Section 3: Routine Inspections
Anchor: #i1006001Overview
Routine inspections are those regularly scheduled, performed, and recorded in accordance with all the procedures described in Chapter 8, Bridge Records and the instructions coding guide. These are usually done every two years for most bridges and every four years for culverts.
Anchor: #i1002338Inspection Equipment
The equipment needed for routine bridge inspections usually includes the following:
- Cleaning tools including wire brushes, screwdrivers, brushes, scrapers, etc.
- Inspection tools including pocket knife, ice pick, hand brace, bit, and increment borer for boring timber elements, chipping hammer, etc.
- Visual aid tools including binoculars, flashlight, magnifying glass, dye penetrant, mirror, etc.
- Basic measuring equipment including thermometer, center punch, simple surveying equipment, etc.
- Recording materials such as appropriate forms, field books, cameras, etc.
- Safety equipment including rigging, harnesses, scaffolds, ladders, bosun chairs, first-aid kit, etc.
- Miscellaneous equipment should include C-clamps, penetrating oil, insect repellant, wasp and hornet killer, stakes, flagging, markers, etc.
- Specialized measuring tools such as paint film gauge, calipers, optical crack gauge, tiltmeter, SHIFLO, etc. The SHIFLO is a device used to measure the depth of scour during flood flows with a depth finder. It is not used during Routine Inspections.
- Underwater Inspections may require the use of Scuba gear.
A more complete description of the usual inspection equipment can be found in Chapter 5 of the Bridge Inspector's Training Manual.2
Inspections which may significantly interfere with normal traffic movement and which might affect the safety of the inspectors must be coordinated with district personnel in order that appropriate traffic control measures may be undertaken. Inspections of the underside of bridges that cannot be reached by conventional ladders may be performed by the use of vehicles with under-bridge platforms. TxDOT owns and operates several of these, whose use must be coordinated in advance with the Bridge Inspection Branch of the Bridge Division. Small boats are also available, which also must be coordinated with the Bridge Inspection Branch.
Anchor: #i1002412Interim Inspections
Brief inspections are also performed by qualified district personnel approximately every six months on most structures to identify unusual conditions or changes. These inspections do not review all the points of interest done in a normal Routine Inspection. No formal records are kept of these brief inspections. However, unusual conditions or changes will often result in a follow-up In-Depth, Damage, or Special Inspection..