Bridges and culverts are important assets in road systems. They allow safe travel of vehicles over obstacles and cater for effective water flow of rivers and drains. Understanding the requirements and the need to undertake inspections is vital in maintaining the key assets.
Inspection of industrial structures utilises a condition rating system to track the degradation level of steel and concrete over time, using a 1 to 5 scale rating (pristine to unserviceable). The system allows for a consistent rating from any inspecting engineers. The paper gives background on the condition rating from the inspection system developed by ASPEC’s engineers.
A recommended framework for machine inspections and audits has been developed by ASPEC.
Most sites have inspection practices that have evolved over time, and it is rare that the subject is approached holistically. Inspection methodologies should be developed as a control against specific risks.