Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Quality Assuranc-Quality Control Procedures
Quality Assuranc-Quality Control Procedures
Transportation
Bridge Inspection QC and QA Program
A) Purpose of Quality Control/Quality Assurance Program and Associated Policy
Documents
1) Purpose and benefits
a) Purpose In order to maintain accuracy and consistency of bridge inspections and
bridge inspection reporting and evaluate program effectiveness, uniformity, and
compliance with federal and state rules relating to bridge inspections, it is necessary
to implement appropriate quality control and quality assurance measures.
b) Benefits Accuracy and consistency of data is critical to public safety and
information obtained during inspections determines maintenance needs and the
allocation of resources.
2) Definitions
a) Quality Control (QC) Operational procedures that are necessary to properly
conduct and maintain the bridge inspection program.
b) Quality Assurance (QA) Development, documentation, and implementation of
policies and procedures to ensure that the bridge inspection program is meeting or
exceeding Federal, State, and Department standards.
c) Program Manager (PM) - At the highest level, the individual appointed by the
Department with statewide responsibility for bridge inspection, reporting, and
inventory. Currently this title is held by the Bridge Construction and Maintenance
Engineer, Mn/DOT Office of Bridge.
d) Program Administrator (PA) Delegated by the Program Manager, a certified
Professional Engineer appointed by an agency or jurisdiction to oversee the bridge
inspection program and have QC responsibilities as delegated by the PM.
Typically, the Program Administrator is the County Engineer, or the District Bridge
Engineer.
e) Bridge Inspection Team Leader (TL) Personnel certified by Mn/DOT to
conduct inspections of in-service bridges and culverts on the state, county and local
highway system throughout the state of Minnesota. A Mn/DOT certified Bridge
Inspection Team Leader must be present at the bridge site at all times during a
bridge inspection.
3) Bridge Inspection Manual/Technical Memorandums
a) Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) Bridge Inspection Manual
Version 1.7 April 2008:
www.dot.state.us/bridge/Manuals/Inspection/BridgeInspectionManual.pdf
b) Mn/DOT Technical Memorandum No. 04-08-B-01: Guidelines for Bridge
Inspection Frequency:
www.dot.state.mn.us/techsup/tmemo
Review Condition Ratings for accuracy and changes from previous year.
Report changes in load ratings and inventory data to the Mn/DOT Bridge
Office
Maintain Inspector Qualifications
Submit annual certification of inspector qualifications (Local Agencies
Only)
Report and/or schedule necessary maintenance
Maintain bridge files
Report Bridge inspection date to Mn/DOT Bridge Office within 90 days for
TH bridges and within 180 days for non-TH bridges.
c) Team Leader Responsibilities
Note: A Mn/DOT certified Bridge Inspection Team Leader must be present at the
bridge site at all times during a bridge inspection.
Assure that inspection equipment and required inspection tools are available
during inspections.
Observe proper safety and traffic control procedures.
Accurately record and report field conditions in accordance with the
Mn/DOT Inspection Manual.
Use photos and sketches to document and quantify element conditions are
deficiencies.
Properly report Smart Flag conditions
Update plans and inventory data based on observations during inspections
Document deterioration of concrete, timber or steel elements for load rating
updates.
Document and report Critical Deficiencies as defined in Technical
Memorandum No. 08-02-B-02, Critical Deficiencies found during bridge
inspections.
2) Inspection Program Qualifications
Agencies, such as Mn/DOT Districts, Counties, Cities or other public or private entities
designated with inspection jurisdiction for one of more bridges must designate a
Program Administrator to oversee the inspection and inventory program.
a) Qualifications of a Program Administrator:
Be registered as a professional engineer (PE) in the state of Minnesota. and
Attend 2 one-day Bridge Inspection refresher seminars every 4 years
(conducted by the Mn/DOT Bridge Office).
b) Qualifications of Team Leader
Be a registered professional engineer in the state of Minnesota, successfully
complete a FHWA approved comprehensive bridge inspection training
course, and pass a filed proficiency test administered by the Mn/DOT
Bridge Office,
or
Have five years of bridge inspection experience, complete a FHWA
approved comprehensive bridge inspection training course, and pass a field
proficiency test administered by the Mn/DOT Bridge Office.
and
b) Bridge files
(1) The AASHTO Manual for Condition Evaluation of Bridges recommends that
bridge owners should maintain a complete, accurate, and current record of each
bridge under their jurisdiction.
(2) At a minimum, a bridge file should include a chronological record of Inventory
and Appraisal sheets, inspections performed, including Special, Underwater,
and Fracture Critical Reports, bridge load rating and posting records,
photographs, and bridge related correspondence.
(3) As part of agency QA reviews, MnDOT reviews bridge files for the following:
Copy of AASHTO Manual for Condition Evaluation of Bridges
Signed inspections
Inspection Reports from past years
Structure Inventory Reports
Bridge related correspondence
Bridge maintenance and repair records
Bridge load rating summary
Recent photographs (roadway and elevation views)
c) Load Ratings
1. MnDOT rates bridges on TH system.
Bridges are rated within 90 days of opening.
MnDOT or the appointed consultant performs initial load rating during
design. Virtis is the Software Program is used to perform rating if possible.
For non-supported bridge types, the Designer must complete load rating as
described in Section 4 of the MnDOT LRFD Bridge Design Manual.
MnDOT ratings are prepared by Registered Professional Engineers.
When MnDOT contracts out re-ratings, it requires ratings be signed by a
registered professional engineer, and checked by a second engineer.
2. Counties, cities, other agencies rate their own bridges.
As part of the agency audits, agencies are required to submit load ratings for
bridges missing rating dates.
For bridges with superstructure NBI rating of 4 or less, MnDOT reviews
date of last rating and recommends a new rating be considered if a
significant change (increase in dead or live load or as determined by the
engineer) in condition.
For NBI condition 3 or less (superstructure, substructure, or deck) MnDOT
recommends a new rating be made by a specific date.
3. Load Posting
Structural evaluation due to condition change.
Unregulated legal loads
Unrestricted permit loads (such as timber haulers up to 98 kips).
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f) Field Reviews
Typically MnDOT performs 8-12 field reviews of local agency programs
and bridges annually from the inventory of local agencies or districts audited
that year.
g) MnDOT reviews Structure Inventory Reports and Pontis Reports to determine
bridges for field reviews. The following items are taken into consideration when
choosing bridges to review:
(1) Whether bridge is or is not posted
(2) Bridge deficiency status
(3) Bridge type (e.g. Steel girder, timber slab, precast channel girder)
(4) Whether the bridge has critical findings and the status of any follow-up action.
(5) Bridges with unusual changes in condition ratings (e.g. more than 1 appraisal
rating change from previous inspection).
(6) Bridge that requires special inspections (underwater, FC, other, special).
(7) Location of bridge.
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