ADEPT ENGINEERING BOARD NATIONAL BRIDGES GROUP MEETING NOTES

Transcription

1 ADEPT ENGINEERING BOARD NATIONAL BRIDGES GROUP MEETING NOTES Venue: Westminster Archives Centre, London 10 St Ann's St, Westminster, London, SW1P 2DE Date and Time: 10:30 on Thursday 21 st January 2016 Present: Liz Kirkham (Chairman) [LK] Graham Cole (Vice Chairman) [GC] Kevin Dentith (Secretary) [] Mike Johnson [MJ] David Mackenzie [DM] Mark Andrew [MA] Chris Plant [CP] Brian Hill [BH] Gareth Guest [GG] Clive Woodruff [CW] Chris Capewell [CC] Steve Eggleton [SE] Stuart Molyneux [SM] Jacqueline Mynott [JM] Andrew Willison [AW] Alex Moore [AM] Gloucestershire County Council Hampshire County Council Devon County Council South Gloucestershire Council Highland Council & SCOTS East Sussex County Council Staffordshire County Council Hampshire County Council Cambridgeshire County Council Essex County Council Nottingham City Council Transport for London Salford City Council Caerphilly County Borough Council City of York Council Devon County Council ITEM 1. INTRODUCTION AND APOLOGIES 1.1 Apologies for Absence Apologies were received from Peter Clapham, Rob Driver, Keith Harwood and Martin Sunderland 1.2 Introductions LK welcomed everyone especially the new members Mike Johnson who has taken over from Helen Powdrill as SWABC Secretary and Andrew Willison from York & Humberside who has taken over from Andre Czlapka also introduced Alex Moore, a graduate engineer with DCC, who was attending to experience how the NBG operates. 2. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 1ST OCTOBER Accuracy The minutes circulated with e092/15 were accepted as being a true record of the meeting with one minor amendment; 4.1 Membership. Andre is standing down as Chairman of the YHABC and not as the secretary of Doncaster Council. 2.2 Action Log Minute ref 14/09/ New Chairman North. Carried forward, 1 LK

2 Minute ref 14/09/ ADEPT Soils & Materials Group awaiting HE guidance document to be published, carried forward GC Minute ref 29/1/ Chris Capewell raised this issue again, it will be covered further order Canal & River Trust (see item 7 of minutes) Minute ref 01/10/ Action completed Minute ref 01/10/15-8 Action Completed Minute ref 01/10/15-9 Covered later under NR report Minute ref 01/10/15-11 Action completed Minute ref 01/10/ Action completed Minute ref 01/10/15 CW handed out Maintenance option sheets Minute ref 11/6/15 16 Action completed 3. ADEPT NATIONAL BRIDGES GROUP 3.1 The ABC contact details require updating; will distribute for ABC action ADEPT ABC Secretaries 4. ADEPT ENGINEERING BOARD relevant items from recent meeting 4.1 The Engineering Board met on 2 nd October 2015, Steve Berry of DfT attended to give the latest position from the DfT. The other key discussion items were the Code of Practice revisions, the review of DMRB and ADEPT contributions for funding for research projects. It was agreed that the small fund of money that was held by LK on behalf of the Bridges group could be used to fund ADEPTs membership of BOF 5. UK RLG AND UK BRIDGE BOARD UK Bridges Board, meeting on 19 th October 2015, attended meeting and fed back the following: Nicola Head to review the wording on endorsement of the Bridge Inspector Certification Scheme within the revised Code of Practice and consider the approach for a phased implementation Nicola informed the Board of the delayed release of the CoP to summer 2016 due to the large response (with over 650 comments). Best Practice Guide to installation and management of safety critical fixings Neil Loudon updated the Board noting that the brief had been drafted and the project was currently in the procurement process through Highways England T-TEAR framework. Guidance on methods of determining reliable and realistic deterioration models and degradation rates for bridge assets. Richard Fish provided an update noting that Keith Harwood had been driving forward the proposal on behalf of BOF. The view currently was that there was a need for a more realistic and practical application of the research. Rob Dean said that Network Rail could lead on the procurement if a brief is agreed. Richard said that BOF would review in more detail. 2

3 UKBB Business Plan - There was a discussion on both the merits and challenges of producing a state of the nation report on UK bridge stock. Dana said that if this was to be taken forward, there would be the need to commission work for this to be delivered. The Board noted that HMEP has traditionally been very highways focused. Boundary Issues - Neil Loudon said that a document would be available for circulation at the next UK Bridges Board meeting. Dana asked about the opportunity to comment/input on the document and Neil said that the document would seek input/views going forward. Chair Dana Skelly was awarded the OBE in the New Year s Honour List. Dana Skelley to report back to HMEP the need for structures and bridges to be covered under HMEP 6. BRIDGE OWNERS FORUM (BOF) GC highlighted the key points discussed at the last meeting of the Bridge Owners Forum on 3 November The next meeting takes place on Tuesday 26 January. 6.1 Members ideas for future research proposals would be gratefully received; GC will send out an updated Research proforma at a later date for comment on other ideas from ABCs list Highways England reported on their study into the use of temporary bridging. They have a document entitled Procedures for the Provision of a Temporary Bridge in the event of an Incident. This was being updated and a version will be available to all (with specific Highways England references removed). Highways England reported on the recently completed study of water management on bridges which included a review of IAN96/07 and the specification for surfacing. The document was to be circulated to BoF members after the meeting with a view to publishing on the BoF website. Some aspects of the report would feed into Highways England documentation. Transport Scotland has a process for checking bridges with hidden defects. This involves additional work at principal inspections. Network Rail also have a supplementary inspection / investigation regime. This work was instigated following the Stewarton collapse. Members were encouraged to read scoss/cross newsletters and to feed in reports, as appropriate. Research proposals for guidance on BIM and Deterioration Modelling were discussed. Keith Harwood is the ADEPT representative and project lead for the latter. Keith Harwood was endorsed as the BoF representative at HAMFIG. John McRobert (Northern Ireland) gave an interesting presentation on the rapid deterioration of a steel bridge and a concrete bridge. John observed that both bridges appeared to have reached a tipping point where deterioration took place more rapidly than in previous years. [John will be presenting a paper on this topic at the Surveyor Conference on 16 March]. University of Cambridge gave a presentation on the work that they had been doing on the use of camera / accelerometer technology to prevent and monitor vehicle strikes on bridges. A discussion point was whether or not Section 178 of the Highways Act should be repealed as this appeared to prevent the erection of goalpost protection to a low bridge. 3

4 Highways England highlighted their research project to consider the management of safety critical structural fixings. A similar CIRIA project would now focus on fixings in buildings. Network Rail highlighted the study that they had carried out on parapet heights [previously presented to Bridges Group]. New research proposals are to be considered at the January 2016 meeting. Highways England have one member of staff who is focusing on technical interaction with HS2 Network Rail highlighted deterioration research being conducted at the University of Nottingham. Particular note was made of the variation in the deterioration of galvanising around the UK. Highways England noted that the Maunsell 2 report into the condition of highway bridges was underway. They were also carrying out a review of 700 bridge inspections. The findings would be summarised at a future meeting. DM advised that SCOTS would consider funding research projects if relevant to bridges on either side of the border 7. CANAL & RIVERS TRUST LIAISON 7.1 advised the C&RT liaison pairing of Rod Howe and Ken Marshall (SWABC) had not met as far as he was aware. CC wanted to raise the issue discussed at the last meeting about Canal River Trust charges for both inspections/site visits and for discharge licenses, and cited a case of requesting payment to approve an underwater inspection of a highway bridge. LK has raised this at ADEPT Engineering Board, and Steve Berry of DfT asked LK to supply details LK suggested this matter should be raised with ABC members and any issues are forwarded to to take to UKBB on February 8 th LK ALL - ASAP 8. NETWORK RAIL ISSUES/LIAISON SM reported back on the last Liaison meeting and raised several other points: NR request ADEPT Bridges Group enters into dialog relating to the management of abnormal loads. Network Rail currently chairs the Abnormal Load Liaison Group (ALLG) Cleone Kouch-Percival and there are Local Authority representatives. This will be an item for a proposed future meeting with Rob Dean. to invite Rob Dean to next ADEPT Bridges Group meeting, to address this, and other knowledge sharing requests (see below). Rob Dean is keen to explore knowledge sharing and in particular experience of recent scour problems it was suggested he contacts authorities in the NW such as Cumbria, Lancashire and also north of the border such as Dumfries and Galloway. 4

5 It was agreed it would be good share health & safety information, this will be included in the meeting with RD and will also add a standing item to future agendas will ask RD if he wants to see the Bridges Group s. Some might not be appropriate to share with Network Rail, but others could. This already happens with C&RT and the Historic Rail Estate. LK suggested ABCs could invite their local NR people to one of the meetings Network Rail are to replace an existing masonry parapet on an overbridge with a proprietary aluminium parapet. During the review process they have come under considerable pressure to replicate the original appearance of the masonry parapet. It was agreed that cladding raises engineering and safety concerns including the effect on restraint performance of the proprietary parapet; debris following impact; and future maintenance issues. Network Rail wanted to bring this to a national bridge forum to raise awareness and receive any feedback on previous example of over cladding of proprietary parapet systems. DM has an example of cladding over a railway line on the A7 North Bridge and will forward to SM. NR are interested in benchmarking (as well as knowledge sharing already covered in minutes) and they have suggested perhaps a working party of up to 6 authorities and ADEPT Bridge Group. This will be discussed at future meeting with Rob Dean. DM asked about joint meeting between NR, ADEPT, SCOTS & CSS Wales. SM will take to Rob Dean for discussion SE advised that TfL does not consider BAPAs are necessary for minor maintenance such as sign replacements but they do apply for Technical Approval from NR ABC Chairman DM SM 9. BRIDGE STRIKE PREVENTION GROUP (BSPG) SM and GC raised issue of an articulated lorry crossing a railway bridge at Froxfield and having to reverse back causing damage to the parapet (see RAIB report 02/2016). Debris landed on the track and a train struck it causing damage to the brakes but it did not derail. Apparently there was not a plate on the bridge providing the emergency contact number. AW suggested an item could be added to the bottom of an inspection sheet to identify if the plate was in place. GC reminded the meeting of the recommendations made by DfT following the Oxshott incident with regard to highway safety inspections checking the visibility of the ends of parapets. Rob Dean wants to use ADEPT Bridges Group as a conduit for getting details of people to contact on Bridge Guard 3 issues. Some authorities are not responding to communications. It was agreed would forward ADEPT ABC contact details to Rob so he can identify appropriate bridge person advised that in Devon NR are not charging for BAPAs if the work is seen to benefit their asset, ie restricted height signs installation. will send out details NR have requested that ADEPT Bridge Strike Champions submit NIL returns on bridge strikes rather than not responding at all Bridge Strike Champions 5

6 10. ABNORMAL LOADS FORUM UPDATE Covered in earlier discussions. 11. EUROCODES Peter Clapham s latest Eurocodes update was circulated with the agenda. If anyone has any comments please contact PC direct. 12. HAMFIG, HMEP and ASSET MANAGEMENT 12, National Picture on Bridge Condition proposes to use 50 Local Authorities who responded to the 2013 and 2015 surveys for future comparison so we are looking at like for like. hasn t analysed data yet, it will be ready for the Surveyor Bridges Conference and will be circulated afterwards (before if available) Structures Toolkit Accreditation HAMFIG had requested a group be formed to look at the accreditation side of the toolkit. LK chaired the group but when Atkins moved from being a consultant to a supplier the payment mechanism for the sub-consultants stopped functioning, and until this is resolved between the DfT and Atkins progress has stalled. It is now expected that software suppliers will not have the toolkit embedded sufficiently to run the 16/17 WGA ie those required in June Incentive Questionnaire Several members of the group have been involved in their authority s returns for the Incentive Questionnaire. LK highlighted 3 of the questions that would require input from structures managers in order to achieve level 3. These were questions 5, 9 and 20. LK asked if ABCs could discuss this and consider if they would like the national group to produce some support/case study material which could be shared. ABCs to discuss Incentive Questionnaire and identify support requirements 13. BRIDGE INSPECTOR CERTIFICATION SCHEME (BICS) 13.1 GC prepared a paper answering questions from SWABC and Y&HABC. (attached with minutes). There was some lively debate. At the end of the discussion, LK reminded the group that the ADEPT Bridges Group endorses the BICS scheme, and strongly recommends that all Local Highway Authorities should be using this scheme to ensure that their bridges are inspected by appropriately qualified people. 14. UKRLG CODE OF PRACTICE REVIEW 14.1 At the last meeting of the steering group for the Code of Practice, in conjunction with UKRLG, it was agreed that it would be necessary to provide some guidance on risk based decision making, since that forms the foundation of the whole Code. Because of this requirement, and because of the large response to the draft documents (over 600 responses) publication of the new Code would not happen until summer RESEARCH 15.1 CIRIA Defects in hidden bridge components David Hornblower from Devon CC is on the project steering Group for ADEPT there was nothing to report at the meeting but during preparation of the minutes the following information became available; 6

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8 The 2nd PSG meeting was held week commencing 11 th February when the first draft of the document was reviewed. What has been written is to a very high standard and it is around 50 % complete. The PSG members have until the end of January to make any further comments on this draft and submit case studies. The team are short on timber and retaining wall defects; if ADEPT members have any case studies that could be used could they send them to ASAP (they need to be submitted by the end of the month). ALL - ASAP The research team is also looking for a suitable event to launch the guide in late summer/autumn. The guide is not regurgitating previous reports but refers to them if the information is already available; it is concentrating on areas where there is little guidance. A copy of the contents page is attached with the minutes so members can see what is being covered Masonry Arch Research Project GC reported that the Universities of Salford and Sheffield research project was drawing to a close. The final report would include additional advice on the assessment of masonry arch bridges and should be ready for final review by the steering group in the next few weeks UKRLG BIM BIM Level 2 Research Project - PSG meeting in December, reps from ADEPT, HE and NR met with Gary Sterrett and the project team to consider mainly the format for the guidance. 2 nd draft will be considered at meeting in February. Intention is to have document released in summer A youtube clip was played to the group; this is a 6 minute overview of BIM and can be seen here HA/LA BOUNDARY ISSUE As reported under item 5.6 Neil Loudon (HE) is reporting back to the next UKBB meeting on February 8 th. 17. CIRCULATED ITEMS As per agenda. 18. INTERIM ADVICE NOTES As per agenda. 19. FORTHCOMING CONFERENCES AND EVENTS Surveyor Bridge Conference 16 th March ANY OTHER BUSINESS 20.1 offered support of ADEPT members during December floods in North of country; offer gratefully received but not taken up. With this type of event happening more frequently should ADEPT/UKBB consider a policy for 8

9 providing help in emergencies? This item will be carried forward. ITEM 20.2 Inspection of other owner bridges it was commonly accepted by the group that if a bridge is owned by a competent organisation and there is knowledge that inspections are taking place then LAs do not inspect other owners bridges 21. DATE AND VENUE FOR NEXT MEETING 9 TH June 2016, Westminster Archive Centre 9