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CourseCivil, Rail & Smart Cities Applications open

Course in Preventive Maintenance of Steel Bridges

Online course of 300 hours in preventive maintenance of steel bridges, structured in 6 modules covering deterioration, maintenance planning, corrosion protection, inspection and maintenance interventions, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration300 hours · 3 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute certificate
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Identify the deterioration mechanisms of steel bridges.

02

Plan long-term preventive maintenance.

03

Specify corrosion protection systems.

04

Inspect steel elements and connections.

05

Carry out maintenance interventions safely.

06

Assess life cycle costs.

07

Draw up the maintenance plan for a steel bridge.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Bridge maintenance technicians.
  • Steel structure inspectors.
  • Paint and coatings inspectors.
  • Maintenance works site managers.
  • Asset management engineers.
  • Non-destructive testing technicians.
  • Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter road maintenance.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • EN ISO 12944-5 (corrosion protection of steel structures by protective paint systems)
  • ISO 8501-1 (preparation of steel substrates: visual assessment of surface cleanliness)
  • EN ISO 1461 (hot-dip galvanised coatings on fabricated iron and steel articles)
  • EN 1090-2 (execution of steel structures: technical requirements)
  • EN ISO 17640 (ultrasonic testing of welds)
  • EN ISO 9934-1 (magnetic particle testing)
  • EN ISO 2808 (paints and varnishes: determination of film thickness)
  • SAP2000
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Elcometer ElcoMaster
  • QGIS
Syllabus

6 modules

  1. 1.1Types of steel bridges
  2. 1.2Historical and modern steels
  3. 1.3Riveted, bolted and welded connections
  4. 1.4Mechanisms of atmospheric corrosion
  5. 1.5Corrosion in critical areas
  6. 1.6Fatigue in details
  7. 1.7Impact damage
  8. 1.8Ageing of protection systems
  9. 1.9Steel bridge heritage
  10. 1.10Case study: deterioration of a 19th-century truss bridge
  1. 2.1Maintenance strategies
  2. 2.2Preventive versus corrective maintenance
  3. 2.3Inventory and management system
  4. 2.4Inspection frequency
  5. 2.5Condition indicators
  6. 2.6Multi-year plans
  7. 2.7Prioritisation with limited resources
  8. 2.8Life cycle costs
  9. 2.9Maintenance contracts
  10. 2.10Practical exercise: ten-year maintenance plan
  1. 3.1Corrosivity categories
  2. 3.2Surface preparation
  3. 3.3Blast-cleaning grades
  4. 3.4Paint systems and their durability
  5. 3.5Hot-dip galvanising
  6. 3.6Thermal spray metallising
  7. 3.7Weathering steels
  8. 3.8Thickness control
  9. 3.9Partial and full repainting
  10. 3.10Lab: measuring coating thickness and adhesion
  1. 4.1Visual inspection of corrosion
  2. 4.2Thickness loss
  3. 4.3Inspection of connections
  4. 4.4Detection of fatigue cracks
  5. 4.5Magnetic particle and penetrant testing
  6. 4.6Ultrasonic testing of welds
  7. 4.7Inspection of bearings and joints
  8. 4.8Access with platforms and ropes
  9. 4.9Inspection report
  10. 4.10Practical exercise: inspection of a welded joint
  1. 5.1Cleaning and drainage
  2. 5.2Replacement of bolts and rivets
  3. 5.3Repair of fatigue cracks
  4. 5.4Strengthening of corroded elements
  5. 5.5Bearing replacement
  6. 5.6Deck renewal
  7. 5.7Environmental management of paint waste
  8. 5.8Safety in maintenance work
  9. 5.9Quality control
  10. 5.10Case study: repainting a bridge over a river
  1. 6.1Description of the bridge
  2. 6.2Inspection of current condition
  3. 6.3Diagnosis
  4. 6.4Preventive maintenance plan
  5. 6.5Proposed protection system
  6. 6.6Priority interventions
  7. 6.7Life cycle costs
  8. 6.8Safety plan
  9. 6.9Report and presentation
  10. 6.10Final project: final review with your tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

Training is 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the programme fits around your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The working software is SAP2000, Microsoft Excel, Elcometer ElcoMaster and QGIS, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Cases are studied on real procedures such as paint thickness measurement, magnetic particle inspection and repainting planning. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.

Standards covered: EN ISO 12944-5, ISO 8501-1, EN ISO 1461, EN 1090-2, EN ISO 17640, EN ISO 9934-1, EN ISO 2808.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of EN ISO 12944-5, ISO 8501-1 and EN ISO 1461 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:SAP2000, Microsoft Excel, Elcometer ElcoMaster and QGIS, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:the preventive maintenance plan for a steel bridge, from condition inspection and diagnosis to protection system, priority interventions and life cycle costs, reviewed by your tutor.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Inspect the current condition
Describe the bridge and inspect its elements, connections and coatings.
Diagnose the deterioration
Identify corrosion, fatigue and protection system defects.
Plan preventive maintenance
Set inspection frequencies and a multi-year maintenance plan.
Specify protection and interventions
Propose the corrosion protection system and priority interventions.
Final project
A complete maintenance plan with life cycle costs and safety plan, reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Bridge maintenance technicianSteel structure inspectorPaint and coatings inspectorMaintenance works site managerAsset management engineerNon-destructive testing technician
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • No prior qualification is required.
  • An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with SAP2000, Microsoft Excel, Elcometer ElcoMaster and QGIS, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute certificate, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

No prior qualification is required; you need a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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