Coffman Engineers Acquires S.S. Dannaway Associates

Words: Bronzella Cleveland

Coffman Engineers, Inc., a mid-sized, multidiscipline engineering firm, has acquired Honolulu-based fire protection engineering firm S.S. Dannaway Associates, Inc (SSDA).

SSDA is the Pacific Rim’s leading fire protection engineering firm. They bring to Coffman 14 staff members and more than 30 years of experience through offices in Honolulu and Guam. Coffman has more than 360 employees with eight office locations serving clients across the United States and overseas.

Coffman Engineers Founder, Dave Coffman, said: “I am particularly excited about the fire protection engineering growth at Coffman with the addition of Sam Dannaway and his staff. We have a great deal of respect for the successful business Sam has built, their technical capabilities, and their dominance in the Pacific Rim fire protection market. We are privileged to provide SSDA employees a great place to work, commitment to their career growth, and support for SSDA clients with the excellence in services they have come to expect.”

Founder and President of S.S. Dannaway, Samuel S. Dannaway, added: “All of us at S.S. Dannaway Associates are thrilled to join the Coffman team. We are very excited that our fire protection group will play a key role in fulfilling the Coffman commitment to providing quality fire protection engineering throughout the United States and important international markets.”

SSDA’s employees will remain in their current office location. Samuel Dannaway, PE, FSFPE, will become VP of Fire Protection Technology at Coffman. Other SSDA partners Robert T. Bigtas, PE; and Jay T. Higashi, PE, will become principals at Coffman and lead the Pacific Region fire protection group.

The addition of the SSDA staff brings Coffman’s Honolulu presence to more than 40 multidiscipline engineers and support staff, and also grows the companywide fire protection engineering group to 40 professionals located across the country.

From Day One to Long-Term Success: Onboarding Strategies for Contractors
January 2026

The construction industry is facing one of its toughest challenges in decades. Companies are struggling to find enough skilled workers while competing to keep the ones they have. At the same time, projects are becoming more complex, deadlines are tighter,

Finding the Right PPE for Your Work
January 2026

When it comes to PPE, one thing’s for sure: safety isn’t one size fits all. The work you’re doing, where you’re doing it, and even what time of year it is, can all make a big difference in what gear actually works. Price, comfort, and job performance all

Back Injuries: The Real Cost and How to Prevent Them
January 2026

The mention of back injuries makes mason contractors cringe, and for good reason. Masons lift heavy objects every day, all day long. When a person sustains a back injury, it is serious. It affects every part of their life, from their ability to perform wo

Detailing for Durability: The 2026 Guide to High-Performance Stone Veneer Transitions
January 2026

Some of the most expensive failures involving manufactured stone veneer installations don’t come from the stone at all, but rather from the material transitions and flashing around it. Transitions are weak points in the overall cladding where water can fi