To update URLs and incorporate the newest revisions to federal bridge inspection standards.

 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

14-48.0011Safety Inspection of Bridges

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: To update URLs and incorporate the newest revisions to federal bridge inspection standards.

SUMMARY: Rule 14-48.0011, F.A.C., is amended to update URLs and incorporate the newest revisions to federal bridge inspection standards.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.

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.

RULEMAKING 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 THE FAR.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Denise Johnson, Deputy General Counsel, [phone], [e-mail]

 

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, Third First Edition, with 2019 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, DC 20001.

(3) The Federal Highway Administration Recording and Coding Guide for the Structure Inventory and Appraisal of the Nation’s Bridges, December 1995, is hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this rule. This manual is available on-line and can be downloaded at: http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-13081 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: https://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/home.aspx http://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/home.aspx.

(5) The Department will certify persons with a minimum of five years bridge construction or maintenance inspection experience working in a responsible capacity, who have completed the training course as bridge inspectors. The five years experience must include at least one year of experience conducting bridge safety inspections which meet the requirements of the National Bridge Inspection Standards, 23 C.F.R., Part 650, Subpart C, Rev. 12/09 04/09, incorporated herein by reference at: http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-13079. 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 Inspector’s Reference Manual, U.S. Department of Transportation Publication No. FHWA NHI 12-049 03-001, December, 2012 2006, which is available for review and downloading at: http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-13084 http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/bripub.htm. The other four years shall 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 bachelor’s 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 holds has an associate’s 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, is incorporated herein by reference at: http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-13080 and can be downloaded from the Department’s Procedural Document Library website at: https://pdl.fdot.gov/. hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule. Copies of this form can be downloaded from the Department’s Office of Forms and Procedures website at: http//www.dot.state.fl.us/proceduraldocuments/.

(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 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 in the document “Safety Bridge Inspection Team Leader Requirements in Florida” at: https://www.fdot.gov/maintenance/Inspection.shtm http://www.dot.state.fl.us/statemaintenanceoffice/StructuresOperations.shtm.

(7) The Department intends to repeal the provisions of this rule on May 1, 2026, in accordance with the rulemaking requirements of Section 120.54, F.S., unless this rule is reviewed and determined to remain necessary prior to such proposed repeal.

Rulemaking Authority 334.044(2) FS. Law Implemented 334.044(28), 335.074 FS. History–New 1-30-05, Amended 12-14-09, ____________.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Felix Padilla, P.E., State Bridge Inspection Engineer

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Kevin J. Thibault, P.E., Secretary

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: May 5, 2021

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: February 17, 2021