Passive Fire Engineering Pllc

What Passive Fire Engineering Pllc does

Passive Fire Engineering (PFE) is a Charlotte, North Carolina-based consulting professional engineering firm specializing exclusively in passive fire protection. Founded in 2010 by Evia Birurakis, PE, the firm delivers three core services: Third Party Special Inspections of fire-resistant penetrations and joints (mandatory under the 2018 NC State Building Code for high-rise, Risk Category III and IV buildings), Engineering Judgments providing custom PE-evaluated design solutions for non-standard fire-rated conditions per IBC 703.3, and Property Condition Assessments for existing buildings facing sale, refinancing, or notices of violation. PFE has completed inspections across a range of project types including a 41-story office tower, a 293,000 sqft hospital renovation, a 95,000 sqft convention center renovation, a 301,000 sqft new high school, a military aircrew hangar, and small retail upfits.

The firm's operating model is project-based professional services delivered by a 7-person team (Owner/PE, Senior Project Manager, Senior Engineer, Engineer, Designer, Inspector, Executive Assistant). Its primary differentiator is a multi-year working relationship with Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement, positioning PFE as a recognized liaison between project teams and local authorities on difficult firestop and code interpretation issues. The firm is WBE-certified (women-owned) and markets 16 years of exclusive firestop engineering experience as its core technical credential.

Commercially, PFE sells direct to architects, engineers, general contractors, developers, and municipal authorities in the Charlotte Metro region and surrounding municipalities via enterprise field sales. Pricing for engineering services is not publicly disclosed; the firm generates ancillary revenue from AIA-approved continuing education events priced at $45-$55 per ticket. Marketing channels include a company website, LinkedIn, Instagram, and industry education events featuring partners such as Exponent and SAMET. There is no external investment, no parent company, and no public revenue disclosure.

Name

Passive Fire Engineering Pllc

Legal name

Passive Fire Engineering, PLLC

Website

https://pfepllc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Passive Fire Engineering (PFE) is a Charlotte, NC-based consulting engineering firm that provides third-party firestop special inspections, custom engineering judgments, and property condition assessments to architects, contractors, developers, and municipalities in the Charlotte Metro region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fire Protection Engineering Services

NAICS

Building Inspection Services (541350), Building Inspection Services (54135), Engineering Services (541330)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Fire Door, Firestop & Passive Fire Protection Inspection/Installation (IMAIAJAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Fire & Smoke Dampers / Firestopping / Passive Fire Protection Services (BPABAHAE)

Keywords

• Firestop engineering services
• Passive fire protection
• Building code consulting
• Engineering judgment solutions
• Special inspections firestop

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Professional Engineering Consulting Services: Fee-for-service professional engineering consulting specializing in passive fire protection. Revenue derived from project-based engagements including Third Party Special Inspections, Engineering Judgment evaluations, and Property Condition Assessments for commercial construction projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Passive Fire Engineering (PFE) is a Charlotte-based professional engineering consulting firm that provides passive fire protection services, including Third Party Special Inspections of fire-resistant penetrations and joints, custom Engineering Judgment design solutions for non-standard fire-rated conditions per IBC 703.3, and Property Condition Assessments of fire-resistive construction. The firm serves architects, engineers, general contractors, developers, and municipalities engaged in large commercial building construction in the Charlotte Metro region, with established working relationships with Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement.

Product overview

Passive Fire Engineering (PFE) is a consulting professional engineering firm offering a portfolio of passive fire protection services. The core offerings include Third Party Special Inspections of Fire-Resistant Penetrations and Joints (mandatory inspections per NC building codes for high-rise buildings), Engineering Judgments (custom PE-evaluated design solutions for non-standard fire-rated conditions), and Property Condition Assessment services for fire-resistant construction. These services work together to help architects, contractors, and building owners achieve code compliance and building occupancy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Third Party Special Inspections of Fire-Resistant Penetrations and Joints Professional third-party inspection service for fire-resistant penetrations and joints in high-rise, Risk Category III, and Risk Category IV buildings, mandated by Sections 1705.17, 1705.17.1, and 1705.17.2 of the 2018 North Carolina State Building Code. Provided for architects, engineers, general contractors, developers, and municipalities in the Charlotte Metro region and surrounding municipalities.
• Engineering Judgments
• Property Condition Assessment – Fire Resistant Construction

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• ExponentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 November 2023Exponent presented on 'Hybrid Sealant Technology – Fire Rated Expansion Joint Solutions' as part of PFE's November 2023 AIA-approved continuing education event. 1 AIA Learning Unit offered.
• SAMETminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 November 2023SAMET's new Charlotte office (2825 South Blvd Suite 401, Charlotte, NC 28209) served as the host venue for PFE's November 2023 continuing education event.
• Mecklenburg County Code EnforcementflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 November 2023Mecklenburg County recognized industry experts with established working relationship with code enforcement officials. PFE works as liaison between project teams and code enforcement to reach agreements on difficult code interpretations that could hinder building occupancy.
• Mecklenburg County (Mecklenburg County Engineering Judgment Process)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 November 2023PFE participates in Mecklenburg County's formal Engineering Judgment Process. Company offers downloadable Mecklenburg County Engineering Judgment Process documentation.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• RJC Engineers: Structural engineering firm with an established building enclosure and fire-related services practice, providing special inspections and engineering assessments on complex buildings. Comparable on special inspection services but structurally focused and primarily Canadian-market.

Emerging players

• MeyerFire: Fire protection engineering services and design tools firm serving the AEC industry with code consulting and inspection support. Comparable in fire protection specialty but differentiates via software-enabled workflows and design content distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Exponent: Engineering and scientific consulting firm with a fire/explosion practice providing failure analysis, fire protection engineering, and code consulting. Already a co-marketing partner with PFE on AIA continuing education events; overlap on engineering judgment and firestop technology guidance.
• Arup: Global engineering firm with a dedicated fire protection engineering practice offering code consulting, special inspections, and fire safety engineering design. Comparable on engineering judgment and life safety consulting but as part of a much larger multi-disciplinary portfolio.
• Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates (WJE): National engineering consultancy with a building enclosures and fire protection practice, providing investigation, special inspections, and code consulting for complex buildings. Overlaps with PFE on fire-resistant construction inspections but operates across a much broader engineering portfolio.

Direct peers

• Code Unlimited: Fire protection and code consulting firm specializing in alternative methods, engineering judgments, and special inspections for architects and developers. Highly comparable niche focus on IBC 703.3-style engineering judgment work, though operating primarily on the West Coast.
• Jensen Hughes: The largest pure-play fire protection engineering and code consulting firm in North America, offering third-party special inspections, engineering judgments, and life safety consulting across all major U.S. markets. Most direct comparable in service mix to PFE, but operating at national scale rather than regional specialty focus.
• Aegis Engineering Consultants: Fire protection engineering firm offering code consulting, special inspections, and fire protection system design for commercial and institutional projects. Comparable boutique consultancy model serving the Southeast U.S. construction market.
• TERPconsulting: Fire protection and life safety consulting firm providing code consulting, third-party special inspections, and fire protection engineering design. Comparable service portfolio to PFE, with a regional rather than national footprint.
• Senez Consulting: Independent fire protection engineering consultancy providing special inspections, code consulting, and life safety design for architects and contractors. Comparable boutique scale and service mix to PFE, serving Texas/Southeast commercial construction markets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/passive-fire-engineering-pllc
• Instagraminstagram.com/pfepllc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Passive Fire Engineering Pllc