General

A structural condition assessment of an existing building can be undertaken for a number of purposes. They vary on the type of structure and the needs of the client or owner. All personnel involved in the assessment should possess the technical qualifications, including practical experience, education, and professional judgment required to perform the individual technical tasks assigned. Interpretation of observations, test and probe results, and conclusions must be performed by a licensed design professional qualified in the appropriate discipline. The scope of services for the structural condition assessment should be defined by the licensed design professional qualified in the appropriate discipline, and all conditions and services must be mutually agreed on by the client and design professional. Bridge structural systems are environmentally exposed and, therefore, subject to more severe weathering, have less redundancy, and typically cannot be abandoned as they deteriorate.