NR/L3/CIV/006/2C Part 2C: Requirements For Underwater Examination

OFFICIAL
Ref: NR/L3/CIV/006/2C
Issue: 2
Date: 7 September 2019
Compliance date: 1 April 2021
NR/L3/CIV/006/2C
Part 2C
Requirements for Underwater Examination
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 Copyright 2019 Network Rail.
Uncontrolled copy once printed from its electronic source.

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Issue: 2
User information
This Network Rail document contains colour-coding according to the following
Red–Amber–Green classification.
Red requirements – no variations permitted

• Red requirements are to be complied with and achieved at all times.
• Red requirements are presented in a red box.
• Red requirements are monitored for compliance.
• Non-compliances will be investigated and corrective actions enforced.
Amber requirements – variations permitted subject to approved risk analysis

and mitigation
• Amber requirements are to be complied with unless an approved variation is in
place.
• Amber requirements are presented with an amber sidebar.
• Amber requirements are monitored for compliance.
• Variations can only be approved through the national variations process.
• Non-approved variations will be investigated and corrective actions enforced.
Green guidance – to be used unless alternative solutions are followed
• Guidance should be followed unless an alternative solution produces a better
result.
• Guidance is presented with a dotted green sidebar.
• Guidance is not monitored for compliance.
• Alternative solutions should be documented to demonstrate effective control.
Page 2 of 15
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Issue: 2
Compliance
This Network Rail standard/control document is mandatory and shall be complied
with by Network Rail Infrastructure Limited and its contractors if applicable from 1
April 2021.
Where it is considered not reasonably practicable1 to comply with the requirements in
this standard/control document, permission to comply with a specified alternative
should be sought in accordance with the Network Rail standards and controls
process, or with the Railway Group Standards Code if applicable.
If this standard/control document contains requirements that are designed to
demonstrate compliance with legislation they shall be complied with irrespective of a
project’s Governance for Railway Investment Projects (GRIP) stage. In all other
circumstances, projects that have formally completed GRIP Stage 3 (Option
Selection) may continue to comply with any relevant Network Rail standards/control
documents that were current when GRIP Stage 3 was completed.
NOTE 1: Legislation includes Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSIs).
NOTE 2: The relationship of this standard/control document with legislation and/or
external standards is described in the purpose of this standard.
Disclaimer
In issuing this standard/control document for its stated purpose, Network Rail
Infrastructure Limited makes no warranties, expressed or implied, that compliance
with all or any standards/control documents it issues is sufficient on its own to
provide safety or compliance with legislation. Users are reminded of their own duties
under legislation.
Compliance with a Network Rail standard/control document does not, of itself, confer
immunity from legal obligations.
Where Network Rail Infrastructure Limited has granted permission to copy extracts
from Network Rail standards or control documents, Network Rail Infrastructure
Limited accepts no responsibility for, nor any liability in connection with, the use of
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This disclaimer applies to all forms of media in which extracts from Network Rail
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Supply
Copies of standards/control documents are available electronically, within Network
Rail’s organisation. Hard copies of this document might be available to Network Rail
people on request to the relevant controlled publication distributor. Other
organisations can obtain copies of this standard/control document from an approved
distributor.
1 This can include gross proportionate project costs with the agreement of the Network Rail Assurance
Panel (NRAP).
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Issue: 2
Issue record
Issue Date Comments
1 June 2010 First issue
2 Sept 2019 Previously Condition Marking of Bridges
Reference documentation
NR/L3/CIV/006/1B Undertake Examinations
NR/L3/CIV/006/1E
NR/L2/CIV/295 Scour assessment of bridges, culverts and
retaining walls
Legislation
No legislation has been identified that is applicable to the content of this
standard/control document.
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Contents
1 Purpose .................................................................................................................. 6
2 Scope ...................................................................................................................... 6
3 Terms and abbreviations ...................................................................................... 6
4 Extent of Examination ........................................................................................... 6
4.1 General ................................................................................................................. 6
4.2 Enabling Works .................................................................................................... 7
4.3 Physical works ...................................................................................................... 7
5 Requirements All Structures ................................................................................ 7
5.1 General ................................................................................................................. 7
5.2 Scour Assessment ................................................................................................ 8
5.2.1 General .............................................................................................................. 8
5.2.2 Requirements All Structures .............................................................................. 8
5.3 Defects ................................................................................................................. 8
5.3.1 General .............................................................................................................. 8
5.3.2 Underwater specific defects ............................................................................... 8
5.3.3 Urgent Defects ................................................................................................... 9
5.4 Surveying the watercourse ................................................................................. 10
5.5 External Factors ................................................................................................. 10
5.6 Site Cleanliness .................................................................................................. 11
5.7 Hazardous Substances....................................................................................... 11
5.8 Photographs ....................................................................................................... 11
5.9 Data Collection ................................................................................................... 12
6 Reporting.............................................................................................................. 12
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6.1 General ............................................................................................................... 12

6.2 Defects ............................................................................................................... 13
Appendix A - Examination Envelope .................................................................... 14
Figure A-1 - Examination Envelope limited by superstructure .................................. 14
Appendix B - Typical bed level survey positions ................................................ 15
Figure B-1- Typical bed level survey positions (not to scale) .................................... 15
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Issue: 2
1 Purpose
This module provides a specification to mitigate the risk of failure to undertake a
compliant underwater examination for a structures asset which could result in
potential functional failures going undetected by the asset management team
[Structures] and might result in accidents and/or disruptions to the operation of the
railway network.
2 Scope
This document sets out the requirements for Underwater Examinations.
The specification contains the requirements Underwater Examinations for the
following types of structures:
a) Bridges;
b) Culverts;
c) Retaining Walls.
Applies to structures where an Underwater Examination has been instructed, and all
watercourses at a structure.
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NOTE: i.e.. where there are multiple watercourses at a structure requirements apply to all
watercourses.
3 Terms and abbreviations
Terms and abbreviations used in this document are specific to structures as defined
in NR/L1/CIV/006.
4 Extent of Examination
4.1 General
The examination shall establish the condition of those parts of the Structure that are
exposed (permanently or intermittently) to water, and any significant change in their
condition since the last examination.
An Underwater Examination shall establish the condition of the watercourse, 30m
either side of the structure.
Parts of the structure exposed to water are defined for the purposes of this
specification as structural elements within the Examination Envelope.
The Examination Envelope is defined as the area above the watercourse to a height
of 2m above mean water level (MWL) for non-tidal assets and 2m above maximum
spring tide water level otherwise (See Appendix A).
The examination shall include the examination of the soffit if it is within 2m of the
maximum water level.
The examination shall include the inspection of the watercourse 50m upstream and
downstream of the structure.
Tidal structures shall be examined at both tides.
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4.2 Enabling Works

The examination shall include the carrying out enabling works that are required to
facilitate accessed and observations of all parts of the structure. Enabling works
include:
a) Installing (and subsequently removing) temporary openings or gates where
access to the structure is restricted;
b) Clearing and cleaning drainage systems, including blockages in drains, down
pipes, gutters, valleys, weep holes and catch pits;
c) erecting scaffolding, building of pontoons, etc. to enable the examination;
d) putting in place a watercourse closure.
The extent and method of enabling works to facilitate the examination shall be
recorded.
4.3 Physical works

Physical works that may be carried out during an Underwater Examination are:
a) removing marine growth;
b) providing and fixing datum markers;
c) desilting the watercourse through the length of the structure
d) installation of monitoring equipment.
All physical works shall be confirmed with the AE(S) before the examination.
Physical works also include work to maintain the safety of the operational railway
when such works can be reasonably carried out by the Examiner during the
examination. For example, removal of debris at the structure.
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5 Requirements All Structures
5.1 General
Wherever possible, examinations should be carried out in daylight.
The Examiner shall determine if:
a) there are any changes of function or usage of the watercourse (from the last
Underwater Examination).
b) there has been any change of construction to elements in the watercourse
since the last Detailed examination;
c) there has been any changes in the vicinity (50m upstream and downstream) of
the asset since the last Detailed Examination;
d) there are any known outside party features that could affect the structure;
e) there is any drainage not associated with the structure which could affect its
performance;
f) there are any environmental issues.
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5.2 Scour Assessment
5.2.1 General
For assets that have a previous stage 1 scour assessment score >10, the
Underwater Examination shall be used to collect data to carry out a stage 1 scour
assessment.
NOTE: The scour assessment is in accordance with NR/L2/CIV/295.
For structures that are managed using a previous stage 2 or a scour assessment
score <10 scour assessment data does not need to be collected.
5.2.2 Requirements All Structures

The examination shall determine the levels of the bed of the Watercourse or the sea,
and any changes in the levels that could affect the safety of the Structure.
NOTE: the bed of the Watercourse, or parts of it, could be exposed at the time of the examination.
Identify and record:
a) high and low water levels;
b) risks to the Structure from water borne debris;
c) Recording the direction of flow of the Watercourse.
5.3 Defects
5.3.1 General
The Underwater Examination shall identify defects on a structure on elements that
fall within the scope of the Underwater Examination. The severity, extent and location
will be recorded in accordance with NR/L3/CIV/006/1E.
The Examination shall determine the condition of any scour protection.
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The Underwater Examination shall identify defects in the watercourse within the
vicinity of the asset.
Photos shall be taken of all defects.
When photographing a pre-existing defect and the photo should be taken from the
same positions as in previous examinations.
5.3.2 Underwater specific defects

The Underwater Examination shall record the severity, extent and location of the
following defects:
a) Scour Defects in the watercourse;
1. Excavation in front or adjacent to the structure;
2. Evidence of the presence of Scour holes that have been refilled with bed
material;
3. Stockpiled material;
4. Scouring of the watercourse.
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b) Scour Protection Defects:

1. Invert:
• Softening;
• Cracking;
• Loss of material;
• Undermining.
2. Rip rap.
• Translation slide;
• Rotational slip Failure:
3. Gabions (mattresses, boxes, & sacks):
• Failure of restraining element (wire/box/sack);
• Winnowing failure (erosion of bed beneath gabions);
• Excessive movement of stone.
4. Aprons:
• Undermining;
• Block movement;
• Softening;
• Cracking.
5. Bituminous Systems:
• Softening;
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• Undermining.
6. Sheet piling:
• Tilting;
• Loss of material behind piling.
5.3.3 Urgent Defects

When a defect is of such severity and poses an imminent risk to the railway or
general public the examiner shall implement the urgent defect process.
NOTE: For further information on the types of situation that constitute an urgent defect refer to
NR/L3/CIV/006/1B.
Evidence of undermining or significant Scour of a severity that could undermine the
Structure shall be reported via the urgent defect process.
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5.4 Surveying the watercourse

The datum used for all levels in the survey shall be Ordinance Datum Newlyn (ODN).
The following is the minimum that shall be surveyed:
a) At all elements in water:
1. bed levels;
2. Radial Measurements taken at 1 metre centres along the:
• Centreline;
• quarterpoint lines on the long sides;
• 45 degree lines at each face;
• the upstream/downstream centrelines.
b) Cross-sections at:
1. 30m upstream;
2. Upstream Face of asset;
3. Centreline of asset;
4. Downstream face of asset;
5. 30m downstream of asset.
NOTE: See Appendix B for diagrammatic example.
The number, positions and extent of the surveys should be agreed with the AE(S).
The cross-sections will identify and include:
a) Location of structural elements;
b) Bed profile;
c) Channel width;
d) Bank top to bank top channel width;
e) Floodplain width.
The same bed positions shall be surveyed in successive examinations.
Where the bed is overlaid by silt, the thickness of the silt should to be established
and measures employed to reach a solid bed. Two soundings shall be taken at each
location, one measurement from the datum to the top of the silt, and the other from
the datum to the solid bed.
Photographs of defects should be close enough that the detail of the defect can be
distinguished, but also provide context of the location. Consequently, two photos may
be taken one close-up to establish the detail and one further away to provide context.
5.5 External Factors

The Examiner shall identify record and photograph:
a) Environmental issues;
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Issue: 2
b) Trespass problems;
c) Changes in the watercourse including:
1. to the alignment of the main channel;
2. to the bank condition.
5.6 Site Cleanliness
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The examiner shall confirm and comment (including location) upon the presence or
otherwise of:
a) Vegetation;
b) Debris;
c) Rubbish.
If significant vegetation or any other obstruction obscures part of a Structure that
would otherwise be within the scope of the examination to an extent that prevents its
condition being recorded, then the relevant structure component shall be noted as
“part not examined” or PNE.
5.7 Hazardous Substances

The examiner shall confirm and comment upon the presence or otherwise of:
a) Potential Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs);
b) Flammable substances;
c) Gases/Methane;
d) Sharps;
e) Toxic substances;
f) Excrement (Guano);
g) Contaminated watercourse;
h) Any other hazardous materials.
5.8 Photographs
An Underwater Examination shall include photographs of:
a) features which the Examiner considers require amplification or highlighting;
b) all defects, or when there are several similar defects, a typical representative
defect;
c) major elements in or adjacent to the watercourse;
d) Scour ID plates;
e) Upstream banks;
f) upstream and downstream photos of the watercourse at the structure;
g) upstream and downstream photos of the structure.
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Issue: 2
5.9 Data Collection

The dimensions of the underwater parts of the Structure, and changes in construction
shall be recorded.
6 Reporting
6.1 General
The deliverable shall conform to the requirements of NR/L3/CIV/006/1B.
NOTE: The deliverable may be (but not limited to) a pdf report, 3D environment or computer file
containing structured data. The deliverable should meet the requirements of the technical specification
of the contract under which the examination is carried out.
In addition to the requirements of NR/L3/CIV/006/1B the deliverable shall contain:
a) photographs and descriptions of all defects;
b) all photographs required at an Underwater Examination as defined by this
document;
c) identify the parts of the Structure that have been examined as part of the
examination and the extent of those parts that was examined;
d) records:
1. of the direction of flow of the Watercourse or tides during the examination;
2. the bed levels and bed profiles, along with profiles from previous
examinations to enable comparison.
e) a description and photograph of any changes of construction since the last
Detailed Examination;
f) a description and photograph of any works carried out since the last Detailed
Examination;
g) any changes in the vicinity of the asset since the last Detailed Examination.
Including:
1. the presence of any known outside party features that could affect the
structure;
2. if trespass is a problem;
3. any drainage not associated with the structure which could affect its
performance;
4. any environmental issues.
h) photographs and descriptions of any actions carried out to make safe the
structure during the examination;
NOTE: e.g. removed spalling materials.
i) High level comments about the overall condition of the structural elements
included in the examination and the watercourse including comments about
any scouring in the riverbed;
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j) observed situations or conditions where the safety of the Structure and/or the
operational railway may be compromised;
k) If diving operations have been carried out a copy of the dive log is to be
included in the deliverable.
6.2 Defects
All present defects shall be represented in the deliverable, using a photo of the defect
and description of the severity and location.
For pre-existing defects the deliverable shall show the photo of the defect from the
previous examination for comparison to a photo of the defect obtained during the
Underwater Examination.
The deliverable shall include a summary table detailing a history of all defects that
are within the examination envelope and are:
a) linked to a recommendation that was risk scored as a 8; or
b) where remedial works have been recommended; or
c) defect that result in a CMI elemental score of less than 40.
The summary table shall include for each defect:
a) sequential defect reference number;
b) brief description of defect;
c) location;
d) whether a repair has been carried out to the defect (Y/N).
The summary table shall include for each time the defect is viewed:
a) date of examination for each time the defect was observed;
b) the type of examination or inspection (Detailed Examination, Visual
Examination or Inspection for Assessment) when the;
c) risk score;
d) severity;
e) whether the defect has deteriorated (Y/N), since the defect was last observed;
f) comments.
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Appendix A - Examination Envelope

Examination Envelope
G.L
2m
W.L*
Figure A.1 – Examination Envelope not limited by superstructure
G.L <2m
W.L*
Examination Envelope
NOTE: *Water level as defined in Clause 4.1
Figure A-1 - Examination Envelope limited by superstructure
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Appendix B - Typical bed level survey positions
Cross section level survey (CSLS)
approx. 30m
CSLS 45°
/4 w/4
CSLS
w
CSLS
Abutment
approx. 30m
Pier
CSLS
Key: Radial levels at approx. 1m centres
Figure B-1- Typical bed level survey positions (not to scale)
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Requirements for Underwater Examination

Uncontrolled copy once printed from its electronic source.

Copyright Network Rail

Red requirements – no variations permitted

Amber requirements – variations permitted subject to approved risk analysis

Copyright Network Rail

6.1 General ............................................................................................................... 12

4.2 Enabling Works

4.3 Physical works

5 Requirements All Structures

5.2 Scour Assessment

5.2.2 Requirements All Structures

5.3.2 Underwater specific defects

b) Scour Protection Defects:

5.3.3 Urgent Defects

5.4 Surveying the watercourse

5.5 External Factors

Copyright Network Rail

5.6 Site Cleanliness

5.7 Hazardous Substances

5.9 Data Collection

Appendix A - Examination Envelope

Figure A.1 – Examination Envelope not limited by superstructure

NOTE: *Water level as defined in Clause 4.1

Figure A-1 - Examination Envelope limited by superstructure

Appendix B - Typical bed level survey positions

Cross section level survey (CSLS)

Key: Radial levels at approx. 1m centres

Figure B-1- Typical bed level survey positions (not to scale)

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