COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The major goals of this course are to refresh the skills of practicing bridge inspectors in fundamental visual inspection techniques; review the background knowledge necessary to understand how bridges function; communicate issues of national significance relative to the nations' bridge infrastructures; re-establish proper condition and appraisal rating practices; and review the professional obligations of bridge inspectors.
This course is based on the "Bridge Inspector's Reference Manual," 2002 (updated in 2006) with reference to the AASHTO Manual as defined by the National Bridge Inspection Standards regulation.
Core course topics include inspector qualifications and duties, bridge mechanics, record keeping and documentation, fatigue and fracture in steel bridges, traffic safety features, safety, National Bridge Inventory (NBI) component ratings, superstructure type identification, inspection techniques and case studies for decks, superstructures, bearings, substructures, channels and culverts, and a mock bridge inspection classroom exercise.
Optional topics include fiber reinforced polymer, inspection of truss gusset plates, inspection of adjacent box beams, bridge site signing, structure inventory and appraisal overview, common NBI miscodings, element level ratings and timber superstructures.
For this version of the course (3-day), the host agency will need to select three (3) desired optional topics. Course instructors will contact the host prior to the course to complete a pre-course questionnaire, determine optional topics to be taught, and discuss the course schedule.
TARGET AUDIENCE:
The target audience for this course includes Federal, State, and local agencies and private sector personnel employed in inspecting bridges or managing bridge inspection programs. The course is built to accommodate those that have completed comprehensive bridge inspection training (130055 or similar) or met the criteria for a bridge inspector under the State's procedures or requirements.
If you have questions about this NHI training, please contact NHI at nhicustomerservice@dot.gov or 877.558.6873.