Division were developed by the Prestressed Concrete Committee for Economical Fabrication

(PCEF), a joint committee of FHWA bridge engineers, mid-Atlantic State DOT engineers and

precast, prestressed concrete suppliers.

For Prestressed Concrete Bulb-T Preliminary Design Charts, see File Nos. 12.03-6 thru -10.

BEAM SPACING:

The maximum beam/girder spacing shall be 12’-0” unless a design waiver is approved. For

splayed (variable spaced beams), the maximum spacing is applied at mid-span, but the spacing

at the widest splayed end shall not exceed 14’-0”.

The deck slab overhang (distance from the centerline of the exterior beam to the edge of the

deck) for the exterior beam is dependent on these factors:

1. 0.3 x beam spacing.

2. For overhangs exceeding 0.3 x beam spacing, a yield-line analysis is required.

3. If the exterior beam controls the design, reduce the deck slab overhang to the point that

the interior and exterior beam design is nearly equal.

4. Check the space required for deck drains for conflicts with the location of the exterior

beam lines.

5. Aesthetic considerations.

The minimum deck overhang shall be 3” beyond the edge of the flange. The maximum deck

overhang shall be 0.35 x the beam/girder spacing or 4’-0”, whichever is less including where

straight beams are used on a curved alignment. Deck overhang and bridge railing/parapet

geometry shall meet the layout requirements on File No. 10.01-6.

NUMBER OF BEAMS:

Because of concerns for redundancy, new bridges shall have a minimum of four beams per span

with the following exceptions:

One lane bridges on low-volume (ADT < 400) roads whe