Fire protection is no longer a compliance checkbox that comes into play after a building has been designed. Today's residential, commercial, healthcare, industrial, mixed-use, and franchise developments require fire and life safety strategies to be integrated into the project from the earliest design stages.
The right consultant does more than prepare drawings. They help navigate code requirements, coordinate with architects and MEP engineers, and design systems that support occupant safety without compromising the building's functionality.
This guide looks at the top ten fire protection engineering consultants in the USA, highlighting where each firm adds the most value and the types of projects they're best suited to support.
Rather than comparing firms by size or revenue, we shortlisted them based on the factors that owners, architects, and developers typically consider when selecting a fire protection engineering consultant.
| Criteria | What We Considered |
|---|---|
| Fire Protection Service Range | Breadth of fire protection services, including fire sprinkler design, fire alarm design, fire suppression, standpipe and fire pump systems, ARCS design, central monitoring station design, pre-action systems, mass notification systems, and related fire and life safety services |
| Code & Regulatory Expertise | Experience working with NFPA, IBC, and applicable local fire and building requirements |
| Project & Building Experience | Experience across commercial, residential, healthcare, retail, hospitality, industrial, franchise, and other building types |
| Permitting & Agency Approvals | Ability to develop coordinated, code-compliant designs and permit sets that align with the requirements of relevant AHJs, including local building departments, fire marshals, fire departments, and other, helping minimize revisions and change orders during the approval process |
| Geographic Reach | Ability to support projects across multiple states and jurisdictions |
| Delivery & Responsiveness | Turnaround time, coordination, design efficiency, and ability to support projects through different stages |
System Design Capabilities has been removed as a separate criterion, as requested.
No single consultant is the right fit for every project. The summaries below highlight where each firm adds the most value and the types of buildings they're best suited to support.
Jensen Hughes provides fire protection services, life safety consulting, and risk analysis for large commercial developments, infrastructure, healthcare facilities, industrial plants, transportation projects, and government facilities. Its multidisciplinary capabilities include advanced fire engineering, performance-based design, and broader life safety consulting.
Best for: Large commercial developments, infrastructure, and complex facilities.
Nearby Engineers provides fire protection services for franchise, commercial, residential, retail, healthcare, hospitality, and industrial projects. Its services include fire sprinkler designs, fire alarm designs, fire pump designs and standpipe systems, suppression systems, ARC/ARCs designs, central monitoring station designs, pre-action systems, mass notification systems, ANSUL systems, and other specialized fire protection systems.
The firm develops fire protection designs and permit sets around applicable NFPA, IBC, local code, and AHJ requirements, with a focus on coordinated documentation that can move through the relevant approval process with minimal revisions and change orders. The firm supports projects across all 50 U.S. states and has completed 6,000+ projects.
With experience across franchise, commercial, residential, healthcare, hospitality, retail, and industrial projects, Nearby Engineers combines fire protection design with multidisciplinary coordination, responsive delivery, and cost-effective engineering solutions.
Best for: Franchise rollouts, multi-location developments, and commercial projects requiring coordinated MEP and fire protection engineering.
Arup provides fire engineering, life safety strategy, and performance-based design for sustainable developments and architecturally complex buildings. Its experience spans commercial developments, airports, cultural institutions, and high-rise buildings, with capabilities including performance-based design, evacuation, and smoke analysis.
Best for: Sustainable developments and architecturally complex buildings.
WSP delivers fire engineering, code consulting, and life safety services for infrastructure, transportation, and public-sector projects. Its experience includes transportation hubs, healthcare facilities, commercial developments, and government infrastructure, with capabilities covering fire protection, life safety, and smoke control.
Best for: Infrastructure, transportation, and public-sector projects.
Syska Hennessy Group provides fire protection services, commissioning, and life safety consulting for data centers, healthcare facilities, commercial buildings, and aviation facilities. Its multidisciplinary approach supports mission-critical environments where resilience, continuous operation, and coordination between building systems are priorities.
Best for: Data centers, healthcare, and mission-critical facilities.
HDR provides fire protection engineering, life safety planning, and code consulting for healthcare, civic, and institutional buildings. Its experience includes hospitals, laboratories, educational facilities, and civic infrastructure, with fire safety planning integrated into broader architecture and engineering workflows.
Best for: Healthcare, civic, and institutional buildings.
GHD provides fire protection engineering, life safety consulting, and risk assessments for industrial facilities, commercial developments, water infrastructure, and public-sector projects. Its multidisciplinary approach addresses fire protection systems alongside equipment layouts, hazardous materials, operational processes, and regulatory requirements.
Best for: Industrial facilities, water infrastructure, and commercial developments.
AKF Group provides fire protection services, code consulting, and commissioning for commercial offices, residential towers, healthcare facilities, and mixed-use developments. Its work integrates fire protection and life safety coordination with broader building design and supports projects across the U.S.
Best for: High-rise, residential, healthcare, and mixed-use developments.
Introba provides fire engineering, life safety strategy, and performance-based design for sustainable and high-performance developments. Its experience spans commercial, healthcare, education, and mixed-use projects, with an integrated approach that balances fire safety with sustainability and occupant experience.
Best for: Sustainable buildings and high-performance developments.
BR+A Consulting Engineers provides fire protection services, life safety consulting, and code compliance services for healthcare, laboratories, educational institutions, and commercial buildings. Its experience with technically demanding facilities makes it well suited to projects where safety, compliance, and multidisciplinary coordination are critical.
Best for: Healthcare, laboratories, and institutional buildings.
The right consultant depends on the type of building you're designing and the complexity of the fire protection requirements. While every firm on this list provides fire protection engineering expertise, companies have developed specialized experience across specific industries and project types.
| Project Type | Recommended Firms |
|---|---|
| Commercial Buildings | Nearby Engineers, AKF Group, Arup |
| Franchise & Multi-Location Projects | Nearby Engineers |
| Healthcare Facilities | Nearby Engineers, HDR, BR+A Consulting Engineers, Jensen Hughes |
| Industrial & Manufacturing | Nearby Engineers, GHD, Jensen Hughes |
| High-Rise & Mixed-Use Developments | Nearby Engineers, Arup, AKF Group, Introba |
| Infrastructure & Transportation | WSP, Jensen Hughes |
| Mission-Critical & Data Centers | Syska Hennessy Group, Jensen Hughes |
| Sustainable & High-Performance Buildings | Arup, Introba |
This resolves the franchise comment with a dedicated franchise category, while also adding Nearby Engineers to High-Rise & Mixed-Use as specifically requested.
Selecting the right fire protection consultant starts with understanding your project's requirements rather than simply comparing company size or reputation. Experience with similar building types, code compliance, and multidisciplinary coordination often have a greater impact on project success.
If you're planning a franchise, residential, commercial, industrial, healthcare, or mixed-use development, Nearby Engineers provides fire protection services ranging from sprinkler and fire alarm design to specialized suppression systems, ARC/ARCs design, central monitoring station design, pre-action systems, mass notification systems, ANSUL systems, code consulting, and coordinated, permit-ready design.
Connect with the Nearby Engineers team to discuss your project requirements and explore how we can support your next development.