It is with mixed emotions that FIS announces the retirement of Joe Cilia, our Technical Director for the past 15 years. Joe is well known and respected throughout the finishes and interiors sector and his knowledge, enthusiasm and experience will be greatly missed.
Joe started in the finishes and interiors sector aged just 21, when he joined Office and Storage Techniques (OAST) selling screens. He went on to help develop partition supply only business Section Plan before moving to D&B company Manufacturing Design Services (MDS) where he went on to become Contracts Director.
In 1992 Joe joined Komfort Systems, where he assisted with the development and launch of the KM3 Storage Wall before moving on to help build the Komfort specification team. Joe, along with the team, worked on many significant projects including the new BA HQ in Harmondsworth – what he refers to as ‘my jewel in the crown’.
Joe was recruited by AIS (now FIS) in 2009 as Technical Manager, where he was instrumental in starting a programme of Working Groups to address the specialist needs across the sector and write sector and subject specific guidance.
Some of Joe’s biggest achievements during his time at FIS have been:
- Setting up the Tall Building Working Group to address the impact of movement in tall buildings.
- Developing the Fire Label for fire walls to highlight their performance and signpost information and guidance for service penetrations.
- Chairing the BSI team that reviewed BS8000-8 on the design and installation of drylining after 28 years.
- Representing FIS on the Construction Products Association Technical Committee, the Grenfell Response Group, the Passive Fire Protection Forum and British Standards Committees.
- Helping to set up and co-chair the Passive Fire Knowledge Group (PFKG) to identify and articulate issues, solutions or products where there is a lack of evidence in passive fire performance.
- Publishing Walls as a System, which for the first time looks at the elements beyond the wall, such as doors, abutments and penetrations that make it a system and the importance of compatible compliant evidence of performance.
- Leaving a resource of publications and articles that provide practical and accessible guidance and information in a complicated world.
Commenting on his career, Joe said:
‘I am so lucky to have been able to work with some of the most gifted, talented and knowledgeable people in our sector, all of whom shared the common goal of making the sector better for those earning a living from it, and those working and living in the spaces created and built by the sector.
‘Above all I have strived to make a difference, which I hope will be my legacy. I have been fortunate to work in this industry for over 45 years and will not be able to walk past a site in the future without looking and wondering.’
FIS Chief Executive Iain McIlwee added:
‘Joe’s contribution to our organisation, community and sector has been immense. His technical knowledge and inquiring mind are matched with a genuine passion that has underpinned the success of so much of his work.
‘Whether it be developing standards and guidance, briefing specifiers, leading collaborative testing programmes or guiding an individual member through a specific dispute or problem, every day his work has helped someone and some days it has helped everyone.
‘On a personal note, I learned so much from Joe and feel privileged to have worked alongside him. We all wish Joe well in his retirement and on behalf of our team, community and sector I want to express our gratitude for all he has delivered in a career well spent.’