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Mr. Wittasek specializes in fire protection engineering, building and fire codes, accessibility, failure analysis, and origin and cause determination. He has more than 15 years of experience providing fire protection engineering codes consulting and failure analysis. Mr. Wittasek has extensive experience addressing issues related to combustible and flammable liquids, explosions, fire alarm and detection systems, fire resistive compartmentation and materials, fire department access and water supplies, fire modeling, fire testing of construction assemblies, fire suppression systems, flame spread analysis, hazardous materials classification and mitigation, means of egress, smoke movement and smoke control. Mr. Wittasek brings a detailed and pragmatic approach to his clients that reflect his knowledge of how fire and life safety principles and the use of the scientific method relate to building and fire codes, safety standards, fire protection systems failure analysis, and forensic investigation. Having served as a fire fighter, fire science research professional, consultant in the A/E industry, and educator, he is uniquely positioned to contribute both proactively and reactively. He has investigated failures involving flues and chimneys, heating appliances, fire suppression systems (sprinkler and foam systems), fire alarm systems, and smoke management systems. Mr. Wittasek has been involved with the development of fire and life safety strategies and engineered (performance based) approaches for well over 200 facilities in the following sectors:
- Assembly facilities (arenas, casinos, stadiums, and theaters)
- Cultural resource properties (museums, libraries, and performing arts venues)
- Critical facilities (data centers, scientific & engineering laboratories, communications)
- Healthcare facilities (hospitals, medical research facilities and medical office buildings)
- High-rise buildings containing commercial, hotels and residential condominiums
- Historical buildings undergoing restoration, renovation or adaptive re-use
- Transit facilities (rail stations, tunnels and airport terminals)
He has worked extensively throughout North America, Central America, China, Europe, the Middle East, and Russia utilizing local and internationally adopted codes and standards including those published by the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM), International Codes Council (ICC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD), Joint Commission (JCAHO), American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM), Factory Mutual (FM) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
Wittasek N, Jacoby D. New fire alarms for old buildings. Consulting Specifying Engineer, February 15, 2010. Wittasek N. Model behaviour. The Economist Technology Quarterly March 7, 2009. Wittasek N, Gemeny D. Fire test data for design firms – A perspective from one practitioner. ASTM’s Role in Performance-Based Fire Codes and Standards, ASTM STP 1377, pp. 47–57, November, 1999. Wittasek N. Life safety considerations in the health care environment. ASHRAE Technical Forum, 2003. Wittasek N, Tubbs J. Submersible oil well study. Proceedings, 3rd International Conference on Fire Research and Engineering, October 1999. Wittasek N, Pehrson RD, JR Barnett. Computational fluid dynamics modeling of post-crash vehicle fires. General Motors Corporation, Docket # NHTSA-1998-3588-209, May 1997. Wittasek N. Analysis and comparison of marine fire testing regulations and procedures. M.S. Thesis, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 1996.
Book Gentile J, Wittasek N. Interactive Guide to the 2012 IBC: An Illustrated Checklist. International Code Council (ICC), 2013.
Book Chapters
Wittasek N, Tubbs J, Meacham B (chapter authors). Egress design solutions: A guide to evacuation and crowd management planning. John Wiley & Sons, 2007.
Selected Invited Presentations
Farnham A, Wittasek N. Product liability—Product fire growth and spread. National Association of Subrogation Professionals, April 23, 2013.
Wittasek N. Navigating the complexities of accessibility in existing buildings. AIA | LA Continuing Education series, March 2012.
Wittasek N. The 2010 CBC & ADA accessibility primer. AIA | LA Continuing Education Series, September 2011.
Wittasek N. It’s your time and money – accessibility errors and omissions. Mobius LA, June 2010.
Wittasek N. Simulating building evacuation using an agent based approach. Human Behaviour in Fires Symposium, Cambridge, UK, July 2009.
Wittasek N. Accessibility from the outside in. AIA Continuing Education Series, September 2009.
Wittasek N. Accessibility in new and existing assembly occupancies: from the front to the back-of house. AIA Continuing Education Series, January 2009.
Wittasek N. Accessibility in new retail establishments: walking through your friendly neighborhood shops. AIA Continuing Education Series, January 2009.
Wittasek N. Provisions of the 2007 CBC that cause the most confusion. Mobius LA, 2008.
Wittasek N. Heat. Pasadena Art Center College of Design, Guest Lecturer, 2008.
Wittasek N. Building codes and design. Sci-Arc Guest Lecturer, 2007–2008.
Wittasek N. Sustainable development in the United Arab Emirates. USC Guest Lecturer, 2008.
- Associate Principal, Arup, 2003-2011
- Senior Engineer, RJA Group, 1997-2003
- Special Call Fire Fighter, Auburn Fire Department, 1994-1997
- Research Assistant, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 1995-1997
- Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat – CTBUH (fire safety committee)
- National Fire Protection Association—NFPA (member)
- National Association of Fire Investigators – NAFI (member)
- Society of Fire Protection Engineers—SFPE (professional member)
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- M.S., Fire Protection Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 1997
- B.S., Civil Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 1995
- Salamander Honorary Fire Protection Engineering Society
- Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society
- Chi Epsilon Engineering Honor Society
- Skull Senior Honor Society
- Commendation by the Chief of the Auburn Fire Department
- 2009 Consulting-Specifying Engineer magazine’s “40 under 40” award.
- Best Technical Paper in Conference, “Submersible Oil Well Study,” Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Fire Research and Engineering, October 1999.
- 40 under 40 Winner, Consulting Specifying Engineer, 2009
- Principal Member: Fire Safety Committee, Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, 2009–present
- Alternate Member: Technical Committee on Chimneys, Fireplaces, Vents and Solid Fuel-Burning Appliances, National Fire Protection Association 2012
- Registered Professional Engineer, California, #FP 1534
- Registered Professional Fire Protection Engineer, Nevada, #022159
- Certified Fire & Explosions Investigator (CFEI) in accordance with the National Association of
Fire Investigators (NAFI) National Certification Board per NFPA 921 (2010)
- Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Training in accordance with OSHA 29
CFR 1910.120, 1926.65
- U.S. Green Building Council, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional, LEED AP
- Instructor, UCLA 2004–2012
- Adjunct Professor, Cal Poly Pomona, 2005–2012
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