The European Coatings Conference: Fire retardant coatings V will be held from 13 – 14 March 2012 in Berlin, focusing on current developments in raw materials as well as mechanisms and standards. Topics of the Vincentz Network conference are regulatory issues, intumescent coatings, alternative thin fire protection coatings, halogen-free fire-retardant coatings, and environmentally friendly fire retardants. On the first conference day the additional pre-conference tutorial “Flame retardant fundamentals” will be offered.