FEDERAL-AID POLICY GUIDE
December 7, 1994, Transmittal 12
23 CFR 650C
OPI: HNG-33
SUBCHAPTER G - ENGINEERING AND TRAFFIC OPERATIONS
PART 650 - BRIDGES, STRUCTURES, AND HYDRAULICS
Subpart C - National Bridge Inspection Standards
Sec.
650.301 Application of standards.
650.303 Inspection procedures.
650.305 Frequency of inspections.
650.307 Qualifications of personnel.
650.309 Inspection report.
650.311 Inventory.
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 109 (a) and (h), 144, 151, 315, and 319; 23 CFR 1.32; 49 CFR 1.48(b), E.O. 11988 (3 CFR, 1977 Comp. p. 117); Department of Transportation Order 5650.2 dated April 23, 1979 (44 FR 24678); section 161 of Public Law 97-424, 96 Stat. 2097, 3135; section 4(b) of Public Law 97-134, 95 Stat. 1699; and 33 U.S.C. 401, 491 et seq., 511 et seq.; and section 1057 of Public Law 102-240, 105 Stat. 2002.
[59 FR 37935, July 26, 1994]
Source: 36 FR 7851, Apr. 27, 1971, unless otherwise noted. Redesignated at 39 FR 10430, Mar. 20, 1974.
Sec. 650.301 Application of standards.
The National Bridge Inspection Standards in this part apply to all structures defined as bridges located on all public roads. In accordance with the AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials) Transportation Glossary, "bridge" is defined as a structure including supports erected over a depression or an obstruction, such as water, highway, or railway, and having a track or passageway for carrying traffic or other moving loads, and having an opening measured along the center of the roadway of more than 20 feet between undercopings of abutments or spring lines of arches, or extreme ends of openings for multiple boxes; it may also include multiple pipes, where the clear distance between openings is less than half of the smaller contiguous opening.
[44 FR 25435, May 1, 1979 as amended at 51 FR 16834, May 7, 1986]
Sec. 650.303 Inspection procedures.
(a) Each highway department shall include a bridge inspection organization capable of performing inspections, preparing reports, and determining ratings in accordance with the provisions of the AASHTO Manual [ The "AASHTO Manual" referred to in this part is the "Manual for Maintenance Inspection of Bridges 1983" together with subsequent interim changes or the most recent version of the AASHTO Manual published by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. A copy of the Manual may be examined during normal business hours at the office of each Division Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration, at the office of each Regional Federal Highway Administrator, and at the Washington Headquarters of the Federal Highway Administration. The addresses of those document inspection facilities are set forth in Appendix D to Part 7 of the regulations of the Office of the Secretary (49 CFR Part 7). In addition, a copy of the Manual may be secured upon payment in advance by writing to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, 444 N. Capitol Street, NW., Suite 225, Washington, D.C. 20001.] and the Standards contained herein.
(b) Bridge inspectors shall meet the minimum qualifications stated in Sec. 650.307.
(c) Each structure required to be inspected under the Standards shall be rated as to its safe load carrying apacity in accordance with section 4 of the AASHTO Manual. If it is determined under this rating procedure that the maximum legal load under State law exceeds the load permitted under the Operating Rating, the bridge must be posted in conformity with the AASHTO Manual or in accordance with State law.
(d) Inspection records and bridge inventories shall be prepared and maintained in accordance with the Standards.
(e) The individual in charge of the organizational unit that has been delegated the responsibilities for bridge inspection, reporting and inventory shall determine and designate on the individual inspection and inventory records and maintain a master list of the following:
(1) Those bridges which contain fracture criticalmembers, the location and description of such members on the bridge and the inspection frequency and procedures for inspection of such members. (Fracture critical members are tensionmembers of a bridge whose failure will probably cause a portion of or the entire bridge to collapse.)
(2) Those bridges with underwater members which cannot be visually evaluated during periods of low flow or examined by feel for condition, integrity and safe load capacity due to excessive water depth or turbidity. These members shall be described, the inspection frequency stated, not to exceed five years, and the inspection procedure specified.
(3) Those bridges which contain unique or special features requiring additional attention during inspection to ensure the safety of such bridges and the inspection frequency and procedure for inspection of each such feature.
(4) The date of last inspection of the features designated in paragraphs (e)(1) through (e)(3) of this section and a description of the findings and follow-up actions, if necessary, resulting from the most recent inspection of fracture critical details, underwater members or special features of each so designated bridge.
[36 FR 7851, Apr. 27, 1971. Redesignated at 39 FR 10430, Mar. 20, 1974, and amended at 44 FR 25435, May 1, 1979; 53 FR 32616, Aug. 26, 1988]
Sec. 650.305 Frequency of inspections.
(a) Each bridge is to be inspected at regular intervals not to exceed 2 years in accordance with section 2.3 of the AASHTO Manual.
(b) Certain types or groups of bridges will require inspection at less than 2-year intervals. The depth and frequency to which bridges are to be inspected will depend on such factors as age, traffic characteristics, state of maintenance, and known deficiencies. The evaluation of these factors will be the responsibility of the individual in charge of the inspection program.
(c) The maximum inspection interval may be increased for certain types or groups of bridges where past inspection reports and favorable experience and analysis justifies the increased interval of inspection. If a State proposes to inspect some bridges at greater than the specified two-year interval, the State shall submit a detailed proposal and supporting data to the Federal Highway Administrator for approval. The maximum time periodbetween inspections shall not exceed four years.
[36 FR 7851, Apr. 27, 1971. Redesignated at 39 FR 10430, Mar. 20, 1974, and amended at 39 FR 29590, Aug. 16, 1974; 53 FR 32616, Aug. 26, 1988; 57 FR 53281, Nov. 9, 1992]
Sec. 650.307 Qualifications of personnel.
(a) The individual in charge of the organizational unit that has been delegated the responsibilities for bridge inspection, reporting, and inventory shall possess the following minimum qualifications:
(1) Be a registered professional engineer; or
(2) Be qualified for registration as a professional engineer under the laws of the State; or
(3) Have a minimum of 10 years experience in bridge inspection assignments in a responsible capacity and have completed a comprehensive training course based on the "Bridge Inspector's Training Manual," [ The "Bridge Inspector's Training Manual" may be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. ] which has been developed by a joint Federal-State task force and subsequent additions to the manual. [ The following publications are supplements to the "Bridge Inspector's Training Manual"; "Bridge Inspector's Manual for Movable Bridges." 1977, GPO Stock No. 050-002-00103-5; "Culvert Inspector's Training Manual," July 1986, GPO Stock No. 050-001- 0030-7; and "Inspection of Fracture Critical Bridge Members," 1986, GPO Stock No. 050-001-00302-3.]
(b) An individual in charge of a bridge inspection team shall possess the following minimum qualifications:
(1) Have the qualifications specified in paragraph (a) of this section; or
(2) Have a minimum of 5 years experience in bridge inspection assignments in a responsible capacity and have completed a comprehensive training course which has been developed by a joint Federal-State task force.
(3) Current certification as a Level III or IV Bridge Safety Inspector under the National Society of
Professional Engineer's program for National Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) [ For information on NICET program certification contact: National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies, 1420 King Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, Attention: John D. Antrim, P.E., Phone (703) 684-2835. ] is an alternate acceptable means for establishing that a bridge inspection team leader is qualified.
[36 FR 7851, Apr. 27, 1971. Redesignated at 39 FR 10430, Mar. 20, 1974, and amended at 44 FR 25435, May 1, 1979; 53 FR 32616, Aug. 26, 1988]
Sec. 650.309 Inspection report.
The findings and results of bridge inspections shall be recorded on standard forms. The data required to complete the forms and the functions which must be performed to compile the data are contained in section 3 of the AASHTO Manual.
[39 FR 29590, Aug. 16, 1974]
Sec. 650.311 Inventory.
(a) Each State shall prepare and maintain an inventory of all bridge structures subject to the Standards. Under these Standards, certain structure inventory and appraisal data must be collected and retained within the various departments of the State organization for collection by the Federal Highway Administration as needed. A tabulation of this data is contained in the structure inventory and appraisal sheet distributed by the Federal Highway Administration as part of the Recording and Coding Guide for the Structure Inventory and Appraisal of the Nation's Bridges (Coding Guide) in January of 1979. Reporting procedures have been developed by the Federal Highway Administration.
(b) Newly completed structures, modification of existing structures which would alter previously recorded data on the inventory forms or placement of load restriction signs on the approaches to or at the structure itself shall be entered in the State's inspection reports and the computer inventory file as promptly as practical, but no later than 90 days after the change in the status of the structure for bridges directly under the State's jurisdiction and no later than 180 days after the change in status of the structure for all other bridges on public roads within the State.
[44 FR 25435, May 1, 1979, as amended at 53 FR 32617, Aug. 26, 1988]
