Timothy R. Costello

Experience

Timothy Costello combines a unique perspective gained from more than twenty years as a fire protection engineer and code consultant, along with twenty-five years in the volunteer fire service. He is accomplished in fire protection systems evaluation, design, and commissioning; the application of building and fire codes; fire resistance design; and the development and exercising of emergency preparedness plans. Mr. Costello works closely with building owners, facility and safety managers, developers, architects, engineers, attorneys, and code officials to develop innovative and code compliant solutions so that each project is completed successfully. This work has also led to his participation on technical committees for the development of major New York City Building Code revisions and for three National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards.

Prior to joining WJE, Mr. Costello served in a number of roles with Jensen Hughes, Inc. (Rolf Jensen & Associates), including vice president/ operations manager, director, and principal engineer. He also was the president of TRC Fire Engineering, P.C., a fire engineering firm serving clients in New York City.

REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS

Fire Protection, Detection, and Alarm Systems Design/Analysis

• North River Waste Water Treatment Plant - New York, NY: Fire suppression, detection, and alarm systems design *
• Passaic County Courthouse - Paterson, NJ: Fire alarm system and sprinkler system design *#
• New York City Hall - New York, NY: Fire alarm with voice communication, wireless detection, and sprinkler and standpipe system design *#^
• Waldorf-Astoria Hotel & Towers - New York, NY: Sprinkler system design *#
• Metropolitan Museum of Art - New York, NY: Fire protection systems master plan *#
• Columbia University, Manhattanville - New York, NY: Fire alarm/smoke control master plan for new university campus *

 

Building/Fire Code Consulting

• 26 Federal Plaza - New York, NY: Eight-story renovation of federal office building *
• 377 Washington Street - Newark, NJ: Egress compliance evaluation of new K–12 school *
• 428 Columbus Avenue - New York, NY: Fire department rooftop access consulting for residential penthouse addition #
• New York, NY: Fire protection plans for more than thirty offices, hospitals, hotels, and daycare facilities *

 

Performance-Based Design

• Javits Center - New York, NY: Validation of original performance-based approach using current egress and fire modeling methods *
• Meridian Hangar 12 - Teterboro, NJ: Code and technical analysis and modeling for column water spray protection *
• Confidential - New York, NY: Test criteria for protection of Sprayed Fire Resistant Materials (SFRM) from high-temperature diesel exhaust, and analysis of test results *
• Confidential - New York, NY: Testing of criteria for slab edge firestop solution for curved glass exterior wall; observation of fire tests and development of engineering judgement *
• Beekman Hotel & Residences - New York, NY: Fire and egress modeling with specialized smoke curtains *#^

 

Fire Resistance Design

• 4 East 66th Street - New York, NY: Renovation of residential penthouse exterior wall and roof fire resistance #
• 12 West 17th Street - New York, NY: Fire resistance design for roof replacement #
• 44 South Broadway - White Plains, NY: Fire resistance design for exterior sign supports
• 765 St. Nicholas Avenue - New York, NY: Peer review of party wall for adjacent building penthouse addition #

 

Fire and Emergency Planning

• More Than Seventy-Five Buildings - New York, NY: Fire safety/emergency action plans for offices, hotels, hospitals, colleges, dormitories, day care centers, theaters, and arenas *
• Confidential - NJ Sites: Development of emergency response/crisis management plan; facilitation of tabletop exercises *

 * Projects with previous firms
# Landmarked building
^ Award-winning project

Professional Affiliations

American Institute of Architects
International Association of Arson Investigators
National Fire Protection Association
National Association of Fire Investigators
Society of Fire Protection Engineers

Registrations

Professional Engineer in DE, DC, FL, IL, MD, NJ, NY, and PA
Provisional - Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator
Certified Fire Investigation Technician

Education

University of Maryland
Bachelor of Science, Fire Protection Engineering, 1997