The Association for the Promotion of German Fire Protection (Vereinigung zur Förderung des Deutschen Brandschutzes e.V.; vfdb) the expert network for protection, rescue and safety. To ensure a secure life, it takes a forward-looking approach to current and future security issues. Currently, more than 2500 individual members and more than 530 corporate members from industry and the public sector, including more than 100 city councils, as well as ministries, research institutes, associations, clubs and the associated national and international fire service organisations support the objectives of the vfdb. As a network of experts, the vfdb creates a platform for dialogue through expert presentations, ad hoc working groups and participation in and organisation of expert conferences and trade fairs, such as Interschutz. With its expertise and through active communication, it contributes to public and political debates. The vfdb also participates in research and development. It promotes innovative products and processes and awards its own seal of approval. The transfer of research is ensured and practitioners are supported through specialist information, guidelines and the publication of a technical and scientific journal.
Expertise with a broad range of disciplines and a strong focus on application – research in the vfdb's main office is integrated into the vfdb's network of over 3,000 members. With its full-time research team, the vfdb is represented as a association partner in national and international research. Third-party funders of the funded projects are the EU, BMBF and BMWK. The vfdb is generally open to any subject. In addition to classic fire and disaster management subjects, examples of current and completed projects include security of supply, protection of cultural assets, security of electrical energy storage facilities and event security. Through our network of researchers and practitioners, we ensure the entire cycle from needs assessment, to research, to state of the art implementation. To this end, the Research team works closely with the 14 specialist units and the ad hoc groups. More than 250 experts from research institutes, universities, fire brigades, aid organisations, authorities, insurance companies and engineering firms volunteer their time here to carry out a significant amount of detailed technical work in the fields of protection, rescue and safety.
