[SCEF Meeting -- Holiday Inn, Manassas, VA]{.underline}

[November 1, 2001]{.underline}

## Item 1

Self-introductions by all attendees.

## Item 2

Minutes of the June 4, 2002 meeting in Pittsburgh were approved as
written.

[Item 3a - Regional Welder Certification Program]{.underline}

Implementation of this program has been slow since the SCEF adopted a
process for SMAW at the last meeting. In a related issue, many of the
mid-Atlantic State DOTs are concerned with the high cost for AWS
certification and re-certification of welding inspectors, and how this
continues to escalate at a higher rate than inflation. Lou Triandafilou
will try to set up a meeting with AWS to address the SCEF group and
discuss the cost issues.

[Item 3b - AISC Task Force on Minor Bridge Component
Certification]{.underline}

Per recent message from Tom Schlafly, he has briefed AISC management
regarding the progress of SCEF task force on this subject. They support
the concept of the new program and have directed the AISC Certification
organization to establish a task group to carry this effort further.
**(Followup Note: Ms. Anna Petroski of the Quality Management Company
will be leading this effort for AISC. She will be contacting members of
the SCEF task force for further assistance).**

Tom has been asked to present the progress of the new program to the
North Central States Consortium in the near future. AISC targets June
2002, for the first audit of small fabricators of minor bridge
components. The initial list of components developed by the SCEF task
force, and agreed upon by all members attending today's meeting, is as
follows: sign supports, light poles, traffic signals, expansion joints,
bridge railings, bearings, drainage items/scuppers, grid decks and
inspection walkways.

## Item 3c -- Standardization of Overhead Sign Supports, Light Poles and Traffic Signals

The task group chaired by Tom Macioce of PA has thus far received survey
responses from VA. VA allows contractor-designed sign supports based on
the 1994 AASHTO specifications, typically from MO fabricators. Others
who responded at the meeting included PA (using Sigma from MD); DE and
NJ, also using the 1994 specifications. NJ has recently completed
standard drawings, commonly supplied by Lehigh Utility).

DE has inspected 600 structures, and found 12 bolts sheared off of
cantilevered structures.

The Task Group plans to meet before the next full SCEF meeting in order
to provide a progress report to the group.

[Item 4 \-- Implementation of electronic shop drawings
submissions.]{.underline}

WV has not officially adopted electronic shop drawings, but has been
working with High Steel to use them, possibly on a value engineering
project. DC, DE and VA are interested and have the capacity to
implement, but have not done so yet. PA is waiting for the right
project. MD has had a presentation by High Steel on the subject. MA is
using the process on a design/build project, and NY and ME have also had
experience. Art Miles has had experience on a major Latin America
project, as well as a CA project.

The question was raised as to whether other fabricators are interested
in doing this. Some fabricators do not do shop drawings and are not
concerned about this issue. High Steel stated that shop drawings are the
critical path in the fabrication process and the owners have to be
willing to buy into the process.

The question also arose as to what format is being used to develop shop
drawings electronically. Standard files should be used; TIF or PDF. In a
related issue, Mike Engestrom noted that there is an industry task force
working on standardizing shipping labels and advanced shipping notices.

## Item 5 -- State DOT Status Report on High Performance Steel Projects

NJ -- an initial project is under construction at the I-95 interchange
with Scotch Road, and 2 others are under design.

PA -- recently completed Ford City bridge project won an award. Winter
Green Gorge Bridge will be advertised with HPS for 25% of steel in
bridge. Also, Lehigh University has completed fatigue testing on HPS
corrugated steel webs and is now conducting shear tests, with a June
project scheduled for letting.

DE -- Churchman's Road Bridge is under design with HPS.

VA -- Three bridges are currently in fabrication with HPS. Some minor
problems have occurred with flange plates curling. SSPI, Banker Steel
and Carolina Steel are fabricating.

WV -- Buffalo Creek Bridge is complete and four other projects are under
construction. Consultants have been directed to look at using HPS
wherever possible.

The question was asked if FCM endorsement is necessary when fabricating
HPS. Most states responded that only AISC certification is required. Lou
can furnish copies of HPS Designer's Guide developed by the FHWA Western
Resource Center.

## Item 6a \-- Large Movement Expansion Joints

John Brunell reported on the work of his subcommittee in developing a
draft of an SCEF Standard Specification for Tooth Dam Expansion Joints
w/Drainage Troughs. Copies were distributed to attendees. John requested
comments from the entire committee so that his group can revise the
specification and distribute it in time for voting at the spring
meeting. Implementation of the final specifications could then occur
within 1 year.

John pointed out that States are not using the same materials or
coatings for the drainage troughs. His group is attempting to make this
more uniform, and to avoid plan note and detail irregularities. We need
consensus on what the materials should be, and then the details can be
figured out.

## Item 6b \-- Bearings 

Barrie Atkinson reported on a 10/15/01 response received from the AASHTO
Bridge Subcommittee chairman of the T-2 Technical Committee on Joints
and Bearings. The response addressed in the affirmative all 13 comments
raised by Barrie's group on the HLMRB specifications. Issues such as
design rotation requirements, maximum filler content, stainless steel
thickness, ring diameters, elastomeric disk tolerances, stress levels
for bronze alloys and hardness tests were addressed. References to D1457
were replaced with D4894 or D4895. Also, Method A for designing
elastomeric bearings will eventually be added back into the
specifications, prior to Method B.

Information on a disk bearing supplier known as Kinedyne was requested.
No one at the meeting was familiar with this company. WV does not have
enough information on this type of bearing, so they have not adopted the
entire SCEF specification. MD uses them if specifically requested by
design, not allowing a general contractor option.

Regarding the general use of HLMRB's, some States noted that they use
the AASHTO specification instead of SCEF's.

In a related issue, Lou solicited the states on the status of their
implementation of LRFD specifications. WV, PA and NJ are regularly using
the concept in all designs. All States were strongly encouraged to
formalize an implementation program which would be consistent with the
October 2007 date agreed to by AASHTO and FHWA

Lou also noted that several of the SCEF standards are dated from 1994,
and charged each subcommittee chairman with re-evaluating those
pertaining to their respective groups.

Revisions should either be made in order to update the standards, or
they should be deleted. Each chairman was also asked to present a draft
of any appropriate revisions at the Spring 2002 meeting. Any revisions
should be reflected in LRFD format, as applicable.

[Items 7 & 8 -- AASHTO/NSBA Collaboration Documents]{.underline}

The Collaboration has approved and forwarded to AASHTO T-14 for
balloting the following four standards:

Guide for Coating Systems with Inorganic Zinc-Rich Primer

Guidelines for Shop Detail Drawing Presentation

Steel Bridge Fabrication Guide Specification

Steel Bride Fabrication QC/QA Guide Specification

States should comment on the proposed standards as they are getting
balloted through the Collaboration web site. Mid-Atlantic states were
strongly encouraged to participate in these ballots.

The status of all collaboration documents is available on the web site
for review and comment. The website is
[www.steelbridge.org](http://www.steelbridge.org/).

## Item 9 -- NCHRP Project 20-7, Task 149

The 3-D modeling portion of this project has been funded by AASHTO.

## Item 10 -- Southern States SCEF

Lou reported on Southern States Steel Bridge Fabrication Showcase. It
was well received by the 25 attendees and the need was seen to continue
to get together on a regular basis. The group is similar to our SCEF
group, the Northeast States Steel Bridge Collaboration, and the North
Central States Consortium.

[Item 11 \-- Update on Heat Straightening Pooled Fund Study]{.underline}

An updated Demo Project is now available for those states who wish to
host it. Further updates are being handled under a pooled fund study,
for which States are being solicited for their interest.

[Item 12 -- Other Issues]{.underline}

a\) Bolted Spice Details:

George Crosland of High Steel Structures distributed a set of details
developed for PennDOT which he is proposing for SCEF adoption. Comments
were requested on the details by the end of December. He will make any
revisions in time to be distributed before the Spring 2002 SCEF meeting

b\) Shop Painting:

Mr. Russ Panico of High Steel Structures presented the results of an
informal investigation he performed on the impact resistance of three
coat systems with inorganic zinc and organic zinc primer. The testing
consisted of subjecting coated steel plates having either inorganic or
organic zinc as a primer to the same impact loads. The results showed
the coating with the inorganic primer chipped down to the base metal
while the plates coated with the organic primer had only the topcoat
chipped.

Mr. Panico also reported that coating systems containing both inorganic
and organic zinc primers have been tested by NEPCOAT with passing
results in the 5000 hr. salt-fog test. He also pointed out other
advantages to using organic primers including: more surface tolerance,
does not need humidity to cure, faster drying times and less touch up
required after erection. It was also pointed out the VOC's between the
two are about the same. Mr. Panico requested that the States consider
using organic zinc as a primer instead of the inorganic zinc.

c\) Hot-dip Galvanizing Problems:

Lou Triandafilou noted that Illinois DOT has reported a warping problem
with Hot Dipped Galvanized plate girders. Information was requested on
Steel Bridge Collaboration web page. Anyone with similar experiences on
plate girder members was asked to contact Lou with details.

d\) OSHA Requirements for Stud Welding:

Bill Via, VADOT, brought up the new OSHA requirement that studs be
welded in the field after erection and placement of deck pans. Virginia
has asked for specifications from other states that currently do field
installation of studs. OSHA has been asked by an ARTBA/NSBA task group
to establish the implementation of the new regulations for bridge
projects as the project bid date or award date, after January 18, 2002.
It is unsure if this will be granted, however, OSHA will notify NSBA and
NSBA will post the decision on their web site. The topic of the fall
protection under the new OSHA requirements may have also changed and
should be reviewed by all states.

e\) Partial Payment of Structural Steel

Steve Bussanmas of High Steel Structures gave a product delivery
presentation from NSBA requesting standardization of payment for raw
plate based on paid invoices. Bill McEleney of NSBA and Steve will meet
with various state bridge engineers making the same presentation in the
coming months. It was pointed out that FHWA has no regulations
restricting this; to the contrary, they endorse it. It was also pointed
out that the fabricator orders and purchases plate based on the delivery
schedule. Any delays, frequently not under the fabricator's control,
result in the fabricator having to absorb the cost of the plate until
the material is shipped to the project. The presentation is attached.

f\) Next Meeting

Set for late March or early April 2002, possibly in NJ.

g\) 25 attendees participated in a very interesting tour of the Williams
Bridge Company steel fabrication shop. We viewed girder storage and
various welding operations.