In NBIS, what does 'deficiencies observed' refer to?

• A. All items observed during inspection.
• B. Items that exceed acceptable limits or require repair or replacement.
• C. Only items that cause immediate failure.
• D. Items that are within normal range.

Answer: (B)

In NBIS, deficiencies observed are the conditions found that exceed what is acceptable or require repair or replacement to restore the bridge to an acceptable state. Inspectors flag a deficiency when a component isn’t within tolerance or needs rehabilitation to maintain safety and serviceability, even if it doesn’t cause an immediate failure. Not every item seen during an inspection is a deficiency—many parts are in normal range and require no action. Items that do require action may still be manageable over time rather than causing an imminent hazard, which is why they’re recorded as deficiencies but not necessarily as immediate failures.