March 2011

How Do We Do It?
Ensuring Our Clients of Structural
Integrity of Their Investment Part II of III
by an Inspector, Infrastructure Engineers, Inc.

Ensuring that the Structural Inventory and Appraisal Items (SI&A) are correct is also part of performing an inspection. All data in the SI&A is reviewed in the field for accuracy and changes are updated and supported by photographs and sketches.

To ensure compliance with state laws, we inspect all posted signs for the bridge. The conditions of the signs, as well as anything obscuring the visibility of the signs, are noted in the inspection report. Missing signs are reported in a Bridge Posting Notice Letter to the owner, along with any other non-conformity issues.

Documentation is what separates a good inspection firm from a great inspection firm. Infrastructure Engineers takes pride in the forms and checklists that we have developed over the course of our company’s history. Our checklists are specifically designed for every client ensuring that no detail is left out and that all requirements are met. We log in all photographs with a description and location of the structure, making referencing quick and easy. The previous report is also neatly marked-up so that technicians in the office can easily make changes. Any specialized information, special access, or unique conditions are included in the report documentation “live file”. The “live file” lists pertinent information needed for quick reference in case of an emergency, which is documented in the final report for future inspection use. Field sketches are translated into a drafting program for inclusion in the report, if required. The raw data documentation for channel topography interpretation sketches and any side scan sonar imaging profile sketches are recorded onto a computer, and redundant copies of the data are created.

The report is a legal document and falls under close internal scrutiny. Our in-house quality control and system of reviews ensures an accurate product is delivered to the client. A Quality Assurance (QA) tracking form is included in all reports, ensuring that the highest standards are maintained and that all steps in the production and review process have been met. All persons involved in the inspection and the production of the report are required to initial and date the QA tracking form.

Click Here to Read Part III of III