 U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration |
MEMORANDUM |
| Subject: | DUE DATE: EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY; INFORMATION: Nonredundant Steel Tension Member (NSTM) Inspection Training |
Date: | February 23, 2024 |
| From: | /Original signed by/ Joseph L. Hartmann, Ph.D., P.E. Director, Office of Bridges and Structures |
In Reply Refer To: | HIBS-40 |
| To: | Division Administrators Division Directors |
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As you may know, 23 CFR 650.309(c) requires team leaders performing inspections of nonredundant steel tension members (NSTM) after June 6, 2024, to have successfully completed FHWA-approved training on the proper inspection of NSTMs. Currently, the only approved training course is Bridge Inspection Techniques for Nonredundant Steel Tension Members (FHWA-NHI-130078) which is taught by NHI. However, team leaders that have successfully completed any previous version of FHWA-NHI-130078 are also recognized as having fulfilled this requirement.
It has come to my staff’s attention that some States have misunderstood the regulatory requirement and are unnecessarily working toward re-training inspection staff who have already successfully completed a previous version of FHWA-NHI-130078 by June 6, 2024. As a result, I want to clarify the following points:
- NSTM team leaders are required to successfully complete FHWA-NHI-130078 before serving as team leader for an NSTM inspection on or after June 6, 2024. The training need not be completed by June 6, 2024, if the individual will not be serving in this capacity until a later date.
- NSTM team leaders who have successfully completed a previous version of FHWA-NHI-130078 and have met the other requirements of the regulation are considered fully qualified and are not required to re-take the course. However, although there is no requirement to do so, recent updates to the course are significant and FHWA strongly encourages team leaders and program managers who completed a previous version of the course to attend the updated version. Experienced team leaders who have previously completed FHWA-NHI-130078 can also expand their knowledge of fatigue-prone details by taking the free, online course Bridge Inspection Techniques for Nonredundant Steel Tension Members Refresher (FHWA-NHI-130078A).
As you coordinate with your State, please ensure that they fully understand these nuances and remind them that FHWA is sponsoring six sessions of FHWA-NHI-130078 throughout the country over the next several months to aid States in meeting the regulatory requirement. FHWA will fund at least three individuals from each State to attend one of these sessions. My staff is also working with NHI to make concurrent sessions of this course available during the same week. NHI anticipates having this additional availability in place by late March.
It is important that each Division Office work with their State to ensure that the training requirements are fully understood. If it becomes apparent that a State’s NSTM inspection team leaders will have difficulty meeting the regulatory requirement before needing to conduct an NSTM inspection, the Division Office should coordinate with the State to develop, document, and implement a risk-based plan that maintains bridge safety until the team leaders can be appropriately trained. Your Bridge Safety Engineer and others from my staff are ready to support this effort.
If you have any questions, you may contact me directly, your Bridge Safety Engineer, or Samantha Lubkin at (202)366-1575 or Samantha.Lubkin@dot.gov.