14-48.0011: Safety Inspection of Bridges
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: This is an amendment to Rule Chapter 14-48, F.A.C., which incorporates the newest revisions to federal standards of bridge inspection. The amendments also update the criteria for bridge inspector certification.
SUMMARY: Rule Chapter 14-48, F.A.C., is being amended to update the criteria and standards for bridge safety inspections.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: No Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 334.044(2) FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 334.044(28), 335.074 FS.
IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN FAW.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Deanna R. Hurt, Assistant General Counsel and Clerk of Agency Proceedings, Florida Department of Transportation, Office of the General Counsel, 605 Suwannee Street, Mail Station 58, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0458
THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:
14-48.0011 Safety Inspection of Bridges.
(1) Purpose. The purpose of this rule is to establish standards for safety inspection of bridges, as well as certification requirements for bridge inspectors.
(2) The Manual for Bridge Evaluation, 2008, First Edition, Condition Evaluation of Bridges, 1994, Second Edition, as revised by the 1995, 1996, 1998, and 2000, interim revisions, published by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule. Copies of this manual are available from AASHTO, 444 North Capitol Street, Northwest, Suite 249, Washington, D.C. 20001.
(3) The Federal Highway Administration Recording and Coding Guide for the Structure Inventory and Appraisal of the Nations Bridges, December 1995, is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule. This manual is available on line and can be downloaded at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/mtguide.pdf.
(4) Training Course. Bridge inspectors must complete and pass the final examination for the Safety Inspection of In-Service Bridges course provided by the National Highway Institute. Information regarding this training can be obtained by contacting the National Highway Institute at its website: http://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/home.aspx http://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/default.asp
(5) The Department will certify persons with a minimum of five years of bridge construction or maintenance inspection experience working in a responsible capacity, who have completed the training course as bridge inspectors. The five years of constructive experience must include at least one year of experience conducting bridge safety inspections which meet meeting the requirements of the National Bridge Inspection Standards, 23 C.F.R., Part 650, Subpart C, incorporated herein by reference. To receive bridge inspection experience, the inspections must have been done under the supervision of an onsite P.E. or CBI. Also incorporated herein by reference is the Bridge Inspectors Reference Manual, U.S. Department of Transportation Publication No. FHWA NHI 03-001, December, 2006 October, 2002, which is available for review and downloading at: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/bripub.htm. The other four years shall may include credit for any combination of the following: engineering education, structure design, bridge construction, bridge maintenance, materials testing, or additional bridge safety inspection. Credit for engineering education is as follows:
(a) An individual who holds a bachelors degree in engineering from an accredited college or university, which is determined to be substantially equivalent by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, and has passed the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying Fundamentals of Engineering Exam, will receive 3 years credit;
(b) An individual who has an associates degree in engineering or engineering technology from an accredited college or university, or is determined to be substantially equivalent by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, will receive 1 year credit.
The Application for Bridge Inspection Certification, DOT Form 850-010-16, Rev. 06/09 09/04, is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule. Copies of this form can be downloaded from the Departments Office of Forms and Procedures website at: http//www.dot.state.fl.us/proceduraldocuments/ obtained from State Maintenance Office, 605 Suwannee Street, MS 52, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0450.
(6) Effective January 1, 2012, and every 4 years thereafter, all individuals serving as a bridge inspection team leader must have successfully completed the Safety Inspection of In Service Bridge course. If the course was not taken in the previous 4 years, the individual must have successfully completed at least 12 personal development hours in bridge inspection training within the previous 4 years. An individual not meeting this requirement will be ineligible to serve as a bridge inspection team leader until this requirement is met. The Office of Maintenance will maintain a list of courses that meet the continuing education requirements. This list can be found at: http//www.dot.state.fl.us/statemaintenanceoffice/Safety%20Bridge%20Inspection%20Team%20Leader%20Requirements%20in%20Florida.pdf
Rulemaking Specific Authority 334.044(2) FS. Law Implemented 334.044(28), 335.074 FS. HistoryNew 1-30-05, Amended_________.
