
This session will focus on fire safety in construction, examining how new European regulations are transforming the sector and what this means for polymers and insulation materials. Together with our speakers, we’ll examine the latest research on photovoltaic modules, explore innovations in halogen-free flame retardants, and delve into practical case studies on polyurethane and PIR panels for facades and roofs.
Participation is free, both online and on site.
If you join us in Mendrisio, you’ll also have the chance to network with industry experts, visit the SUPSI laboratories, and enjoy lunch together in an informal setting.
🔗 Registration is open, join us on site in Mendrisio or follow the session online: https://forms.gle/ro1erZFTHTJqk5Dy9
FULL PROGRAMME AND SPEAKERS
10:15 a.m. – Welcome and introduction
10:30 a.m. – Fire safety developments for EU construction products
Jürgen Troitzsch, Fire and Environment Protection Service FEPS
Founded by Dr. Jürgen Troitzsch, the Fire and Environment Protection Service (FEPS) offers global consultancy and scientific expertise in fire behavior, flammability testing, standardization, plastics, flame retardants, and environmental impact.
Dr. Troitzsch has authored numerous articles, reviews, and book chapters. He has organized and chaired international conferences and delivered over 250 presentations worldwide. He is also the editor of the Plastics Flammability Handbook (4th edition, 2021), a comprehensive reference on fire safety regulations, testing methods, and flame retardant technologies.
11:00 a.m. – Testing and Certification of Construction Products: polymers and criticality
Giombattista Traina, Head of laboratory at Istituto Giordano
Eng. Giombattista Traina is the Head of the Reaction to Fire Laboratory and a Senior Lead Researcher at Istituto Giordano Spa, a certification and research company in Italy, Notified Body No. 0407 under the CPR. He is the author of numerous publications and is actively involved in standardisation activities at both national and international levels. Traina is a member of several technical committees, including:• CEN/TC 127 (Fire Safety in Buildings), WG 4 (construction products), WG5 (roof) and WG7 (classification),
• ISO TC 92 “fire safety”,
• CLC TC 82 Solar photovoltaic energy systems
• GNB-SH02, the horizontal sector group for Fire within GNB.
• he serves as the EGOLF contact person for Istituto Giordano.
11:30 a.m. – PV modules: down-scale tests, fire behavior, and research challenges
Prof. Andrea Castrovinci – SUPSI
Andrea Castrovinci (on the left) is a Professor of Polymeric Materials at SUPSI. He earned his PhD in Material Science and Technology from the Polytechnic University of Turin. His research focuses on polymeric materials and nanometric coatings with properties like flame retardancy and electrical conductivity. Since joining SUPSI in 2006, he has advanced research and education in polymer science. He also teaches several chemistry and material sciences courses. Additionally, he is the co-founder of three start-ups, leveraging his research work.
12:00 p.m. – Polymer backsheets for photovoltaic modules: current requirements and new challenges
Marco Lelli, Chief Technical Officer – Coveme Spa
53 years old, graduated in Industrial Chemistry (University of Bologna). From 1997 to 2019, he worked in the industrial coatings sector (at Inver, Valspar, and Sherwin-Williams) as a formulation chemist, head of R&D laboratories, and then as Technical Director. From 2019 to 2024, he worked in the woodworking sector at ALPI, a leading company in the reconstituted wood veneer sector, as Technical Director, R&D, and Quality and PSCR for the Automotive sector. Since October 2024, he has served as Chief Technical Officer at COVEME S.p.A., a leader in surface treatment and polyester film conversion, utilizing surface treatments and coatings, thermostabilization, and lamination.
12:30 – 01:30 p.m. – Lunch
01:30 p.m. – Halogen-free flame retardant: recycled materials for building
Micaela Lorenzi, CEO, Greenchemicals
Micaela Lorenzi, an Industrial Chemistry graduate from Milan with a specialization in macromolecules and radical polymerization, has over 15 years of experience in flame retardants. Since 2010, she has been CEO and co-owner of Greenchemicals SRL, an Italian company focused on flame retardant formulations and plastic additives. Her career includes work with the U.S. additives supplier Great Lakes, and she now collaborates with leading producers of both brominated and halogen-free flame retardants. She holds several patents, including a HBCD-free solution for polystyrene, innovative dosing systems for solid flame retardants in liquid form, and a process for recycling PET scraps into clean monomers. Her current work centers on developing halogen-free flame retardants through reactive extrusion, with applications in PET, polyurethane, and electronics.
02:00 p.m. – Recent developments in flame retardants strategies for PIR insulation panels
Andrea Stefani, Business Manager EMEA PU Isoexter Isoter – C.O.I.M.
Andrea Stefani received his Chemistry degree from the University of Padua in 1997.
He has worked in the rigid polyurethane foam industry since the beginning, initially in Research and Development, then in production until 2006 at the Huntsman R&D center in Ternate and at the Stiferite production site in Padua. During this period, he served as chairman of the Technical Committee of the European rigid foam manufacturers’ association, PU Europe.
From 2006 to 2021, he worked as Sales Manager for the Italian market at Evonik, covering all polyurethane foam sectors.
Since 2021, he covers the role of EAME Business Manager at COIM SpA for the ISOEXTER division.
02:30 p.m. – From the laboratory to the construction site: developments and challenges
Prof. Fabio Parolini – SUPSI
Fabio Parolini (on the right) graduated in Engineering from Politecnico di Milano and began his career at multinational companies. With extensive experience in renewable energy and fire safety in photovoltaics, he has contributed to designing and implementing numerous energy-efficient buildings. Since 2019, he has been a researcher at SUPSI’s DACD/ISAAC within the Innovative Building Envelope Team. He focuses on building envelopes’ product development and fire safety, emphasizing applied research and real-world experimental projects.