Areas of Specialization
Failure analysis, indoor air quality, moisture intrusion, construction and industrial accidents, slip and fall accidents, ventilation and air conditioning systems, life safety systems, plumbing systems, fire protection systems, electrical systems, lighting systems, construction claims, explosions, building fires, and code compliance. Perform life safety studies and condition assessments for residential, commercial, institutional and resort buildings.
Professional Registration
- P.E. - State of Virginia
- P.E. - State of Kentucky
- P.E. - State of Tennessee
- P.E. - State of Louisiana
- P.E. - State of Indiana
- P.E. - State of Illinois
- P.E. - State of North Carolina
- P.E. - State of Maryland
- P.E. - State of Utah
- P.E. - State of Texas
- P.E. - State of New York
- P.E. - State of Mississippi
- P.E. - State of West Virginia
- P.E. - State of New Jersey
- P.E. - State of Ohio
- P.E. - State of Pennsylvania
- LEED Accredited Professional
- Certified as a Fire and Explosion Investigator
- Certified as a Fire and Explosion Instructor
- West Virginia Private Investigator
- AHIT (American Home Inspection Training) in the areas listed below:
- Interiors, Insulation, & Ventilation
- Heating and Cooling
- Electrical
- Plumbing
- Exteriors
- Roofs
- Structures
Educational Background
- Ph.D.
- 2002
- Carnegie Mellon University
- M.S.C.E.
- 1992
- Carnegie Mellon University
- B.S.M.E.
- 1986
- Carnegie Mellon University
- B.S.
- General Science - 1981
- University of Pittsburgh
Employment History
- 1992 - Present
- Principal at Romualdi, Davidson & Associates
- 1990 - Present
- Principal at BDA Engineering, Inc.
- 1990 - 2003
- Principal of Hyde Group, Inc. (Mechanical/Electrical Contractors)
- 1989
- Established a MEPSP consulting business (Bert Davis & Associates)
- 1989-1990
- Engineering Group Leader, Ross Bianco Architects
- 1988
- Promoted to Senior Project Engineer at Carnegie Mellon University.
- Duties included electrical, mechanical, fire protection, and plumbing design, as well as project management and energy conservation.
- Promoted to Senior Project Engineer at Carnegie Mellon University.
- 1986
- Mechanical/Electrical Project Engineer for Carnegie Mellon University
- 1985
- Energy Coordinator for Carnegie Mellon University
- Also served as energy consultant to Action Housing, Inc.
- Energy Coordinator for Carnegie Mellon University
- 1982
- Performed HVAC/Electrical system energy audits of large industrial, institutional apartment, and office buildings under contract with the Pennsylvania Governor's Energy Council.
Professional Affiliations
- ASHRAE - American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers
- ASPE - American Society of Plumbing Engineers
- ASCE - American Society of Civil Engineers
- ICC - International Code Council
- USGBC - Member and LEED Accredited
- GBA - Green Building Alliance
- IESNA - Illuminating Engineering Society of North America
- IAAI - International Association of Arson Investigators
- NFPA - National Fire Protection Association
- NAFI - National Association of Fire and Explosion Investigators
- PSPE - Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers
- SFPE - Society of Fire Protection Engineers
- PAAI - Pennsylvania Association of Arson Investigation
Honors
- Tau Beta Pi Honorary Engineering Society, Carnegie Mellon University
- President, Life Science Society, University of Pittsburgh
- University Scholar, University of Pittsburgh
Research
Director of a design and development project for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Project involved designing a unique building photovoltaic system and analyzing the system. My research involved predicting building integrated photovoltaic system market potential in the year 2010, 2020, 2030 and modeling of photovoltaic systems effective load carrying capacity (power output) for distributed electricity power production.
Publications
- Analysis and design of building integrated photovoltaic systems (DOE).
- A technical and policy analysis of building integrated photovoltaic systems. (EPP-Engineering & Public Policy 2002).
Teaching
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Teaching completed during the 1998 and 1999 spring semesters. Course was titled EPP 19-101. The first semester reviewed automobile physics, environmental issues and safety issues. The second semester reviewed computer systems and statistical analysis of system reliability.
- Carnegie Mellon University 2003 Seminar
- An Engineering and Economic Analysis of Solar Photovoltaic Power Systems
- ASHRAE Region III CRC Technical Sessions, Pittsburgh, PA, August 2006
- Presenter - Renewable Energy - LEED Related Credits
- Instructor for Gas/Oil Burner Class at the New England Fire Cause and Origin (NEFCO)
- Rochester, NH - June 2007
- Rochester, NH - October 2008
- Presenter at Mother Earth New Fair - Seven Springs Mountain Resort, 2010
- Green Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing system features
- Instructor at the Pennsylvania Association of Arson Investigation Training January 2011
- Appliance Related Fire Investigation
- Instructor at the Pennsylvania Association of Arson Investigation Training January 2012
- Gas and Oil Fire and Explosion Course
- Instructor at the National Association of Subrogation Professionals March 2012
- Sprinkler Systems
- Instructor at the Eaton Corporation Power Systems Learning Center, Warrendale, PA, July 2012
- Electricity and Overcurrent Protection
- Instructor at the Pennsylvania Association of Arson Investigation Training January 2013
- Explosion Investigation and Review and Analysis of CSST Gas Line Failures
- Instructor at the National Association of Subrogation Professionals February 2013
- Electrical Systems, Causes of Electrical Fires and Arcing
- Instructor at the Nationwide Insurance Large Loss Conference June 2014
- Building Codes, Building Construction Documents, Mechanical and Electrical Systems and repairs from Fire and other Damage
- Instructor at State Auto Insurance Company Conference January 2015
- Moisture Damage, Existing Building Codes, Building Codes, the IMC and LEED
- Instructor at the Pennsylvania Association of Arson Investigation Training June 2015
- PV Codes, Installation, Investigation of Fires and System Design
- Instructor at the Allegheny County Fire Marshall Training November 2015
- Basic Electricity, Utility Systems and Electrical Failures
- Instructor at the National Association of Subrogation Professional April 2016
- Fire Scene Investigation: C&O Analysis and Fire Spread Theory
- Instructor for the Pennsylvania State Police September 13 & 14, 2016
- Electrical Evidence in Fire Investigation and Live Burn Demonstration
- Instructor at White and Williams June 22, 2017
- Electrical Fire Investigation Basics
- Instructor at Fire Fighters November 10, 2017
- Pennsylvania 2009 IMC and Kitchen Hood Fire Suppression Systems
- Instructor at Peoples Gas Company December 20, 2017
- Natural Gas 101 and Appliance Overview
- Instructor at the Pennsylvania Association of Arson Investigation Training June 2018
- Grounding/Bonding and Appliance Failures and Malfunctions