Post on 05-Oct-2021
Guide Rail Inspection & Inventory Reference
Manual
April 2011
Compiled by Robert Gorka
Rail Items:
Page 2
3 Strand Cable Barrier
W-Beam Barrier
Box Beam Barrier
Normal Height: 27 in Max. Height: 30 in Min. Height: 24 in Post Spacing*: 16 ft Deflection Dist.: 11 ft
Normal Height: 27 in Max. Height: 30 in Min. Height: 24 in Post Spacing*: 6 ft Deflection Dist.: 5 ft
Normal Height: 32 in Max. Height: 35 in Min. Height: 29 in Post Spacing*: 12.5 ft Deflection Dist.: 8 ft
Normal Height: 27 in Max. Height: 30 in Min. Height: 24 in Post Spacing*: 6.25 ft Deflection Dist.: 4 ft
Heavy Post
Weak Post
Page 3
Box Beam Median Barrier
Concrete NJ Shape & Single Slope Barrier
W-Beam Median Barrier
Rail Items:
Normal Height: 33 in Max. Height: 36 in Min. Height: 30 in Post Spacing*: 12.5 ft Deflection Dist.: 7 ft
Normal Height: 27 in Max. Height: 30 in Min. Height: 24 in Post Spacing*: 6.25 ft Deflection Dist.: 3 ft
Heavy Post
Weak Post
Normal Height: 30 in Max. Height: 33 in Min. Height: 27 in Post Spacing*: 6 ft Deflection Dist.: 3 ft
* See page 25 for other post spacing/deflection distance combinations
Rail Items:
Page 4
Timber Barrier
Steel-Backed Timber Barrier
Thrie Beam Barrier
Rail Items:
Page 5
Shop Curve
Painted Box Beam Barrier
Rustic Box Beam Barrier
Weak Post
Heavy Post With Steel Block Out
Heavy Post
Page 6
Post Items:
“S” Post
“C” Post
Page 7
Post Items: Heavy Post With Wood & Synthetic Block Out
Concrete Post
Wood Post
Page 8
Post Items:
Page 9
End Treatments:
W-Beam Driveway Turndown
W-Beam Classic Turndown
W-Beam Spade
Page 10
End Treatments:
SKT-350
W-Beam Boxing Glove
ET-2000
Page 11
End Treatments: Box Beam Type 0
Box Beam End Piece (Known as Box Beam Type I Prior to 7/2/10 )
Box Beam Type II (Disapproved 7/2/10)
Page 12
End Treatments: Box Beam Type I End Assembly
Box Beam Type IIA End Assembly
Box Beam Modified Type I End Assembly
Includes 72’ shop curve and box beam end piece
Includes 18’ shop curve and box beam end piece
Page 13
Box Beam Type III: WYBET
Box Beam Type III: BEAT
End Treatments:
Page 14
End Treatments: Median Box Beam Type A
Median Box Beam Type C
Median Box Beam Type B
End Treatments:
Page 15
Attenuator Device: React 350
Attenuator Device: Sand Barrels
Attenuator Device: Quadguard
Page 16
End Treatments: Box Beam Pier Protection
Transition From Box Beam to Bridge Rail
Transition Box Beam to Concrete Barrier
Transition From Box Beam to W-Beam
End Treatments:
Page 17
Transition From Box Beam to Cable
Cable Anchor Block
Page 18
External Box Beam Coupling
Issues:
Box Beam Heat Number & Makers Mark
2 Bolt Connection — Box Beam Installed Before 1975
Page 19
Issues: Damaged Type III WYBET & BEAT End Assembly
No Flair to End Terminals
Wood Posts at Driveway Openings
Page 20
Issues:
Weak Post Welded to Box Beam
Exposed Soil Plates
More Than 3 Bent Adjacent Posts
Page 21
Holes or Rust Damage
Issues:
Excessive Rips or Tears
Welded W-Beam
Page 22
Fixed Objects in the Deflection Distance
Cables Protecting Deep Water
Inadequate Tension in Cable Barrier
Issues:
Page 23
Issues: Rail Splices Lapped Against the Flow of Traffic
Short Runs of Unnecessary Barrier
Page 24
See page 26 for instruction on how to measure rail height when there is a drop off at the edge of shoulder.
Page 25
Page 26
How to Measure Rail Height: (With Drop Off @ Edge of Shoulder)
3 Strand Cable Barrier
Box Beam Barrier
W-Beam Barrier
Note: In all cases where there is no drop off measure height from the surface directly below the barrier. Measure from the pavement surface if curb is present within 12 inches of the railing.
Page 27
Notes: