Davis, Bowen & Friedel, Inc. (DBF), recently announced Christopher L. Cullen, AIA, Kevin M. Shertz, AIA, and Andrew E. Welch, P.E. have been certified as building evaluators in the nationally recognized Safety Assessment Program (SAP) by the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The program provides training for professional architects, engineers, and certified building inspectors, allowing them to evaluate the safety of buildings and infrastructure affected by natural disasters.

“As architects and engineers, it is our duty to protect public safety, whether it’s designing resilient structures before a disaster or evaluating the safety of a building after one. It is critical to have a plan in place for hazardous events, and the experience we gained from the program has prepared us to provide those services. With three SAP-trained professionals on-staff, we are qualified to offer a wide range of evaluation services to our communities,” said Shertz.

Once certified, and in the event of a natural disaster, evaluators can perform evaluations of lifeline infrastructure systems and facilities. Evaluators communicate the safety of a building to owners and authorities by applying post-disaster placards – an established standard when performing a detailed inspection. The placards indicate the level of damage in and around the structure and are labeled green for “inspected”, yellow for “limited entry” or red for “unsafe.”

By providing technical training and expertise, the SAP equips attendees with the tools necessary to assist communities nationwide in the event of a disaster. The certifications further enhance the capabilities of DBF in providing pre- and post-disaster structural, infrastructural, and building envelope improvement services.

Davis, Bowen & Friedel, Inc., is a full-service architectural, engineering, planning and surveying firm with offices in Salisbury and Easton, Maryland, and Milford, Delaware. For additional information about DBF, visit www.dbfinc.com.