Construction

State Highway and Transportation Department
Concrete Bridge Deck Inspection Checklist

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1. Check plywood and stay in place form condition prior to pour
2. Check expansion device installation, grade and elevation
3. Assure the railing anchor bolts, bolt holes or reinforcing are in proper position
4. Inspection During Dry Run
   1. Grade - check by survey, also by sighting along screed rails or rail saddles by eye, stringline, or straightedge to locate local bumps or depressions
   2. Check grade along edge of deck by same means to avoid edge waviness in the finished deck
   3. Crown - check at both ends of placement
   4. Finishing Machine Adjustment - refer to owners operating and maintenance manual
   5. Check minimum rebar cover
   6. Verify adequate slab thickness
   7. Check deflection of supports under weight of machine
   8. Inspect all forming, with extra attention to forming of overhangs and deck corners for strength
   9. Check expansion joint openings and blockout depths
   10. No welding permitted to reinforcing bars or barrier anchor bars
   11. Check for proper support of deck reinforcing bars
5. Finishing Machine Operation
   1. Verify routine maintenance has been performed on machine
   2. Have machine operator demonstrate all control movements.
      • Are all movements functioning?
      • Are movements smooth and of proper speed?
   3. Verify rollers turn in proper direction for skewed deck
   4. Check the travel limits of carriage
   5. Check the time for carriage to travel side to side across deck and return. Is it reasonable?
   6. Visually check machine for hydraulic leaks
6. Environment
   1. Check weather forecasts the day before, and early on the day of placement. Anticipated problems, i.e., heat, wind, rain, snow, cold
   2. Verify evaporation rate is less than 0.20 lb/sf/hr
7. Inspection Ahead of Finishing Machine
   1. Assure Cleanliness of reinforcing steel and forms
   2. Check pre-wetting of forms and reinforcing. However, guard against ponding or excess water on horizontal forms
   3. Visually monitor the condition of every load of concrete arriving on deck. Call for additional testing if questionable.
   4. Verify water is not added at pump entrance.
   5. Maintain a record of forward progress of placement. Compare with required placement rate
   6. Monitor deposition of concrete
      • Place close to final position
      • Place full thickness, not layered
      • Assure complete consolidation and filling of forms
      • Check for minimal segregation
      • Check that concrete is evenly and uniformly distributed in front of augers
      • Check that concrete is not moved horizontally by vibrators
      • Verify that the concrete is placed at the proper elevation near forms or rails to avoid filling large areas with mortar from rollers
      • Verify rails are clean ahead of machine
8. Monitor Machine Finish
   1. Verify the concrete is feathering to zero at rear of cylinders. Should not be leaving windrows behind rollers.
   2. Verify the finished surface is flat without waviness, steps, or windrows
   3. Verify the float pan and wet burlap drag are adjusted properly
   4. Verify edges of deck are smooth without waviness
9. Monitor straightedging at bulkheads, expansion joints, edges of deck, and deck surface. Watch for errors in crown and grade which might cause "bird baths"
10. Final Finish
    1. Monitor machine and hand float finish of surface
    2. Is finish smooth?
    3. In windy conditions or when rate of evaporation is questionable, watch for tearing of concrete surface beneath finishing rollers and plastic shrinkage cracks behind finishing operations
    4. Monitor broom finish. Check for even textured surface with no tearing of concrete surface
    5. Verify water is not added to assist finishing
11. Spot check concrete cover over reinforcement
12. Spot check slab thickness as required by plans
13. Inspect longitudinal and transverse construction joints
14. Curing
    1. Check type of Membrane Forming Curing Compound used against approved products list
    2. Verify containers do no exhibit separation, segregation, or skimming
    3. Verify curing compounds have not been frozen in storage
    4. Verify curing compound is well mixed prior to placement
    5. Verify minimum application rate is being attained (1 liter/4.3 sm)(1 gal/175sf)
    6. Check temperature of compound. Do not apply if less than 40 F or more than 95 F
    7. Check that curing compound is uniformly applied both in the transverse and longitudinal direction
    8. Verify that curing compound is applied to entire deck area
    9. Verify working condition of sprayers prior to pour
    10. Verify backup sprayers are available
    11. Verify contractor has sufficient personnel to perform curing operation
    12. Place wet burlap mats on surface as soon as possible following application of curing compound.
    13. Verify white plastic sheeting is properly secured to prevent displacement due to wind
    14. Check mats daily to ensure they stay wet for 7 days after placement