Giampiero Brigante is the new Head of Fire Safety at ISS. In this interview, he explains where ISS’s strengths lie in the field of fire safety and how customers can best benefit from them.
Giampiero Brigante, Head of Fire Safety
brings approximately 14 years of experience as a project and department manager. On behalf of the municipality, he also ensured compliance with fire safety and building code regulations during the building permit process. He holds degrees as a civil engineer (FH) and a fire safety expert (VKF).
Giampiero Brigante, what are the biggest challenges in fire safety for businesses?
Commercial properties often feature innovative construction methods and modern technology. In addition, the next revision of the fire safety guidelines is scheduled for 2026. On the one hand, there will be greater flexibility in fire safety. For property owners, however, the requirements and responsibilities are increasing. This calls for experts who can implement regulations in a sensible and cost-effective manner and ensure that fire protection systems fulfill their purpose in the event of an emergency.
After many years as a fire safety expert at a civil engineering group, you made the switch to ISS in facility management. What attracted you to this change?
During my initial round of interviews at ISS, I had the opportunity to meet some interesting people. Starting with the People & Culture department, my future team and supervisors also impressed me with their personal and professional qualities. We were absolutely on the same page from the very beginning and recognized new opportunities even during our initial conversations. I never felt like I was just a number in a multinational company. Instead, I immediately saw myself among colleagues with similar goals.
What experience do you bring with you from your previous role?
As the quality assurance manager for fire safety, I had noticed in previous projects that, in many existing buildings, fire safety documentation is often very sparse. Information is frequently missing and must then be painstakingly pieced together. ISS works closely with clients and supports them throughout part of a building’s life cycle. As part of this, we can also focus specifically on fire safety documentation and identify and address risks early on - not just when there’s an “emergency.”
What is ISS’s strength in fire safety, and how do clients benefit?
Fire safety engineering firms typically provide support for a construction project for a limited period of time. Through facility management, we are often connected to our clients for many years, which makes us jointly responsible. It is our fiduciary duty, together with the client and our FM colleagues, to implement solutions that address fire safety issues in buildings in a sustainable manner. Operational fire safety is our top priority.
An important part of operations is conducting periodic comprehensive tests of fire control systems. Since 2012, we have carried out over 500 such tests for our clients. It’s impressive when a team of 10 to 20 experts spends an entire day testing a large building. This ensures that the building and its technical systems work together seamlessly in the event of a fire - an important preventive measure to protect people and infrastructure from harm.
With your team, you manage a large number of commercial properties in Switzerland, ranging from office buildings and data centers to production facilities. How does ISS manage to ensure safe fire protection for all these properties?
Fire safety concepts form the foundation of our work. Effective fire protection encompasses technical systems and maintenance, structural measures such as escape and rescue routes, and organizational fire protection, including evacuation plans and SIBE organizations. This is complemented by quality assurance through documentation, as well as all defensive measures deployed in the event of a fire.
To what extent do ISS and our clients benefit from your expertise as a certified civil engineer (FH) and fire protection expert (VKF)?
As a civil engineer, I am able to assess risks, mitigate them, and evaluate them in terms of cost-benefit. This means that investments in safety are directed where they yield the greatest benefit. As a civil engineer, I am very familiar with construction processes. I am also accustomed to working in an interdisciplinary manner. I also apply these skills in my volunteer work with the fire department in my hometown.
In 2015, lawmakers tightened fire safety guidelines, particularly regarding quality requirements. What has ISS done to meet these requirements?
By expanding quality assurance within our fire safety expertise team, we have further improved our services. First, we have invested heavily in advising clients. Through due diligence, we identify potential risks and vulnerabilities. We also offer assessments to ensure that every aspect of fire safety has been considered. Our goal is to ensure, right from the moment we take over a building, that the handover documents and the necessary safety documentation are complete. Existing systems must be continuously maintained and tested. Based on the building’s use and type, we analyze the frequency of maintenance cycles and conduct comprehensive tests.