Jon Michelena (CEPREVEN): Excessive legislation gives us a false sense of security
Jon Michelena Muguerza, chief executive of the Association for Research into the Safety of Lives and Property (CEPREVEN), states that the fire safety sector in Spain is highly regulated. “We are the European country that has enacted the most binding legislation.” However, this expert, a regular participant in SICUR’s presentations and panel discussions, adds that “this excess of legislation gives us a false sense of security”.
The Chief Executive of CEPREVEN warns that the control systems laid down in our legislation are not effective and that, all too often, the required safety measures are limited to obtaining a piece of paper stating that they exist, without anyone carrying out a thorough inspection of the actual installation. “In my opinion, we should have less legislation and more public awareness. If you don’t explain why a particular safety measure needs to be put in place, most people will see it as an illogical imposition and will try to avoid it at all costs – after all, nothing ever happens…”
Cepreven is a cross-sector association whose members fall into three main categories: insurers, manufacturers and installers of safety systems, and safety system users. Michelena points out that “this distinctive feature gives us a comprehensive and independent perspective on fire prevention, which is recognised both by the various sectors involved in fire prevention and by public authorities. Cooperation between the two parties is essential to ensure that legislation remains flexible and adapts to evolving risks."
Expertise and specialist services
Cepreven operates in the field of fire prevention across two main areas: The first is the creation, compilation and dissemination of knowledge in all areas relating to our work. “Through our participation in national and international forums and by setting up our own working groups, we seek out or generate information on the latest developments in products and services in order to provide our members and the fire prevention and civil protection sector with state-of-the-art prevention measures.” “And through publications, training courses and information sessions, we disseminate all this knowledge to make the work of those responsible for fire safety at all levels easier, bringing about a safer society.”
The second area is the provision of highly specialised services through the association’s own companies: Servicios Técnicos Cepretec, S.L., which will celebrate its 20th anniversary next year, and the recently established CEPRECER, S.L., which will operate as a regulatory body in the field of safety in industries, within the remit of the RIPCI and the RSCIEI. “We expect to receive the corresponding accreditation from ENAC in the coming days.” Cepretec will continue to work on a voluntary basis, “so that its clients are aware of the risks they face and the status of their protective measures, undertake the necessary improvements with the assurance that they will be fully effective in the event of a fire, and with the certainty that everyone will know how to act in such circumstances”.
2026 Objectives
Michelena concludes by stating that “for 2026, we have two main objectives: to bring CEPRECER into operation following its accreditation, and to begin practical training activities at our new premises, now that we have been authorised by the Regional Government of Madrid to deliver operator training courses there in accordance with the RIPCI”.