Inspection Equipment
The equipment needed for routine bridge inspections usually includes the following:
- Cleaning tools including wire brushes, scraping tools, and whisk broom
- Inspection tools including pocketknife, ice pick, increment borer, and sounding hammer
- Visual aid tools including binoculars, flashlight, magnifying glass, dye penetrant, and a mirror
- Basic measuring equipment including thermometer, crack comparator, center punch, simple surveying equipment, rulers, tape measures, and weighted reel tapes
- Recording materials such as appropriate forms, field books, cameras, and electronic tablets
- Access equipment including ladders, watercraft, waders, ropes, etc.
- Safety equipment such as first-aid kits, mobile phone, emergency numbers, sunblock, etc.
- Miscellaneous equipment should include C-clamps, penetrating oil, insect repellant, wasp and hornet killer, stakes, flagging, and markers.
A more complete description of the usual inspection equipment can be found in Chapter 2 Section 4 of the
Bridge Inspector's Reference Manual.
Some inspections may significantly interfere with normal traffic movement and could endanger the bridge inspectors and the traveling public. Coordinate these inspections with district personnel to ensure that appropriate traffic control measures are taken.
The underside of some bridges cannot be reached for inspection by conventional ladders. Binoculars and other visual aids can be implemented. If a problem is discovered that is out of reach for verification by routine access methods, communicate such limitations with the district and the Bridge Division.