Section 4: Federal and State Inspection Procedures
Anchor: #i10040401991 Manual 90
The FHWA Bridge Inspector’s Training Manual 9018 was published in July 1991 and is the basic current reference for all field inspectors. Hereinafter it will be referred to as Manual 90.
Manual 90 presents the basic information needed by all bridge inspectors and rating personnel:
- It includes an excellent history of the National Bridge Inspection Program.
- It includes a description of all the common types of bridges, materials, and details used in bridge construction.
- Recommended inspection procedures are presented in detail along with many diagrams and photos.
- Manual 90 also presents a fair description of basic structural mechanics for bridge members.
Texas Bridge Inspection Procedures
- Inspection procedures in Texas have evolved since the first inspection program was initiated in about 1975.
- Data recorded in Texas exceed that of the current SI&A information required by the FHWA. Texas captures all the required information plus approximately 50 percent more. A detailed description of the data recorded is presented in the “instructions for coding guide.”
- The purposes of bridge inspection are:
- To ensure public safety and confidence in bridge structural capacity
- To protect public investment and allow efficient allocation of resources
- To effectively schedule maintenance and rehabilitation operations
- To provide a basis for repair, replacement, or other improvements such as retrofit railings
- To ensure that federal funding will remain available for bridge rehabilitation and replacement
- Bridges are inspected every two years, but the frequency may be increased depending on the condition of the bridge. More detail will be given in Chapter 4, Field Inspection Requirements.
- There are five basic types of inspection, each of which
will be described in greater detail in Chapter
4, Field Inspection Requirements:
- Initial Inspection. Performed on new bridges or when bridge is first recorded.
- Routine Inspections. Those regularly scheduled, usually every two years for most normal bridges.
- Damage Inspections. Those performed as a result of collision, fire, flood, significant environmental changes, loss of support, etc. These inspections are also called Emergency Inspections and are performed on an as-needed basis.
- In-Depth Inspections. Performed usually as a follow-up inspections to better identify deficiencies found in any of the above three types of inspection. Detailed Underwater Inspections are considered a type of In-Depth Inspection. Fracture-critical Inspections are another type of In-Depth Inspection.
- Special Inspections. Performed to monitor a particular deficiency or changing condition. Unusual bridge designs or features such as external, grouted, post-tensioned tendons, may require a Special Inspection.