UFC 4-150-07
19 June 2001
The inspector should be alert, specifically in the areas of stringers, pile
caps and top of piles, for signs of discoloration and softening of the wood,
accompanied by a fluffy or cotton appearance. This may be an early sign of fungi
damage. More advanced deterioration may take on the appearance of fruiting
bodies, such as mushrooms. Further down the pile, the inspector should look for
burrows or hollows in the wood, surface trenches in the outer layers of the pile,
and loss of pile diameter. This may be evidence of marine borer attack.
Table 5-4 Sampling Equipment, Measurements, and Ratings for Timber
Structures
Special Sampling Equipment
Measurements or Ratings
Increment borer (Install Treated wooden
Quality of preservative or soundness of
plugs in holes left after boring)
piling
Pile diameter; rating of piling condition
Sonic Equipment
Data from sonic equipment; detection of
hollow areas in piling
Ice pick or other sharp probe
Location and size of damaged areas
Depth of cracks and other damaged
areas
5-4.3
Underwater Inspection. Use Figure 5-11 "Timber Structures and
Attachments (Below Water) Checklist" to ensure that a thorough inspection of all
timber structures and their attachments below water is done. An engineer should
explain to the diver exactly what should be looked for: number and size of piles,
type and depth of bulkheads, location of tiebacks, and cross bracing. The
engineer shall evaluate the diver's observations and determine the degree of
hazard.
5-20
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