Bridge Inspection Manuals 1

[msquared48]

Other than local State and AASHTO publications, does anyone use or prefer a different manual that they have found better for inspections? If so, in what way(s)?

Particularly interested in smaller private bridge inspections rather than the RR or Highway versions.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask

 

[beton1]

Might try ACI.

 

[bridgebuster]

I've never come across any manuals other than those issued by government agencies. ACI committee 345 deals with bridges but nothing on inspection.

Remember a bridge doesn't know if it's publicly or privately owned. In NYS ANY bridge on or over a public road is subject to the DOT's inspection requirements.

Mike, what sort of privately owned bridges are you looking at? Private or public, you still have to make sure it's safe for its intended purpose. Although for some private bridges your inspection might not have to be as rigourous as a highway bridge.

For example, a bridge leading from a public road to someone's house; perhaps the town has a requirement that it be able to carry a certain size fire truck. You probably wouldn't be overly concerned overly about the presence of fatigue prone details if the bridge is only carrying a few passesnger cars each day. On the other hand, if it's a bridge in a shopping center or some area that sees a lot of truck traffic it's a de facto highway bridge.

 

[msquared48]

From what I currently know, which is cursory as this develops, it is for a local utility so the equipment can serve the customers with private bridges.

I know what you are saying BB, but I don't want to go overboard either. When I talk to the utility rep, I'll know more.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask

 

[bridgebuster]

Mike,

Generally for a bridge rehab project we do 100% hands-on inspection.

For a routine biennial inspection in NY we do a minimum 30% hands-on of the deck; 100% hands on of bearings; 100% hands-on of fatigue-prone details, fracture critical members, and non-redundant members; and stream bed measurements if applicable. It sounds like you might need less than a biennial by enough to CYA.

 

[steele6707]

Federal Highway Administration has a manual titled "Bridge Inspector's Training Manual/90" This is dated 1991. Almost 600 pages. This replaced the 1970 version. You can buy it from the National Technical Information Service. The download copy was $50 and there is a 1995 update.

 

[bridgebuster]

The FHWA Manual can be downloaded for free but it's over 500 mb

http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/BRIDGE/standards_manuals.shtml#Software_Tools_for_Design