Experts in bridge inspection and testing
The Inertia Consulting team has many years of experience in managing, undertaking and reporting on bridge inspections across the UK and overseas. Our unrivalled expertise makes our engineer-led service the first choice for high quality bridge inspections on road, rail and water infrastructures.
Our client base is diverse, with projects ranging from single bridge inspections for private landowners, to extensive stock management programmes covering significant areas of the country’s transport networks. We inspect and test pedestrian footbridges, vehicle bridges, railway bridges, panel bridges, suspension bridges, aqueducts and more, with an ethos of inspecting with fresh eyes. This avoids situations where defects could be missed by adopting a ‘tick sheet’ approach.
In the UK, our bridge inspections are typically carried out in line with Design Manual for Roads and Bridges document CS 450, Network Rail document NR/L3/CIV/006 or the Bridge Condition Indicator Methods. Our inspections are led by trained degree level or chartered engineers and inspectors holding Bridge Inspection Competence Scheme (BICS) certification, Network Rail STE4 Structures Examiner and STE7 Underwater Examiner accreditation giving you complete trust in our results.
If an inspection or planned maintenance programme indicates that a bridge needs strengthening or altering, we can also design and supervise repair schemes.
❯Specialist access projects
Our engineers have wide experience of planning and executing projects requiring specialist access. We have our own fleet of power boats for waterway access, and have worked on many projects requiring us to build pontoons, enable rope access or work from Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs). We can also carry out aerial inspections using drones as part of a suite of inspection techniques.
Credentials in this area include Confined Space Entry and Control, IPAF Powered Access Licences and PASMA trained staff.
A complete service
Our in-house team have the knowledge and expertise to deliver an end-to-end bridge inspection and testing service. We can take care of all aspects of your project, including planning, managing and implementing bridge inspection programmes; organising traffic management, licences and access permits; and liaising with stakeholders. Our team can also manage specialist services such as dewatering and desilting, and safety boat support.
Stock management
As well as one-off inspection services, we also offer longer-term stock management. We hold details of your bridge stock on our asset database, managing the two year / six year inspection cycle (see below), and collating and reporting on the data to give you a clear view of your network condition – enabling you to plan your maintenance priorities and budget.
Types of inspection
Inertia Consulting provide five main types of bridge inspection. For publicly-owned structures, General and Principal Inspections must be carried out on a six year cycle, with General Inspections taking place in years two and four, and a Principal Inspection in year six.
Benefits of bridge inspection and stock management
The data obtained during bridge inspections will enable you to establish the value of your assets, and your cost liability and timescales for future repair costs. You’ll have the information you need to plan different scenarios for repair and replacement, based on your budget and the minimum acceptable level of structural condition for each bridge. Our stock management process also means we can plan similar complex or specialist access inspections to take place during the same inspection period. By sharing our resources in this way, we can reduce your access and mobilisation costs whilst working more efficiently.