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Drainage System on Bridge Decks and Approach Slabs - Ltbp Protocol - Fld-Dc-Vij-001

Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-16-007 Date: January 2016

Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-16-007
Date: January 2016

Long-Term Bridge Performance (LTBP) Program Protocols, Version 1

Visual Inspection—Joints Protocols (VIJ)

FLD-DC-VIJ-001, Drainage System on Bridge Decks and Approach Slabs

FLD-DC-VIJ-002, Expansion Joints

	Drainage System on Bridge Decks and Approach Slabs LTBP Protocol #: FLD-DC-VIJ-001

1. Data Collected

1.1

Ponding and drainage locations and data from visual inspection of drainage systems for bridge decks and approaches for functionality and evidence of ponding.

2. Onsite Equipment and Personnel Requirements

2.1

Equipment:

2.1.1

PRE-PL-LO-004, Personal Health and Safety Plan.

2.1.2

Ladder, access platform, snooper bucket truck, man lift, and/or high-reach equipment (if necessary).

2.1.3

Tape measure.

2.1.4

6-ft folding rule.

2.1.5

Mirror.

2.1.6

Broom or shovel.

2.1.7

Temporary marker.

2.1.8

Digital camera.

2.1.9

Pencil, sketch pad, and clipboard.

2.2

Personnel: PRE-PL-LO-005, Personnel Qualifications.

3. Methodology

3.1

Use the data collection grid (FLD-OP-SC-001, Data Collection Grid and Coordinate System for Bridge Decks) to locate defects on the deck and on both approach slabs.

3.2

If possible, perform the visual inspection of the drainage system during a rain event.

3.3

Check for ponding and signs of water staining on the deck and approach slabs to determine possible limits of water ponding.

3.4

Record the type and location of visible defects: ponding or signs of water staining.

3.5

Examine the inlets, outlet pipes, and downspout pipe (if any) in each span for collecting debris or signs of blockage. Record instances of debris or blockage.

3.6

Look underneath deck for signs of drainage leakage.

3.7

Check connections and supports to the outlet pipes and downspout pipes attached to the superstructure and substructure. Record locations of any loose connections or missing supports. Record any instance of water from drains falling directly onto a bridge member, such as girders, bearings, and pile and pier caps.

3.8

Documenting defects:

3.8.1

Take photographs of defects using FLD-DC-PH-002, Photographing for Documentation Purposes, and create a photo log.

3.8.2

Use sketches as needed to document ponding, debris-laden inlets, or signs of blockages, and supplement the photographs.

3.9

Storing data, documents, and images:

3.9.1

FLD-DS-LS-001, Data, Document, and Image Storage—Local, for local storage.

3.9.2

FLD-DS-RS-001, Data, Document, and Image Storage—Remote, for remote storage.

3.10

Reporting: Transfer all metadata, data, documents, and images to Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and/or upload all metadata, data, documents, and images into the Long-Term Bridge Performance (LTBP) Bridge Portal.

4. Data Collection Table

4.1

Table:

#	Field Name	Data Type	Accuracy	Unit	Field Description	Row Color
1	State	Text			State Code; e.g., Virginia = VA	Green
2	NBI structure number	Text			Item 8, structure number; from NBI Coding Guide	Green
3	Structure name	Text			Descriptive name for the bridge; e.g., Route 15 SB over I–66	Green
4	Protocol name	Text			Title of the protocol	Green
5	Protocol version	Text	Month and year		Month and year the protocol version was published; e.g., May 2015	Green
6	Personnel performing data collection activities	Text			First name(s) Last name(s)	Green
7	Date data was collected	Text	Exact date		mm/dd/yyyy	Green
Ponding or Water Stains						Pink
8	Defect type	List			Presence of ponded water Presence of water stains	Blue
9	Location of defect (x‑coordinate)	Number	1	in.	Transverse distance from origin	Yellow
10	Location of defect (y‑coordinate)	Number	1	in.	Longitudinal distance from origin	Yellow
11	Defect site	Text			Describe the location of data collection on the bridge (e.g., span number, lane number, right or left shoulder, substructure unit, etc.)	Yellow
12	Defect photos and sketches	BLOB			Document all separate defects with photos and/or sketches	Yellow
13	Comments	Text				Orange
Damaged or Blocked Drainage Inlets						Pink
14	Defect type	List			Fully blocked inlet Partially blocked inlet Damaged inlet	Blue
15	Location of defect: (x‑coordinate of center of the drainage inlet)	Number	1	in.	Transverse distance from origin	Yellow
16	Location of defect: (y‑coordinate of center of the drainage inlet)	Number	1	in.	Longitudinal distance from origin	Yellow
17	Defect photos and sketches	BLOB			Document typical defects with photos and/or sketches	Yellow
18	Comments	Text				Orange
Damaged or Blocked Drainage Downspout Outlets						Pink
19	Defect description	List			Select all that apply: Full blockage of outlet Partial blockage of outlet Loose connections and supports for pipes Missing connections and supports for pipes Drainage water falling directly onto bridge member below	Blue
20	Location of defect on superstructure or substructure	Text			e.g., pier column 1A, 5 ft above ground elevation	Yellow
21	Defect photos and sketches	BLOB			If defects are present, document typical defects with photos and/or sketches	Yellow
22	Comments	Text			If drainage water is falling directly onto a bridge member, please note onto which bridge member the water is falling. Put other comments in this field.	Orange

4.2

Table Key:

Column Descriptions
#	Sequential number of data item
Field Name	Data field name
Data Type	Type of data, such as text, number, predefined list, binary large object (BLOB), or PDF file
Accuracy	Accuracy to which the data are recorded
Unit	Unit in which a measurement is taken and recorded
Field Description	Commentary on the data or list of items in a predefined list
Row Color Key
Green	Data items only entered once for each protocol for each day the protocol is applied
Pink	Logical breakdown of data by elements or defect types (not always used)
Blue	Data identifying the element being evaluated or the type of defect being identified
Yellow	LTBP data reported individually for each element or defect identified
Orange	Comments on the data collection or data entered

5. Criteria for Data Validation

5.1

Compare measurements with measurements from previous inspections of the same structure to make sure that values make sense.

5.2

Compare measurements with photo documentation to make sure results shown in photos are consistent with items measured.

5.3

If an element’s condition is improved when compared to the condition documented in a previous inspection, check with the State department of transportation to determine if any maintenance, repair, and/or bridge preservation actions have occurred. If so, document these maintenance, repair, and/or bridge preservation actions using appropriate protocols.

6. Commentary/Background

6.1

This protocol provides guidance for identifying, locating, and measuring the extent of defects in the bridge drainage system as well as evidence of water ponding on the deck or the approach slab.

6.2

The proper functioning of the bridge’s drainage system is crucial for directing storm water and snow melt off the bridge deck and approach slabs. The basic elements of a bridge drainage system consist of the following:

6.2.1

Deck cross slope.

6.2.2

Deck drains or inlets.

6.2.3

Downspout pipes.

6.2.4

Outlet pipes

6.3

The primary reason for drainage failure is debris clogging the deck drain (scupper) and/or downspouts. When drainage pipes and inlets become clogged, the water from the deck collects along the gutter line and ponding of water occurs.

6.4

Ponding can have the following consequences:

6.4.1

Increased risk of water infiltration and chemical attacks on the decks and safety barriers at the interface with the deck.

6.4.2

Hazards to the motoring public.

6.4.3

Erosion of embankment slopes.

6.4.4

Possible settlement of the bridge approach slabs.

6.4.5

Water falling from the bridge’s drainage system directly onto other bridge members below (such as girders, girder ends, bearings, and pile/pier caps) can cause premature deterioration of these bridge members and/or exacerbate existing corrosion.

7. References

7.1

LTBP Protocols:

7.1.1

PRE-PL-LO-004, Personal Health and Safety Plan.

7.1.2

PRE-PL-LO-005, Personnel Qualifications.

7.1.3

FLD-OP-SC-001, Data Collection Grid and Coordinate System for Bridge Decks.

7.1.4

FLD-DC-PH-002, Photographing for Documentation Purposes.

7.1.5

FLD-DS-LS-001, Data, Document, and Image Storage—Local.

7.1.6

FLD-DS-RS-001, Data, Document, and Image Storage—Remote.

7.2

External:

7.2.1

FHWA-NHI-12-053, Bridge Inspector’s Reference Manual, Federal Highway Administration, Washington, DC, 2012.

Page Owner: Office of Research, Development, and Technology, Office of Corporate Research, Technology, and Innovation Management

Topics: research, infrastructure, structures
Keywords: research, structures, LTBP Program, bridge performance, bridge testing, bridge inspection, Bridge, bridge inspection, Long-Term Bridge Performance Program, LTBP, testing protocols, data collection
TRT Terms: research, infrastructure, Facilities, Structures
Scheduled Update: Archive - No Update needed

This page last modified on 03/24/2017

Long-Term Bridge Performance (LTBP) Program Protocols, Version 1

Visual Inspection—Joints Protocols (VIJ)

Drainage System on Bridge Decks and Approach SlabsLTBP Protocol #: FLD-DC-VIJ-001

1.

Data Collected

2.

Onsite Equipment and Personnel Requirements

3.

Methodology

4.

Data Collection Table

5.

Criteria for Data Validation

6.

Commentary/Background

7.

References

Drainage System on Bridge Decks and Approach Slabs
LTBP Protocol #: FLD-DC-VIJ-001