Fire Prevention and Cultural Heritage: a Benchmark Conference for the Sector in Parma

October 20, 2026

Azienda, Press Room

Promoted by Studio Tecnico Rainieri, the conference held on 8 October at Palazzo del Governatore brought together institutions, professionals and academia around an increasingly strategic question: how to protect historic and artistic heritage without compromising its character.

A few weeks on, we can say it with great satisfaction: the conference “How Fire Prevention Protects Artistic Heritage” was a success. It was also an important moment of dialogue for the entire sector of fire safety applied to cultural heritage.

An initiative by Studio Tecnico Rainieri

The conference was conceived, promoted and organised by Studio Tecnico Rainieri and its owner, Michele Rainieri. It is grounded in a firm belief: fire prevention is a structural element in the preservation of heritage, not a technical requirement to be added at the end. The event offered an opportunity for institutions, designers, regulatory bodies and universities to meet and work together around the same table.

The event was held under the patronage of the Municipality of Parma and the Associations of Industrial Technical Experts (Ordini dei Periti Industriali). The opening session at the authorities’ table featured addresses by the Mayor of Parma, Michele Guerra, and the President of the Province, Alessandro Fadda, together with Claudio Ferrari, President of the Parma Association of Engineers, and Ferrante Paveri Fontana, Vice President of the Italian Historic Houses Association (ADSI) Emilia-Romagna.

A high-profile panel

Alongside Michele Rainieri, the speakers included:

Massimiliano Russo, Chief of the Parma Fire Brigade (Vigili del Fuoco)
Davide Luraschi, Vice President of the Milan Association of Engineers and lecturer at Politecnico di Milano
Carlo Mambriani and Sara Rainieri, lecturers at the University of Parma
Enrico Bricca, President of Confartigianato Imprese Parma

The session was moderated by journalist Luca Ponzi.

Key topics of discussion

In front of a large audience of professionals and Architecture and Engineering students, the morning took a practical look at how fire prevention regulations can be applied in historic, artistic and architectural settings. Discussions covered risk assessment methodologies, protection strategies and maintenance work, with a particular focus on the city’s landmark sites.

One clear message emerged: protecting a cultural asset from fire risk means ensuring both its long-term preservation and its safe enjoyment by the public.

A meaningful venue at a meaningful time

The choice of venue was significant too. Palazzo del Governatore is one of Parma’s most iconic buildings, and the conference took place during the Festival Verdi 2026. Studio Tecnico Rainieri is the Festival’s Safety Partner and managed the entire fire safety certification process for the Teatro Regio, a concrete example of how technical expertise can serve one of the most prestigious cultural landmarks in Italy.

A starting point

The turnout, the quality of the contributions and the interest generated confirm that the dialogue between heritage protection and fire safety is more relevant than ever. Studio Tecnico Rainieri would like to thank the speakers, the patronage bodies, the institutions and all participants, and will continue to promote opportunities for in-depth discussion like this one, convinced that a culture of prevention is built in exactly this way.