Civil Inspector Interview Question

and Answer
TYPICAL INTERVIEW ANSWER FOR QUALITY
CONTROL CIVIL INSPECTOR
Part One:

1. What are the most important elements of soil classification

(SAES-A-114)

a) Type of soil, Gradation and Atterberg limits. The inspector

should have a general idea how these limits (liquid limit, Plastic limit
and plasticity index) correlate with selecting approved select fill).

2. What’s “CBR” (SAES Q-006)

a) California Bearing Ration (CBR). It’s a laboratory value that

helps determining soil bearing capacity and in classifying soil. It is a
design parameter, however is a requirement by our standard to
verify and check! Not knowing what it is indicates the inspector has
poor soil knowledge and experience.

3. What is the maximum depth of regular fill lift (layer) prior

to compactions (SAES A-114)

a) 200 mm

4. What is the maximum depth of a fill lift (layer) when

manual equipment is used for compaction (SAES A-114)

a) 100 mm

5. What are the project conditions and factors that control

compaction? (Experience & SAES A-114)

a) Proper Moisture Content.

b) Compaction Equipment used and number of rolls.

c) Confinement of soil (for sand) and stepping of layers of marl

and select fill.

d) Type of Soil.

6. What are the different types of laboratory ASTM soil

density test (SAES A-114)? And what are the minimum required
density values for each of the test mention above?

a) Proctor 95%

b) Modified Proctor 90%

c) Relative (for sand) 70%

7. What are the important points to look for in Concrete form

prior to pouring concrete (SAES Q-001, ACI and experience)?

a) Tightness, cleanness, plumpness, steadiness, shoring and

bracing, rebar cover, concrete tip level mark correctness.

b) Also, vapor barrier must be installed prior to pouring on grade.

c) Also, grade must receive termite chemical spray protection

prior to vapor barrier placement.

8. What are the essential elements of concrete placement

(SAES O-001, ACI, and experience)

a) Maximum height of concrete drop is less than or equal to 1

meter.

b) Segregation must be prevented by ensuring transit mixture is

approved, has operating revolution counter, no adding water after
batching, and concrete is placed in such a manner to prevent
segregation (i.e. only shovels can be used to move concrete around
inside the forms-no raking allowed. Vibration should not be used for
that purpose.

c) Pooper vibration must be implemented. (Proper vibrating-

dropping the vibrator under its own weight until it gets to the
desired drop height, then leaving it there for 3-7 seconds pulling at
the count of 3-4 seconds. When vibrating sub-sequent layers,
vibrator must penetrate a centimeter into older layer. ( Any answer
close to this indicate experience)

d) Some labors must be continuously watching the forms in case

a large/high pout to ensure no forms failure takes place. In case a
wall is being poured, proper height (maximum heights) of each
concrete lift must be observed, such as the usual 600 mm stated
normally in projects specifications. Also, tamping on the wall is
necessary to assist in the consolidation process.

e) The concrete temperature and the slump are two strong

indicators of inspector’s knowledge. A slump between 75mm and
125mm is normal for normal pours. If the inspector has no clue as to
even the range, that’s serious! The maximum allowed temperature
for concrete when arriving at project site is 32 degrees Celsius.

9. Tell me structural steel receiving inspection and Structural

Steel Erection (12-SAMMS-007/008 & AISC-American Institute
of Steel Construction, PIPSTS 05130)?

a) This is involved experience in structural steel inspection

against abuse and damage, proper storage, proper sequencing on
job site to minimize damage, etc.

b) An experienced civil inspector must know about erection of

structural steel based on the AISC 9 (American Institute of Steel
Construction) specification for High Strength Bolts A325 & A490.
Solid knowledge in the Turn-Of-The-Nut method is extremely
essential for proper erection!

10. What is the minimum and maximum acceptable asphalt

temperature range when arriving on site (SAES Q-006 and
AASHTO)?

a) 139 to 163 degree centigrade.

11. What is required compaction density of asphalt (SAES Q-

006 & AASHTO)?

a) 96%

12. What is Prime Coat and where is it applied (SAES Q-006 &
AASHTO)? What is it curing requirement for the Prime Coat?

a) It is asphalt bituminous material that is place on the substrate

prior to placement of the first asphalt mixture (the binder course). It
must be allowed to cure and to soak into capping layer (usually
select fill).

b) 24 hours, a good indication that the material cured is when the

colors turns to pitch black, i.e. the brownness is gone.

13. What is Tack Coat (SAES Q-006 and AASHTO)

a. It is asphalt bituminous material which is applied on existing

concrete or asphalt surfaces to bond the new subsequent asphalt
pavement to them. Tack coat is not necessary to place on new
asphalt before placing the next layer of asphalt, unless it is solid
(dirty).

14. Which is the tolerance requirement of sub-grade asphalt

smoothness prior to placing asphalt (SAESQ-006 & AASHTO)?

a. Using a 3 meter straight edge = 6mm

15. What is requirement of finished asphalt surface

smoothness (SAES Q-006 & AASHTO)?

a. Using a 3 meter straight edge 4mm longitudinally, 3mm

laterally.