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Performance-Based Fire Design That Protects & Complies.

Gain a data-backed understanding of how your building – and its occupants – will perform in a worst-case scenario.

Our performance-based fire & life safety design approach empowers our engineers to make data-driven decisions for superior fire protection and emergency response. This methodology is central to ensuring occupant safety.

Service List:

  • Performance-Based Fire Safety Design
  • Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) Modeling
  • ASET/RSET Analysis
  • Third-Party Peer Review
  • Risk Management & Mitigation
  • Regulatory Coordination & Approval

 

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OUR CORE MISSION

An Experienced Approach to Fire & Life Safety Systems

In performance-based design, the advanced technologies of fire and egress modeling are leveraged to determine alternative means of compliance to prescriptive building codes.

We deliver highly flexible fire protection engineering solutions that maximize life safety for architects, builders, and other clients. Our performance-based approach goes beyond the limitations of prescriptive code.

Summit engineer troubleshooting issue
Fire and Egress model

Save Time & Money Through Fire & Egress Modeling.

By leveraging computational fire and egress modeling, our licensed fire protection engineers can demonstrate compliance with the intent of fire code requirements, unlocking significant project benefits.

This approach results in lower costs, reduced project timelines, enhanced client satisfaction, and more streamlined approval processes with Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).

Why Use Performance-Based Fire Design?

Strict adherence to prescriptive fire codes can often create challenges for building professionals, potentially compromising a building’s aesthetics, functionality, and overall property value.

Our performance-based fire protection engineering approach offers a solution. We conduct a detailed, holistic analysis focused on the specific safety goals, ensuring that all fire and life safety requirements are not just met, but often exceeded.

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Fire and Egress model

Meet Our Team

Jim Bychowski

Senior Vice President

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Mark Hopkins

Director of Engineering 

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Aric Aumond

Director of Business Development

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Chris Leaver

Engineering Manager
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Timothy J. LaRose

Engineering Manager
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David Stacy

Engineering Manager
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Let's Solve Your Problem

Every situation is unique, which is why Summit Fire Consulting offers tailored fire protection engineering solutions for your facility’s safety and compliance.

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PERFORMANCE-BASED FIRE DESIGN

Custom fire protection solutions using advanced engineering principles instead of prescriptive codes.

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FIRE & LIFE SAFETY SYSTEM DESIGN

Design of fire alarms, sprinklers, and special suppression systems along with other life safety solutions.

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FIRE & EGRESS MODELING

Simulations that predict fire behavior and occupant movement to optimize evacuation strategies.

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ALTERNATIVE MEANS & METHODS

Developing innovative fire protection approaches when standard code compliance is impractical.

Smoke detector

SMOKE CONTROL

Engineering systems to manage smoke movement, improve visibility and protect occupants during a fire.

Hazard Analysis

HAZARD ANALYSIS

Identifying fire risks and recommending mitigation strategies for safer facility operations.

Magnifying glass looking at code

CODE CONSULTING

Expert guidance to ensure compliance with NFPA, IBC and other fire safety regulations.

Papers

FIRE & LIFE SAFETY NARRATIVES

Comprehensive reports outlining a building’s fire protection strategy and compliance approach.

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The Power of Partnership

We work with architects, developers, contractors and other engineers to deliver safe, useful and beautiful built environments.

LET’S SOLVE YOUR PROBLEM
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The analysis is very well thought out and prepared. …Thank you for your very well designed analysis and thorough report!

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Jim Bychowski

Senior Vice President

James “Jim” Bychowski, P.E., serves as Vice President – Consulting at Summit Fire Consulting, based in the Chicago area. With over 35 years of fire protection consulting, engineering management, and business development experience, Jim has worked globally and throughout the United States on projects across a wide spectrum of industries, from high-rise offices and hotels to airport terminals, aircraft hangars, petrochemical processing facilities, power generation stations, stadiums, convention centers, hospitals, and universities.

Jim has served as a principal member on the NFPA 72 Technical Committee, as alternate to the chairman of NFPA 13, and is a founding board member of the International UAE Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) chapter. Prior to joining Summit, he held senior executive roles at fire protection engineering and global risk consulting firms, including vice president positions overseeing U.S. Midwest, Ontario, and Middle East operations.

Jim holds a Bachelor of Science in Fire Protection Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration from the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in fire protection engineering and a Fellow of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers.

Mark Hopkins

Director of Engineering 

Mark Hopkins, PE, FSFPE, serves as Engineering Director at Summit Fire Consulting, providing national-level fire protection engineering industry guidance, quality assurance, and senior consulting services. With more than 30 years of experience in fire protection engineering and code consulting, Mark has designed fire protection systems, conducted hazards assessments, forensic engineering examinations, litigation support, corrosion investigations, and consulted on life safety and building code issues across a wide range of occupancies.

Mark previously served as Vice President of Engineering for the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA), where he oversaw the engineering department and served as chief technical expert on fire sprinkler systems for the nationwide trade organization. Before that, he spent nearly two decades as a senior fire protection engineer at a fire protection engineering consultancy, preparing automatic fire sprinkler, standpipe, and fire pump system designs and conducting forensic reviews and expert witness services. He is a prolific contributor to fire protection codes and standards, having served on numerous NFPA and SFPE technical committees—including NFPA 13, NFPA 72, NFPA 101, and NFPA 200—and authored content for the NFPA Fire Protection Handbook.

Mark holds a B.S. and M.S. in Fire Protection Engineering from the University of Maryland. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in fire protection engineering in multiple states, a Fellow of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (FSFPE), an adjunct instructor at the University of Maryland, serves as immediate President of the SFPE Chesapeake Chapter, member of the SFPE Board of Directors, chair of the NFPA Cultural Properties Committee which oversees NFPA 909 and 914, and a vice chair of the Maryland Fire Prevention Commission.

Aric Aumond

Director of Business Development

Aric Aumond, P.E., serves as Director of Business Development and Strategy for Summit Fire Consulting, where he helps lead the consulting team’s growth through business development, sales process management, and marketing initiatives. Based in Tampa, Florida, Aric brings more than a decade of industry experience to shaping strategy, improving pursuit efforts, and supporting the continued expansion of Summit Fire Consulting across key markets.

Before moving into his current role, Aric built his career as a fire protection engineer, progressing from fire sprinkler and fire alarm designer to Principal and Vice President at Performance Based Fire Protection Engineering (PBFPE). That background gives him a strong technical foundation and practical understanding of the consulting work the team delivers. His experience includes fire sprinkler, standpipe, and fire pump system design; code consulting for mixed-use and high-rise buildings; smoke control design; and performance-based fire protection solutions.

Aric holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of South Florida and a Master of Engineering in Fire Protection Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in fire protection engineering in multiple states and is a member of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers and the National Fire Protection Association.

Chris Leaver

Engineering Manager

Christopher Leaver, PE, is the Engineering Manager at Summit Fire Consulting. Chris has been active in the fire protection and code compliance industry since 1996 and has spent the last 15 years with Summit leading complex projects across mixed-use, commercial, healthcare, aviation, retail, and education sectors.

Chris’s technical expertise spans code consulting, fire sprinkler and fire detection and alarm design, smoke management and fire modeling, hydraulic analysis, building and fire code analysis, performance-based design, and hazardous materials. He has contributed to landmark projects including the Social Security Administration Headquarters (Arthur J. Altmeyer Building) in Woodlawn, MD; the Minnesota State Capitol restoration; U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis; Target Center; the Walker Art Center; the Mayo Clinic Gonda Building feasibility study; Carleton College’s Music and Performance Commons; and multiple University of Minnesota and Iowa State University facilities.

Chris holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and is a licensed Professional Fire Protection Engineer in multiple states. He is a member of the National Fire Protection Association and the Society of Fire Protection Engineers.

Timothy J. LaRose

Engineering Manager

Timothy J. LaRose, PE, is Engineering Manager at Summit Fire Consulting, leading the firm’s east coast fire consulting operations and business development. With more than 25 years of fire protection engineering and code consulting experience, Tim has supported thousands of clients on projects ranging from small fire protection systems design through code-compliance master planning for portfolios of more than 100 buildings.

Tim’s expertise spans fire alarm, fire suppression, and special hazards systems design and commissioning. He guides projects from the earliest phases of discovery through final testing and approval, and works closely with local fire and building officials, owners, architects, and insurance representatives to resolve complex code and design challenges. Prior to joining Summit in 2023, Tim spent more than two decades at a fire protection engineering consultancy in roles including Senior Director and Principal Engineer, Practice Leader for Education, and regional office director.

Tim holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and an M.S. in Fire Protection Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He is a licensed Professional Fire Protection Engineer in multiple states. Tim is a Professional Grade member of SFPE and a past president of the Rhode Island Society of Professional Engineers.

David Stacy

Engineering Manager

David Stacy, PE, is the Engineering Manager at Summit Fire Consulting, where he leads a team of sixteen staff—including eleven licensed fire protection engineers—delivering fire protection design and code consulting services nationwide. David founded Performance Based Fire Protection Engineering (PBFPE), which was acquired by Summit in 2025, and now oversees the delivery of the firm’s broader full-service fire protection offerings, including consulting support for U.S. Government and military projects, property condition assessments, surveys, and related services.

David’s technical expertise centers on fire and egress modeling, performance-based design, smoke control analysis, building airflow analyses, and fire protection system design and review. He also brings a unique operational perspective from more than 14 years of active fire service as a Fire Captain with the City of Durham, where he led firefighting, hazmat, and technical rescue operations and held certifications as a Hazardous Materials Technician, Technical Rescue Technician (USAR), and Advanced EMT. Prior to founding PBFPE, David served as an associate, consultant, and project manager at a fire protection engineering consultancy.

David holds a Bachelor of Science in Fire Protection Engineering from the University of Maryland and is a licensed Professional Engineer in fire protection engineering in multiple states. He is a member of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).