1.1This specification covers material, geometric, and wall section properties of steel box culverts manufactured from corrugated plate or sheet, with or without attached stiffeners, for field assembly. Appropriate fasteners and optional materials such as steel invert plates and headwalls are also described. Applications for steel box culverts include conduits for gravity flow drainage of surface water such as culverts and storm drains, as well as for small bridges and grade separation structures such as pedestrian or vehicular underpasses, and utility tunnels.

1.2This specification does not include requirements for foundations, backfill, or the relationship between earth cover or live loads and strength requirements. These important design considerations are described in the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, Customary U.S. Units (LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, SI Units).

1.3This specification does not include requirements for the hydraulic design of these structures. Hydraulic design, placement of footings or inverts, and end treatments to resist scour are described in FHWA HDS No. 5.

1.4Appendix X1 lists nominal dimensions of box culvert sizes commonly available for Type I, II, and IV box culverts. Also listed are cross-sectional area and hydraulic design parameters for these sizes. Geometries for Type III and V box culverts are available from manufacturers.

1.5Appendix X2 lists manufacturers' suggested design properties for the box culvert types described in this specification, and for the spacing classes and material thicknesses typically available.

1.6The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI units are to be regarded separately as standard. Within the text, the SI units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in nonconformance with the specification.