scope:

APPLICABILITY OF SPECIFICATIONS: These Specifications are for the design and construction of new bridges to resist the effect of earthquake motions. The provisions apply to bridges of conventional steel and concrete girder and box girder construction with spans not exceeding 500 feet (150 meters). Suspension bridges, cable-stayed bridges, arch type and movable bridges are not covered by these Specifications. Seismic design is usually not required for buried type (culvert) bridges.

The provisions contained in these Specifications are minimum requirements.

No detailed seismic analysis is required for any single span bridge or for any bridge in Seismic Performance Category A. For single span bridges and bridges classified as SPC A (Section 5) the connections must be designed for specified forces and must also meet minimum support length requirements.