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<br />CHAPTER 4 <br /> <br />CULVERT INSPECTION PROCEDURES <br /> <br />Section 1. INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />4-1.0 General. <br /> <br />Conducting and reporting inspections are important elements of an overall <br />structure inspection program. A systematic inspection program also requires <br />planning to establish the purpose and scope of the program, as well as <br />budgeting and sCheduling to accomplish the planned program. The usefulness of <br />the information that is collected in the field depends to a large extent upon <br />how well the inspection is accomplished and documented. The information must <br />be recorded in a manner that provides a permanent record, is easy to <br />understand, furnishes an accurate assessment of conditions at the time of <br />inspection, makes information readily available for a variety of uses, and is <br />easily verified and updated. <br /> <br />This chapter reviews the various elements of an inspection program and <br />provides general procedures for conducting and reporting inspections of <br />culvert structures. Detailed inspection guidelines for the major components <br />of a culvert are provided in chapter 5, Culvert Component Inspection Guide. <br /> <br />4-1.1 Purpose and Scope of Inspections. <br /> <br />The National Bridge Inspection Program was designed to insure the safe passage <br />of vehicles and other traffic. The inspection program provides a uniform data <br />base from which nationwide statistics on the structural and functional safety <br />of bridges and large culvert-type structures are derived. Although these <br />bridge inspections are essentially for safety purposes, the data collected is <br />also used to develop rehabilitation and replacement priorities. <br /> <br />Bridges with spans over 20 ft in length are inspected on a two-year cycle in <br />accordance with the National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS). According to <br />the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials <br />(AASHTO) the definition of bridges includes culverts with openings measuring <br />more than 20 ft along the centerline of the road and also includes mUltiple <br />pipes where the distance between openings is less than half of the pipe <br />opening. <br /> <br />Multiple barrel culvert installations with relatively small pipes can <br />therefore meet the definition of a bridge. Structures included in the NBIS <br />are evaluated by utilizing a standardized inventory appraisal process that is <br />based on rating certain structural and functional features. The data obtained <br />is recorded on standardized inspection forms. The minimum data required for <br />bridge length culverts is shown on the Structure Inventory and Appraisal Sheet <br />(SI&A), as shown in exhibit 31. Procedures for codir.g these items are <br /> <br />45 <br />