Ontario Structure Inspection Manual
The Ontario Structure Inspection Manual has been used for bridge inspections in Ontario since 1985. The manual underwent significant modifications in the year 2000 (OSIM, 2008). This FAQ provides general definitions and terminology used in the OSIM 2008.
Abutment
A substructure unit which supports the end of the structure and retains the approach fill.
Auxiliary Components
Any component which does not share in the load carrying capacity of the structure.
Biennial Structure Inspection
An inspection performed in every second calendar year to assess the condition of the structure, in accordance with the methodology described in OSIM.
Bridge
A structure which provides a roadway or walkway for the passage of vehicles, pedestrians or cyclists across an obstruction, gap or facility and is greater than or equal to 3 m in span.
Coating
The generic term for paint, lacquer, enamel, sealers, galvanizing, metallizing, etc.
Concrete Deck Condition Survey
A detailed inspection of a concrete deck in accordance with The Structure Rehabilitation Manual.
Defect
An identifiable, unwanted condition that was not part of the original intent of design.
Detailed Visual Inspection
An element by element visual assessment of material defects, performance deficiencies and maintenance needs of a structure.
Deterioration
A defect that has occurred over a period of time.
Elements
The individual parts of a structure defined for inspection purposes. Several bridge components may be grouped together to form one bridge element for inspection purposes
Evaluation
The determination of the load carrying capacity of structures in accordance with the requirements of the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code.
Floor Beam
Transverse beams that span between trusses, arches or girders and transmit loads from the deck and stringers to the trusses, arches or girders.
Highway
A common and public thoroughfare including street, avenue, parkway, driveway, square, place, bridge, designed and intended for, or used by, the general public for passage of vehicles, pedestrians or animals.
Maintenance
Any action which is aimed at preventing the development of defects or preventing deterioration of a structure or its components.
Rehabilitation
Any modification, alteration, retrofitting or improvement to a structure subsystem or to the structure which is aimed at correcting existing defects or deficiencies.
Repair
Any modification, alteration, retrofitting or improvement to a component of the structure which is aimed at correcting existing defects or deficiencies.
Span
The horizontal distance between adjacent supports of the superstructure of a bridge, or the longest horizontal dimension of the cross-section of a culvert or tunnel taken perpendicular to the walls.
Suspected Performance Deficiency
A Suspected Performance Deficiency should be recorded during an inspection, if an element’s ability to perform its intended function is in question, and one or more performance defects exist.
Culvert (Structural)
A Structure that forms an opening through soil and;
- Has a span of 3 metres or more (e.g. S in the diagrams below), or
- Has the sum of the individual spans of 3 metres or more, for adjacent multiple cell culverts (e.g. a+b+c in the diagrams below),or
- Has the sum of the individual spans of 3 metres or more, for multiple cell culverts (each with spans at least 2m) separated by soil (a width not more than the span of smallest individual cell) (e.g. a+b+c in the diagrams below, where a, b, and c are all ≥ 2.0m and d and e are both ≤ the minimum of a, b, and c), or
- Has been designated by the Owner as qualifying as a culvert.
Diagonals
Diagonals are component which spans between the top and bottom chord of a truss or arch in a diagonal direction.
Distress
A defect produced by loading.
Environment
An element’s exposure to salt spray:
- Benign – Not exposed (e.g. River Pier)
- Moderate – Exposed but element protected (e.g. Asphalt covered and waterproofed deck)
- Severe – Exposed and element not protected (e.g. Exposed concrete deck, Barrier Wall)
Lateral Bracing
Bracing which lies in the plane of the top or bottom chords or flanges and provides lateral stability and resistance to wind loads.
Portal Bracing
Overhead bracing at the ends of a through truss or arch and provides lateral stability and shear transfer between trusses.
Primary Components
The main load carrying components of the structure.
Retaining Wall
Any structure that holds back fill and is not connected to a bridge.
Secondary Components
Any component which helps to distribute loads to primary components, or carries wind loads, or stabilizes primary components.