The procedural guideline for recording and rating bridge defects under DIN 1076 using the S-V-D methodology.

The Inspection Header (Prufungskopf) is completed once per inspection event and establishes the operational context for every defect that follows. The first and most consequential field is the Prufungsart (Inspection Type), which determines the scope of the entire inspection. Inspectors select from five options: Hauptprufung H1 and H2 are the comprehensive six-year main inspections requiring hand-close access to all components; Einfache Prufung (E) is the three-year mid-cycle visual assessment; Sonderprüfung (S) is triggered by specific events like floods or vehicle impacts; and Besichtigung (B) is a quick-status visual check. The inspection type selection cascades into downstream requirements -- a Hauptprufung mandates full S-V-D ratings for every defect found, while a Besichtigung may only require general status notes.

Additional header fields capture Witterung (Weather) as a five-option dropdown (Sonnig, Bewolkt, Regen, Schnee, Nebel), Temperatur in degrees Celsius, Besichtigungsgerate (Access Equipment) as a multi-select covering aerial lifts, under-bridge inspection units, boats, scaffolding, ladders, and drones, and a Verkehrseinschrankung (Traffic Restriction) toggle indicating whether lane closures or full closures were in effect during the inspection. These fields serve as evidence that the inspection was conducted under documented conditions -- critical for auditing hand-close compliance during Main Inspections.

The Defect Record (Schadensblatt) is the repeatable core of the form. A single bridge Main Inspection routinely generates 20 to 50 or more individual defect records. Each record is self-contained: it identifies the component, describes and classifies the damage, rates it on three axes, and assigns a recommended measure. The form design groups defect fields into four logical sub-blocks -- Identification (where and what), Documentation (description, photos, quantities), Assessment (S-V-D ratings), and Measures (action recommendations and tracking flags) -- mirroring the ASB-ING data structure that the SIB-Bauwerke database expects.

Inspection standards are maintained by the Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt), which publishes the RI-EBW-PRUF guideline on behalf of the Federal Ministry.

Every defect record begins with the Bauteilgruppe (Component Group) field, which positions the damage within the ASB-ING structural hierarchy. The nine groups for bridges are: Uberbau (Superstructure) for main girders, slabs, arches, and trusses; Unterbau (Substructure) for piers, abutments, and wing walls; Grundung (Foundation) for pile caps, spread footings, and deep foundations; Lager (Bearings) for the mechanical connections between superstructure and substructure; Fahrbahnubergange (Expansion Joints) for deck movement accommodation devices; Kappen (Caps) for reinforced concrete edge beams carrying railings and walkways; Belage (Pavements/Coatings) for wearing surfaces and waterproofing membranes; Gelander (Railings/Barriers) for traffic safety installations; and Entwasserung (Drainage) for scuppers, pipes, and channels. The component group selection is mandatory and directly determines which catalog entries are contextually appropriate.

The Schadensart (Damage Type) field provides the standardized defect classification. RI-EBW-PRUF defines eight core damage types that apply across material classes: Riss (Crack) is the most frequently recorded defect, with implications ranging from cosmetic surface cracking to structural fatigue cracks in prestressed concrete. Abplatzung (Spalling) indicates concrete cover has broken away, often exposing reinforcement. Kiesnest (Honeycombing) reveals poor concrete compaction during construction. Korrosion (Corrosion) affects steel components, bearings, reinforcement bars, and prestressing tendons. Ausblühung (Efflorescence) signals water migration through concrete, depositing calcium carbonate on the surface. Feuchtigkeit (Dampness) indicates waterproofing membrane failure or inadequate drainage. Hohlstelle (Void/Delamination) is detected by hammer-tapping and indicates internal concrete degradation. Bewuchs (Vegetation) in joints, drainage outlets, or masonry can mask underlying structural defects and accelerate deterioration.

The Material/Baustoff field adds a critical context layer. The same crack in reinforced concrete (Stahlbeton) carries different implications than in prestressed concrete (Spannbeton) -- where any crack may indicate tendon failure -- or in steel (Stahl), where it suggests fatigue. The five material options -- Stahlbeton, Spannbeton, Stahl, Mauerwerk (Masonry), and Holz (Timber) -- allow the inspector to qualify the damage type with the substrate material, enabling more precise S-V-D rating and more targeted repair recommendations. Together, the component group, damage type, material, and free-text Bauteil/Ort (Component/Location) field form the defect identification block that uniquely locates and classifies every finding.

For an overview of the overarching DIN 1076 framework and inspection types, see the DIN 1076 Bridge Inspection page.

Standsicherheit (S) -- Stability -- evaluates whether the defect compromises the bridge's ability to carry its design loads. The rating scale runs from 0 (Kein Einfluss -- no influence) through 1 (Geringer Einfluss -- minor influence, safety factors fully maintained), 2 (Beeintrachtigt -- impaired but stability clearly present), 3 (Nicht mehr voll gegeben -- not fully ensured, safety factors reduced, restriction required soon) to 4 (Nicht mehr gegeben -- stability no longer given, immediate closure or support required). In practice, S-ratings of 3 or 4 are reserved for defects in primary load-bearing elements: cracks in prestressed main girders, section loss in steel truss members, or tilted bearings that redistribute loads unpredictably. A crack in a non-structural cap typically receives S:0 or S:1 regardless of its visual severity.

Verkehrssicherheit (V) -- Traffic Safety -- assesses whether the defect poses a risk to road users, pedestrians, cyclists, or maintenance workers. The scale uses slightly different descriptors: 0 (Kein Einfluss), 1 (Kaum Einfluss -- hardly any influence), 2 (Geringfügig -- slightly impaired), 3 (Beeintrachtigt -- impaired, warning signs required immediately), and 4 (Nicht mehr gegeben -- safety no longer given, immediate closure). V-ratings are driven by the defect's proximity to users: spalling from the underside above a footpath, a damaged railing, a pothole at an expansion joint, or missing drainage grates all score high on V even if the bridge structure is sound. A V:4 finding triggers the same immediate response as an S:4 -- the affected area or the entire bridge must be closed to traffic.

Dauerhaftigkeit (D) -- Durability -- captures the defect's effect on the bridge's remaining service life. Early-stage corrosion, waterproofing failures, blocked drainage, and efflorescence may pose no immediate threat to stability or safety but will progressively degrade the structure if left unaddressed. The D-rating runs from 0 through 1 (Geringer Einfluss), 2 (Beeintrachtigt), 3 (Mittelfristig beeintrachtigt -- impaired in the medium term, repair required shortly) to 4 (Nicht mehr gegeben -- durability no longer given, rapid deterioration expected). A critical validation rule in RI-EBW-PRUF states that D must always be greater than or equal to S -- because any defect that compromises structural stability inherently damages durability, but not every durability problem threatens stability. Violating this rule in the form produces a validation error, forcing the inspector to reconsider the rating.

The same S-V-D methodology is also applied in the DIN 1076 retaining wall inspection. Similar multi-dimensional rating approaches are found in the NEN 2767 condition assessment, which uses severity, intensity, and extent as three dimensions of defect assessment.

The Schadensausbreitung (Extent) field captures the spatial distribution of the defect using three classifications: Punktuell (Spot/Local) for isolated, localized damage such as a single pothole or a confined spalling zone; Flachig (Area/Widespread) for damage that covers a significant surface area such as map cracking across a deck slab or widespread dampness through a membrane; and Linienformig (Linear) for damage that follows a line, such as a longitudinal crack along a girder or corrosion along a drainage channel. The extent classification is not merely descriptive -- it serves as a modifier in the algorithmic Zustandsnote calculation performed by the SIB-Bauwerke system. A D:2 defect classified as Flachig (widespread) contributes more to the overall condition grade than the same D:2 defect classified as Punktuell (localized), because the spatial extent amplifies the impact on the component group and ultimately on the entire structure.

The Massnahmenempfehlung (Recommended Measure) field translates assessment into action. RI-EBW-PRUF defines six standardized response levels: Keine Massnahme (No Action) for trivial findings; Beobachtung (Monitor) for defects that warrant tracking but no intervention; Unterhaltung (Maintenance) for defects addressable through routine upkeep; Instandsetzung (Repair) for defects requiring targeted structural repair; Erneuerung (Renewal) for components requiring full replacement; and Sofortmassnahme (Immediate Action) for any finding where an S:4 or V:4 rating indicates that stability or traffic safety is no longer given. When the inspector selects Sofortmassnahme, a conditional field appears: the Sofortmassnahmen eingeleitet? (Immediate Action Taken?) toggle, which records whether emergency measures such as propping, load restriction signs, or closure barriers were implemented on site during the inspection.

The EP-Vormerkung (Simple Inspection Flag) is a tracking mechanism unique to the RI-EBW-PRUF workflow. When toggled on for a defect, it marks that defect for specific re-examination during the next Einfache Prufung (Simple Inspection), which occurs three years after the Main Inspection. This is particularly valuable for defects rated at moderate severity -- an S:1, D:2 crack that does not yet warrant repair but could progress to a more serious condition. Without the EP-Vormerkung, such defects risk being overlooked during the less intensive Simple Inspection because the inspector might not systematically re-examine every previously logged finding. The flag creates a targeted checklist that bridges the gap between the comprehensive Main Inspection and the focused Simple Inspection, ensuring continuity of defect monitoring across the six-year inspection cycle.

All condition grades and measures are recorded in the SIB-Bauwerke database system. For more details, see the standards directory.