Hughes Associates and Rolf Jensen and Associates (RJA) have recently announced a merger between the two firms. Hughes Associates, based out of Baltimore, and RJA, based out of Chicago, are two of the largest and most well-respected fire protection engineering and code consulting firms in the world. The news comes as a surprise to the engineering consulting industry.

Hughes Associates and RJA are two of Zari Consulting Group’s largest competitors. The news of this merger leaves the newly combined firm and Aon Fire Protection Engineering as the two global powerhouses in the fire protection engineering consulting industry.