> In-Shop Inspection

of Structural Steel
Product Conformity, Consistency and Reliability
BUSINESS CHALLENGE
With the increasing complexity of large infrastructure projects it has become essential to verify the quality of
structural steel components prior to delivery, and to assure they are durable, safe, and perform as designed.
With clients such as Federal, State, County, City, and Municipal Departments of Transportation driven by
factors such as project funding, cost, visibility, and groups of geographically diverse suppliers, it becomes
necessary to provide independent third party conformity assessment of structural steel materials.

SOLUTION
What is Inspection of Structural Steel in the Fabrication Shop?
Inspection of Structural Steel typically address material traceability, cutting, beveling, drilling, fit-up, welding
operations, high-strength fastener installation, and dimensional accuracy throughout steel fabrication.
Bureau Veritas’ welding inspectors routinely inspect Welded Structures for various fabrication shops and
State and Local government agencies.
Our experience includes providing Quality Assurance services associated with the fabrication of Structural
Steel of varying type, size, and complexity. Steel items most often inspected include: Lift Bridges, Swing
Bridges, Suspension Bridges, Bascule Bridges, Plate Girder, Trapezoidal
Box Girder, Tub Girder, Box Truss, Tubular Truss, Angle Truss, Arch,
RELATED SERVICES
Cable-Stayed and Canopies and the Pedestrian Bridges; Highway,
Cantilever and Overhead Sign Structures; elevator frames, staircase Bureau Veritas offers a wide range of services
frames and rails; and Elevated Track Framing and Elevated Stations. related to In Shop Inspections:

What are the key benefits? • Non-Destructive Examinations

• Assure that a quality product is supplied from various subcontractors • Ultrasonic Testing
• Receive a product in compliance with industry and client standards • Magnetic Particle Testing
• Liquid Penetrant
• Third Party inspection ensures independent, un-biased results • Visual Inspection
• Provide advance warning of the development of critical issues to • Radiographic film interpretation
prevent costly construction delays • Protective Coatings Applications
• Provide the intimate insight into and record-keeping of the fabrication • High Strength Bolt and Fastener Testing
• Rebar Testing
processes resulting in a detailed historical record. • Weld Procedure Review
• Welder Qualifications Review
WHY CHOOSE BUREAU VERITAS? • Welding Consulting
• Pre-Construction Meeting Coordination
Recognition „ Founded in 1828, Bureau Veritas is the worldwide leader
These services are built to be compatible and
specialized in QHSE&SA services, and is ISO 9001 certified for all of its can be combined to generate efficiency,
activities worldwide. consistency and optimization.
Knowledge and Expertise „ Our qualified local teams are familiar with
inspecting all kinds of fabricated steel components: various types, sizes and complexities of bridge, sign
structures and framing.
Network „ With more than 26,000 employees in 700 offices and laboratories covering 140 countries, Bureau
Veritas is able to act quickly on its clients' behalf anywhere in the world.
Online Reporting Services „ Our exclusive password secured extranet, BVNet enables clients to monitor
progress of their shop inspections worldwide. BVNet facilitates follow-up, speeds reporting, and can be
customized to specific client needs.
 OUR APPROACH
Our structural inspection staff’s repertoire has developed to include a wide range of services from the review
and commentary on Welding Procedure Specifications to the Ultrasonic Evaluation of full-penetration
weldments. The influence of our staff’s presence on the shop floor during fabrication sets a tone that helps
drive the manufacturing of a quality product in a timely manner.
We have tailored our operating procedures and developed the professional credentials of our staff,
specifically to secure the highest levels of manufactured product quality. Bureau Veritas has earned the trust
of its clients, and has subsequently been involved in some of
history’s largest and most technically challenging
Transportation Infrastructure projects.
Assignments are performed in accordance with our internal
Quality Program which is compatible with those set up by
international and national standards or professional
organizations. They can be briefly described as follows:
• Scope definition
Bureau Veritas’ Inspectors have a testing and inspection plan
against which they perform their inspection work. In many cases we
CASE STUDY
have worked closely with the client to create a new plan to fit their
defined framework and scope. These plans can include specifications, I-4 Interchange at John Young Parkway,
check-lists and procedures. Orange County, FL
Ensuring the Quality of Steel for Complex
• Inspection of Steel Bridges
Once the scope has been defined, Bureau Veritas dispatches CHALLENGE
experienced inspector(s) to the shop location and performs the agreed • Geographically Diverse Suppliers
upon services. • Aggressive Construction Schedule
• Structures utilized an experimental
• Reporting elastomeric coating system
The Bureau Veritas inspection report is transmitted to the local BV • Clients required third party assurance of
fabrication quality
office which, in turn, informs the client on a regular basis about the
operations progress and inspection results. When required a final SOLUTION
Inspection Report or Certificate will be issued, it will be transmitted • Provided on-site AWS Certified Welding
directly to the client. Inspection
• Witnessed Non-Destructive Testing on
critical welds
FAQ • Provided various opinions regarding the
correction of fabrication errors
What certifications do your inspectors hold? • Lead Prefabrication meeting
• American Welding Society (AWS) Certified Welding Inspectors • Approved materials marked with Bureau
• American Society of Non-destructive Testing (ASNT) NDT Level II & III Veritas stamp
Technicians
BENEFITS
• Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) Certified Inspectors • Third party confirmation of quality – met
• American Concrete Institute (ACI) Certified Inspectors intent of Owner specification
• National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) Certified • Minimized potential construction costs and
Coatings Inspectors delays
• Historical record of material fabrication
• National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS) Certified Bridge Safety process
Inspectors
Rev. 1/ March 2007

CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION

For details about this service, please contact please visit:
Bureau Veritas – Division PCA (Product Conformity Assessment) www.us.bureauveritas.com
By phone: (888) CWI-WELD
By e-mail: weldingexpert@us.bureauveritas.com