Confined Space Entry Cost for Condition Assessment of Municipal Infrastructure Can Be Influenced by Various Factors
Water and wastewater utilities face the daunting task of preserving infrastructure that has been in service for decades. Several of these infrastructure components are difficult to access due to both physical and operational constraints, so how does a municipality adequately plan for any necessary rehabilitation efforts? Performing a detailed field-based condition assessment will provide the most current and accurate data upon which decisions can be made. However, the logistics of gaining safe access to some of the most critical components can be complex and oftentimes requires a confined space entry (CSE). Municipalities must consider the higher cost of confined space entry assessments during the planning phase to ensure that the most relevant data is collected to inform future rehabilitation design. The cost to perform confined space entry for condition assessment of municipal infrastructure can be influenced by various factors.
The size and complexity of the infrastructure being assessed can have a significant impact on the cost. Larger and more intricate structures may require more time, resources, and personnel to conduct the assessment, leading to higher costs. For instance, a municipality may have constraints on how long they are able to take a process out of service and, therefore, will need to weigh the cost of deploying a larger field crew (assessment team) against planning for multiple mobilizations. Such planning considerations are critical to ensure that a large enough data set is collected to inform meaningful rehabilitation recommendations.
The accessibility of a confined space can impact the cost. If the entry point is easily accessible, it may require less manpower and equipment, resulting in lower costs. The condition assessment of a single manhole may be easily completed with one entrant being lowered into the structure with fall protection and topside confined space entry support. However, if the entry includes additional challenges such as horizontal travel to access components, specialized equipment and/or additional safety measures may be necessary, increasing the overall cost.
Confined spaces often present hazardous conditions such as toxic gases, low oxygen levels, or the potential for engulfment. These hazardous conditions require extensive safety measures, including specialized equipment, ventilation systems, and trained personnel. The cost of implementing and maintaining additional safety measures such as dewatering and cleaning prior to an assessment, forced air ventilation systems, bypass pumping, or conducting the condition assessment with the entrant wearing an SCBA will significantly impact the overall costs.
The selection of the equipment and technology used for the condition assessment will affect the cost. Advanced inspection tools, monitoring devices, cameras, lighting equipment, and scaffolding may be necessary for a comprehensive assessment. The cost of acquiring, operating, and maintaining such equipment can contribute to the overall expenses.
Our engineers have confined space entry certifications to maximize the condition assessment findings for water and wastewater infrastructure.
The level of expertise required to perform the confined space entry and condition assessment can also influence the cost. Highly skilled professionals, including rescue-certified confined space entry personnel, licensed engineers, and/or specialized inspectors, may be needed. Assembling an assessment team with the required expertise can impact the overall cost, which is inclusive of all the confined space rescue training, professional certifications, and experience required to safely conduct a thorough assessment.
Compliance with safety regulations and standards is crucial in confined space entry. Meeting the necessary safety requirements may involve additional administrative efforts, paperwork, permits, and inspections. The development of a site-specific Health and Safety Plan that documents all confined space entry requirements, including lock-out tag-out procedures, emergency contact information, and the means and methods of performing the condition assessment work will ensure that on-site personnel will be protected and the required documentation collected. The effort associated with regulatory compliance can influence the overall cost of the assessment.
High-resolution data-driven assessments typically result in higher costs. Higher resolution assessments include methods such as concrete coring for laboratory testing (compressive strength, carbonation, chlorides, pH), ultrasonic testing to determine the thickness of metallic surfaces, dry film thickness testing to determine average coating thickness, surface penetrating radar scanning for determination of reinforcement depth and spacing, and others. These methods may incur additional expenses related to personnel, equipment rental, site access, and project management.
The geographic location of the infrastructure can also affect the cost. Factors such as site mobilization, logistics, availability of specialized services or equipment, and local labor rates can vary across different regions, influencing the overall cost. Prevailing Wage requirements will impact the labor rates for projects that are listed with the local Department of Industrial Relations.
Our team performed a confined space entry and operated a Surface Penetrating Radar (SPR) as part of a comprehensive condition assessment of a potable water storage reservoir in Southern California. The SPR was used to determine the rebar spacing and depth of concrete cover at several locations within the reservoir, including the walls, columns, beams, and roof. The data was used in conjunction with a visual assessment and additional concrete test methods to better understand the structure’s existing conditions and causes of deterioration.
It is recommended that municipalities regularly assess all assets that are critical to their operation. The time interval and level of detail for each assessment may vary depending on the age and criticality (consequence of failure) of the respective assets. When planning for a confined space entry condition assessment, the desired resolution shall be considered. In many cases, a higher resolution condition assessment will result in cost savings on the construction side if the repair and replacement of assets can be more defined with a focus on the affected components rather than painting with a broad brush. Alternatively, a lower-resolution assessment will save money on the assessment side but may result in missed findings and/or recommendations for the replacement of functional components.