Innovation Lab
At BB7, we transform research and innovation into progress, pioneering safer and smarter approaches to fire safety for generations to come.
Building a safer tomorrow
At BB7, we believe that the future of fire engineering lies not in being reactive, but in being proactive. Our Research, Development & Innovation team through our Innovation Lab are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of fire science, turning data, experimentation, and creativity into safer design strategies, smarter materials, and resilient structures.
We partner with universities, industry leaders, and cross-disciplinary experts to translate cutting-edge theory into real-world solutions: enhancing fire resilience, influencing codes and standards, and safeguarding communities.
Whether it’s refining predictive models, exploring human behaviour under emergency conditions, or optimising our digital processes and being at the forefront of technology, our goal is simple: to make tomorrow safer than today.
Academic Institutions
RD&I Team
“My main objective is to build strategic partnerships with customers and establish strong relationships with top universities across Europe. Ultimately, I aim to merge customer insights with academic excellence to drive innovations in fire safety engineering that will benefit our clients and society.” David Baron, Director
Talk to our expert
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David Baron
Director
David Baron
Director
Qualifications
CEng MIFireE PMSFPE
experience
18 Years
specialism
Structural Fire Engineering
David Baron
Director
David Baron is an experienced Structural Fire Engineer with over 18 years in the construction industry. Before joining BB7, he led engineers and estimators at a global manufacturer of intumescent coatings, delivering international cellulosic and hydrocarbon projects.
Currently, David is spearheading the development of a comprehensive Structural Fire Engineering (SFE) service and leading the fire modelling group, which specialises in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and evacuation modelling. He is committed to delivering exceptional results for clients. Additionally, he oversees the Research, Development, and Innovation (RD&I) Group at BB7, which focuses on areas such as Structural Fire Engineering, Fire Engineering, Facades, and our digital innovations.
David, a Chartered Engineer with the IFE, is passionate about delivering practical solutions to complex challenges. Recently promoted to Director at BB7, he excels at leading remote and hybrid teams, prioritising psychological safety, and fostering an inclusive environment where ideas and innovation can thrive.
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Juan Martinez
Technical Associate Director
Juan Martinez
Technical Associate Director
Qualifications
PhD Candidate, BEng, MEng
experience
10 Years
specialism
Structural Fire Engineering, FEM Thermo-Structural Analysis, Computational Fluid Dynamics, General Engineering and Smoke Control, Fire Risk Assessment, Fire Engineering
Juan Martinez
Technical Associate Director
Juan is a Technical Associate Director at BB7 with over eight years of professional industry experience and a decade collaborating with the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV). Juan has advised on projects across Ireland, the UK, and mainland Europe in a wide range of building types, including healthcare, mixed-use, residential, historic, and industrial facilities, spanning all project phases, from preplanning and design through on-site inspections, fire safety audits, and construction support. Juan is experienced in interpreting and applying European, Irish, and UK legislation, and is deeply familiar with the relevant Building Regulations guidance such as Technical Guidance Document B, BS 9999, BS 9991, PAS 79, and Eurocode Standards.
Currently, Juan is dedicating himself full-time to specialist structural fire engineering, where he employs advanced performance-based methods, such as three-dimensional fire dynamics simulations and non-linear finite element thermo-structural analyses, to assess structures under fire and optimise structural designs. This wide-ranging expertise, spanning both fire engineering and structural fire engineering, gives him a holistic understanding of building safety and regulations.
Juan is an active member of the structural fire engineering research community and has authored and co-authored several scientific papers on topics including the fire performance of civil infrastructures. He is currently a PhD candidate at the UPV, advising the university on complex modelling issues and supporting fellow researchers in the field. Whether working on new or existing buildings, Juan consistently identifies weaknesses in structural fire safety and provides tailored recommendations or remedial works to ensure robust, compliant fire strategies.
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Lefteris Koutsoloukas
Fire Engineer
Lefteris Koutsoloukas
Fire Engineer
Qualifications
MEng (Hons), PhD, AIFireE
experience
2.5 Years
specialism
Fire Engineering, Structural Fire Engineering, Evacuation Modelling
Lefteris Koutsoloukas
Fire Engineer
Lefteris is a Fire Engineer at BB7 and a member of the Structural Fire Engineering team. He studied Civil and Structural Engineering at the University of Leeds, where he also earned a PhD in Structural Analysis, Dynamics, and Control. He later gained post-doctoral experience at the University of Cyprus, where he expanded his research activities around structural behaviour.
Lefteris has authored peer-reviewed articles and remains actively engaged with the research community through conference participation and ongoing academic collaboration.
At BB7, Lefteris conducts performance-based fire and structural fire engineering assessments, applying finite element modelling using SAFIR alongside computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and evacuation modelling. His work supports robust, effective, and research-driven engineering solutions and contributes to BB7’s Research, Development, and Innovation activities.
