1. business and industrial
2. construction

2014 Revision v.8
The 2013 Manual of Bridge Inspection Revision was written to accommodate significant, fundamental changes in National Regulations, National Quality Assurance Procedures and State policies. The most notable changes in the inspection program since the 2010 revision include the: 
Federal Element Level requirement in MAP‐21, 2012 converting Ohio’s 1‐4 Individual components into National Bridge Elements (NBE), Bridge Management Elements (BME) and Agency Developed Elements (ADE) 
Federal Highway Agency’s 23 Metric Quality Assurance protocol, 2011 with revisions in 2012 and 2013 
Introduction of Ohio’s new Structure Management System (SMS), 2014 
Revisions to the following manuals: o
AASHTO Manual for Bridge Evaluation and its reference in the National Bridge Inspection Standards, 2010, 2013 o
AASHTO Element Level Manual, 2011, 2013 o
FHWA Bridge Inspectors Reference Manual, 2012 o
Ohio Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (OMUTCD), 2012 The notable changes include the reorganization and consolidation from eleven administrative chapters in 2010’s Revision to seven in the 2013 Revision. Also, Element Level inspection requirements on the NBIS National Highway System introduced not a new way to inspect bridges but a more rigorous way to collect inspection and inventory data. In order to keep two systems of inspection consistent with one‐
another and in order to incorporate the element level quantities users of this revision will notice new, revised and redefined inspection items. Changes to the BR‐86, now called simply the Field Report, can be found on the following pages. The Working Group for the 2014 Manual of Bridge Inspection Revision consisted of FHWA, ODOT, CEAO and consultant stakeholders. MAPPING_BR‐86 LOOKING FORWARD
DECK
New Version
1. Floor
c7.
3. Curbs, Sidewalks & Wwys
c9.
5. Railing
7. Expansion Joints
c11.
c13.
New Version
Floor/Slab (SF)
Curbs/Sidewalk (LF)
Railing (LF)
Expansion Joint (LF) d
2. Wearing Surface
c8.
4. Median
c10.
6. Drainage
8. SUMMARY
c12.
N58.
Alignment (EA) d Diaphragm/X‐Frames (EA)
Floorbeams (LF)
Truss Verticals (EA)
Removed (see Diagonals)
Truss Lower Chord (EA)
Lateral Bracing (EA)
Removed (see Lat. Bracing)
Arch (LF)
Arch Spandrel Walls (LF)
Pins/Hangers/Hinges (EA) d
Sup. Inventory Shortcuts
10. Beams/Girders/Slab
12. Joists/Stringers
c15.
c17.
14. Floorbeam Connections
16. Diagonals
c20.
18. Upper Chord
20. Gusset Plates
22. Sway Bracing
24. Bearing Devices
26. Arch Columns or Hngr.
28. Protective Coating
30. Fatigue Prone Detail
32. SUMMARY
c21.
c23.
c25.
c26.
c28.
c30.
c32.
N59.
Abutment Walls (LF) Pier Columns/Bents (EA) Backwalls (LF)
c34.
c37.
c40.
c42.
Wearing Surface (SF) Median (LF)
Drainage (EA) d
Deck Summary SUPERSTRUCTURE
9. Alignment of Members
11. Diaphragms or Cross
13. Floorbeams
15. Verticals
17. End posts
19. Lower Chord
21. Lateral Bracing
23. Portals
25. Arch
27. Spandrel Walls
29. Pins/Hangers/Hinges
31. Live Load Response
c14.
c16.
c18.
c19.
c22.
c24.
c27.
c29.
c31.
Beams/Girders (LF) Stringers (LF)
Removed (see Floorbeams)
Truss Diagonals (EA)
Truss Upper Chord (EA)
Truss Gusset Plate (EA) d
Sway Bracing (EA)
Bearing Devices (EA) d
Arch Column/Hanger (EA)
Prot. Coating System (LF) d
Fatigue (LF) d Superstructure Summary
SUBSTRUCTURE
33. Abutments
35. Piers
37. Backwalls
39. Fenders and Dolphins
c33.
c36.
c39.
41. Slope Protection
c43.
Slope Protection (EA) d
34. Abutment Seats
36. Pier Seats
38. Wingwalls
40. Scour
(Insp Type – 1, 2, 3)
42. SUMMARY
CULVERT
43. General
45. Shape
47. Headwall or Endwalls
c44.
c46.
c48.
General (LF)
Shape (LF) d
Headwall/Endwall (EA)
44. Alignment
46. Seams
48. Scour
c45.
c47.
c49.
(Insp Type - 1,2,3)
50. SUMMARY
N62.
Alignment (LF) d
Seams (EA) d
Scour (EA) d
Review Form/Access Tools Used
Culvert Summary N111. Pier Protection (Inventory)
N60.
Abutment Caps (LF)
Pier Caps (LF)
Wingwalls (EA)
Scour (EA) d Review Form/Access Tools Used
Substructure Summary 49. Abutments
CHANNEL
51. Alignment
53. Hydraulic Opening
c50.
Abutments (LF)
c51.
c53.
Alignment (LF) d
Hydraulic Opening (EA) d
52. Protection
54. SUMMARY
c52.
N61.
Protection (LF) d
Channel Summary
APPROACHES
55. Pavement
57. Guardrail
c1.
c5.
56. Approach Slabs
58. Relief Joint
c2.
c3.
59. Embankment
c4.
Wearing Surface (EA) Guardrail (EA) Embankment (EA) d
60. SUMMARY
c6.
Slab (SF)
Relief Joint (LF)
Approach Summary GENERAL
61. Navigation Lights
63. Sign Supports
65. Vertical Clearance
c54.
c56.
Navigation Lights (EA) d
Sign Supports (EA) d
Removed (see actual VC fields)
62. Warning Signs
64. Utilities
c55.
c57.
66. General Appr.
Operational Status
Signs (EA) d
Utilities (LF) d
Read Only
N41. Open, Posted
Username/Password Login
Submittal Process
68. Reviewed By,
First & Last Name
Username/Password Login
Submittal Process
67. Inspected By,
First & Last Name
69. Survey (1, 0, N) Boxes 1‐4 ‐ 36A, 36B, 36C, 36D (see Deck and Approach Forms)
69. Survey (1, 0, N) Boxes 5‐8 ‐ Inspection Type, FC ID plan, Scour POA
MAPPING_FIELD REPORT LOOKING BACK
APPROACH ITEMS
BR‐86 Field
SUBSTRUCTURE ITEMS
BR‐86 Field
c1.
Wearing Surface (EA) 55. Pavement
c33. Abutment Walls (LF)
33. Abutments
c2.
Slab (SF)
56. Approach Slabs
c34. Abutment Caps (LF)
34. Abutment Seats
c3.
Relief Joint (LF)
58. Relief Joint
c35. Abut. Colmns/Bents (EA)
NEW
c4.
Embankment (EA) 59. Embankment
c36. Pier Walls (LF)
NEW
Guardrail (EA) 57. Guardrail
c37. Pier Caps (LF)
36. Pier Seats
69. Survey Boxes 2, 3 and 4
c38. Pier Columns/Bents (EA)
35. Piers
60. SUMMARY
c39. Backwalls (LF)
37. Backwalls
c40. Wingwalls (EA)
38. Wingwalls
c42. Scour (EA) 40. Scour
c43. Slope Protection (EA) 41. Slope Protection
N60. Substructure Summary 42. SUMMARY
c5.
N36. Safety Features: Tr, Gr, Tm
c6.
Approach Summary DECK ITEMS
BR‐86 Field
c7.1 Floor/Slab (SF)
1. Floor
c7.2 Edge of Floor/Slab (LF)
NEW
c8.
Wearing Surface (SF) 2. Wearing Surface
c9.
Curbs/Sidewalk (LF)
3. Curbs, Sidewalks & Walk
c10. Median (LF)
CULVERT ITEMS
BR‐86 Field
4. Median
c44. General (LF)
43. General
c11. Railing (LF)
5. Railing
c45. Alignment (LF) 44. Alignment
N36. Safety Features: Rail
69. Survey Box 1
c46. Shape (LF) 45. Shape
c12. Drainage (EA) 6. Drainage
c47. Seams (EA) 46. Seams
c13. Expansion Joint (LF) 7. Expansion Joints
c48. Headwall/Endwall (EA)
47. Headwall or Endwalls
N58. Deck Summary 8. SUMMARY
c49. Scour (EA) 48. Scour
SUPERSTRUCTURE ITEMS
c50. Abutments (LF)
49. Abutments
N62. Culvert Summary 50. SUMMARY
BR‐86 Field
c14. Alignment (EA) 9. Alignment of Members
c15.1 Beams/Girders (LF)
10. Beams/Girders/Slab
c15.2 Slab (SF)
CHANNEL ITEMS
BR‐86 Field
NEW
c51. Alignment (LF) 51. Alignment
c16. Diaphragm/X‐Frames (EA)
11. Diaphragms or Cross fr
c52. Protection (LF) 52. Protection
c17. Stringers (LF)
12. Joists/Stringers
c53. Hydraulic Opening (EA) 53. Hydraulic Opening
c18. Floorbeams (LF)
13. Floorbeams
c54. Navigation Lights (EA) 61. Navigation Lights
N61. Channel Summary
54. SUMMARY
c19. Truss Verticals (EA)
15. Verticals
c20. Truss Diagonals (EA)
16. Diagonals
c21. Truss Upper Chord (EA)
18. Upper Chord
c22. Truss Lower Chord (EA)
19. Lower Chord
SIGN/UTILITY ITEMS BR‐86 Field
c23. Truss Gusset Plate (EA) 20. Gusset Plates
c55. Signs (EA) 62. Warning Signs
c24. Lateral Bracing (EA)
21. Lateral Bracing
c56. Sign Supports (EA) 63. Sign Supports
22. Sway Bracing
c57. Utilities (LF) 64. Utilities
c25. Sway Bracing (EA)
24. Bearing Devices
General Appraisal
66. General Appraisal
c27. Arch (LF)
25. Arch
N41. Operating Status
& Operational Status
c28. Arch Column/Hanger (EA)
26. Arch Columns or Hangers
Moved to Inventory or Review
Consolidated
c29. Arch Spandrel Walls (LF)
27. Spandrel Walls
BR‐86_31. Live Load Response BR‐86_17. End posts (see diagonals)
c30. Prot. Coating System (LF) 28. Protective Coating Sys
BR‐86_39. Fenders and Dolphins
BR‐86_23. Portals (see Lat Bracing)
c31. Pins/Hangers/Hinges (EA) 29. Pins/Hangers/Hinges
BR‐86_40. Scour (Insp Type – 1, 2, 3)
BR‐86_14. Floorbeam Connections
30. Fatigue Prone Detail
32. SUMMARY
BR‐86_48. Scour (Insp Type ‐ 1,2,3) c26. Bearing Devices (EA) c32. Fatigue (LF) N59. Superstructure Summary
(see Floorbeams)
BR‐86_65. Vertical Clearance red
= Quantity Units that will be made in 2014 after Go‐Live
2010 Revision (7)
A fifteen member working group from both public and private sectors (CEAO, Municipality, FHWA,
ODOT and Consultant) met nine times over the course of two months in 2008 in order to update the
Manual of Bridge Inspection in accordance with ORC 5501.47. The focus of the rewrite was directed
toward the Condition Rating guidance in Part 2. Other than rearranging, The Administrative sections in
Part 1 largely remained unchanged since the 2006 revision.
The intent for the Condition Rating update was
to add a table for each and every inspection
item on the BR-86 and spread out the 1-4
items into nine rows in order to prepare
inspectors and reviewers for an eventual
shift from the 1-4 rating scale to a 9-0 rating
scale (this eventual shift never came with
the subsequent Federal requirement for
Element Level Ratings in July 2012).
The guidance in the 1-4 and 9-0
descriptions, except for the Protective
Coating System, had largely remained the
same since the 1995 revision. The working
group was able to get standard practices
from inspectors in the field into the manual
and incorporate ‘lessons-learned’ from
bridge collapses and items of national
significance into the each chart since 1995.
The committee was able to add guidance regarding:
•
Highly Skewed Bridge Research
•
Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE)
•
Non-composite Prestressed Box Beams
•
Elastomeric Bearings
Research
•
Stay-In-Place Pans Filled with Asphalt
Gusset Plate Research on Truss Bridges
•
Safety Feature Standard Updates
•
Additionally, minor updates include:
•
Full Name for Inspectors and Reviewers now required on the BR-86
•
Surface area % for the individual 1-4 items are now to reflect the worst span and the % for the
Summary items are to reflect the total bridge
•
Deck edges reduced from two-feet to one-foot.
•
Text change on the BR-86 to 9. Alignment of Members, 18. Upperchord, 28. Protective Coating
System, 30. Fatigue Prone Detail (E &E’), 31. Live Load Response (E or S), 40 & 48. Scour
(Inspection Type – 1, 2, 3),
•
Unbold 7. Expansion Joints, 37. Backwalls, 47. Headwall/Endwalls
•
Combined Lower Lateral Bracing and Upper Lateral Bracing into one item 21. Lateral Bracing.
New item for Scour Inspection Type next to item 48. Scour when inspecting Culverts. New item
for Culvert Abutments 49. Abutments. Changed the definition for the last four boxes of item 69.
Survey to capture In-Depth, Fracture Critical, Scour Critical and Critical Findings items. Removal
of concrete sealers from the Superstructure PCS inspection.
•
Walking limits added for inspection Approach Items and Channel Items.
Upon completion of the 2010 Revision a one-day class was offered in each district to inform, update and
refresh the entities responsible for bridge inventory and inspection throughout the state. This training
class was considered ‘Periodic Refresher Training’ as required in the Code of Federal Regulations.
OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
BRIDGE INSPECTION REPORT
KEY:
YEAR BUILT
STRUCTURE FILE NUMBER
DIST
CO
BRIDGE TYPE
ROUTE
UNIT
TYPE OF SERVICE
DECK
1. Floor
2. Wearing Surface
3. Curbs, Sidewalks & Walkways
5. Railing
7. Expansion Joints
SUPERSTRUCTURE
9. Alignment of Members
11. Diaphragms or Cross frames
13. Floorbeams
15. Verticals
17. End posts
19. Lower Chord
4. Median
6. Drainage
8. SUMMARY
21. Lateral Bracing
23. Portals
25. Arch
27. Spandrel Walls
29. Pins/Hangers/Hinges
31. Live Load Response (E or S)
22. Sway Bracing
24. Bearing Devices
26. Arch Columns or Hangers
28. Protective Coating System (PCS)
30. Fatigue Prone Detail (E & E')
32. SUMMARY
10. Beams/Girders/Slab
12. Joists/Stringers
14. Floorbeam Connections
16. Diagonals
18. Upper Chord
20. Gusset Plates
SUBSTRUCTURE
33. Abutments
35. Piers
37. Backwalls
39. Fenders and Dolphins
41. Slope Protection
CULVERT
43. General
45. Shape
47. Headwall or Endwalls
49. Abutments
CHANNEL
51. Alignment
53. Hydraulic Opening
34.
36.
38.
40.
Abutment Seats
Pier Seats
Wingwalls
Scour (Insp Type – 1, 2, 3)
42. SUMMARY
44. Alignment
46. Seams
48. Scour (Insp Type - 1,2,3)
50. SUMMARY
52. Protection
54. SUMMARY
APPROACHES
55. Pavement
57. Guardrail
59. Embankment
56. Approach Slabs
58. Relief Joint
GENERAL
61. Navigation Lights
63. Sign Supports
65. Vertical Clearance (1, 2-change, N)
62. Warning Signs
64. Utilities
67. Inspected By, First & Last Name
68. Reviewed By, First & Last Name
60. SUMMARY
66. General Appraisal & Operational Status
PE Number
Date
PE Number
Date
69. Survey (1, 0, N)
2006 Revision (6)
A ten member working group from both public and private sectors (CEAO, Municipality, FHWA, ODOT
and Consultant) met several times over the course of two months in 2005 in order to update the Manual
of Bridge Inspection in accordance with ORC 5501.47.
The 2006 revision was broken into 2
parts. Part 1 included an extensive
overview and description of all the state
and federal laws associated with bridge
inspection. Guidelines, restrictions,
requirements, organization, QAR,
qualifications, safety, and equipment are
some of the primary subjects covered.
Part 2 of the manual deals with coding, it
is similar to previous editions with some
minor changes. The biggest and most
noticeable change came with Item 28
(formerly Paint). This was renamed
Protective Coating System (PCS) and it
was expanded from about a half page to
over 6 pages. It went from being rated on
a 1-4 scale to a 0-9 scale similar to the
summaries. Many details were given on
how to inspect the PCS and how to
correctly rate it.
Part 1 includes the following sections:
Bridge Inspection Program Requirements
1. Administrative Requirements
2. Inspection Requirements
3. Bridge Restrictions
4. Quality Measures for Safety Inspection
5. Training and Certification Program
6. Inspection Records, Files, and Reports
7. Safety Inspection Equipment
Protective Coating Systems became a focus of Department scrutiny and a more rigorous inspection
standard was implemented into the Manual of Bridge Inspection. It provided detailed guidance for
workmanship and degradation inspections of Painting, Galvanizing, Metalizing, 588 Weathering steel
and Concrete Sealers.
Upon completion of the 2006 Revision a one-day class was offered to inform, update and refresh the
entities responsible for bridge inventory and inspection throughout the state.
2001 Revision (5)
Overall the changes were minor and included the following:
•
More details were given to Items 33-36 (Abutments, Abutment Seats, Piers, and Pier Seats)
descriptions on when to code them 1-4.
•
Underwater investigation was
included under Item 40 Scour.
1998 Revision (4)
Overall the changes were minor and included the following:
The "coding of individual items" section was
again extended, this time by an additional 15
pages. More details were given under Items 51
(alignment) and 42 (protection) under channel,
and items 57 (guardrail) and 59 (embankment)
under approaches.
1995 Revision (3)
Changes in this revision were made by extending the "coding of individual items" section by 15 pages.
Comparisons and differences between the 1-4 and 0-9 condition ratings were established. Explanations
for each condition rating 1-4 were given with guidance on how to code each item. Different material
types were also taken into account in each of the summary categories and explanations of what
constitutes each rating (0-9) were given.
More items required a 1-4 rating, whereas
in the previous manual the type code was
only recorded for most items. Items 28-33
(suspension system, suspenders, towers,
bent posts, anchorage, and bridge
machinery) were moved to the rear of the
manual and Paint was moved up to item
28. Also, Items 29 (pins, hangers, hinges)
and 30 (fatigue prone connection) were
added under superstructure with a rating
of 1-4 for each. Items 40 (scour) and 41
(slope protection) were added under
substructure. Items 45 (shape) and 46
(seams) were added under culvert with a
rating of 1-4 for each. All different types of
culverts were also taken into account in the
summary section. Item 53 (waterway
adequacy) was given explanations for
condition ratings 1-4. Approach alignment
and grade were removed under approach.
Items 63 (sign supports) and 64 (utilities) were added under general. Also, sections for suspension
bridges (items 68-77) and movable bridges (items 78-99) were added after the general section.
1984 Revision (2)
This served as the manual for both inventory and
inspection.
The major change in the second revision included the
addition of the "Coding of Individual Items" section.
This added condition rating guidance to some items.
Summaries were also added on a 0-9 (critical - new)
scale for the deck, super, sub, culvert, channel,
approach, and general sections.
Paint was made a separate 1-4 rating. All other 1-4
items and Summary 9-0 items have a generic coding:
1-4 Guidance:
9-0 Guidance:
1973 Bridge Inspection Manual
The first Manual of Bridge Inspection was developed in accordance with ORC 5501.23 (later 5501.47 eff.
1973) which became effective June 11, 1968. This served as the manual for both inventory and
inspection.
Individual 1-4 items:
Summary ratings were to be completed by the reviewer:
Before the 1973 Manual
The oldest indication of bridge
inspection guidance in Ohio
can be found as a reference in
the State Highway
Department of Ohio 11th
Annual Report on December
31, 1915 (Bureau of Bridges
p.233). This guidance was
given after the 1911 McGuire
Bill established the
Intercounty Highway System
and after the 1913 HudsonHite Bill established the Main
Market Road System:
“In accordance with
the laws which
became effective in
September 1915,
requiring that all
highway bridges be
inspected by the
county highway
superintendent and
an annual report
made as to the
condition thereof, this
Figure 1 - OHIO-BR form circa 1961
department has
prepared blank forms
and sent them together with instructions to each county highway superintendent. The record,
as it is intended to be kept, will show the size and type of each structure, its location and
condition at time of each annual inspection.”
– State Highway
Department of Ohio 11th
Annual Report on
December 31, 1915
(Bureau of Bridges p.233)
Figure 2 - Ohio Form BIR-68 circa 1972