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.
Course in Preventive Maintenance of Steel Bridges — studying from South Africa
Civil engineering is central to South Africa's infrastructure, from roads and water systems to rail and urban development. Transnet's freight rail network, the Gautrain system in Gauteng and metropolitan projects in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg create steady demand for engineers. Large contractors and consultancies, along with public agencies such as the South African National Roads Agency Limited, employ specialists in structures, transport and urban systems. Smart city initiatives increasingly combine civil works with digital monitoring and sustainable design.
Fees for South Africa: R 14 900 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Which South African body registers civil engineers, and would SEIUM qualifications count towards registration?
ECSA registers engineering professionals in South Africa, and built environment professionals are registered through SACPCMP and SACAP. Registration requires recognised qualifications, supervised experience and assessment. SEIUM is a private online institute, and its qualifications are not official state degrees or accredited by a national body. Whether they count is decided by ECSA or the relevant body and your employer, so verify before enrolling.
Will this programme help me work on rail or smart city projects in South Africa?
South Africa has ongoing infrastructure, rail and urban development work, with projects involving public bodies, engineering consultancies and contractors. Employers typically seek registered professionals with proven project experience. A private online qualification in smart cities or rail can support your profile, but it does not guarantee work on any project. Speak to potential employers about how they view it.
Can I study alongside a full-time job, and can my employer help pay?
Yes, the programme is 100% online, so you can study around work, though you need a reasonable level of English as teaching is in English. Master's programmes take 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, with a technical tutor. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible. Many employers in South Africa fund professional development, so ask yours.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Identify the deterioration mechanisms of steel bridges.
Plan long-term preventive maintenance.
Specify corrosion protection systems.
Inspect steel elements and connections.
Carry out maintenance interventions safely.
Assess life cycle costs.
Draw up the maintenance plan for a steel bridge.
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.
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
6 modules
1.1Types of steel bridges1.2Historical and modern steels1.3Riveted, bolted and welded connections1.4Mechanisms of atmospheric corrosion1.5Corrosion in critical areas1.6Fatigue in details1.7Impact damage1.8Ageing of protection systems1.9Steel bridge heritage1.10Case study: deterioration of a 19th-century truss bridge
2.1Maintenance strategies2.2Preventive versus corrective maintenance2.3Inventory and management system2.4Inspection frequency2.5Condition indicators2.6Multi-year plans2.7Prioritisation with limited resources2.8Life cycle costs2.9Maintenance contracts2.10Practical exercise: ten-year maintenance plan
3.1Corrosivity categories3.2Surface preparation3.3Blast-cleaning grades3.4Paint systems and their durability3.5Hot-dip galvanising3.6Thermal spray metallising3.7Weathering steels3.8Thickness control3.9Partial and full repainting3.10Lab: measuring coating thickness and adhesion
4.1Visual inspection of corrosion4.2Thickness loss4.3Inspection of connections4.4Detection of fatigue cracks4.5Magnetic particle and penetrant testing4.6Ultrasonic testing of welds4.7Inspection of bearings and joints4.8Access with platforms and ropes4.9Inspection report4.10Practical exercise: inspection of a welded joint
5.1Cleaning and drainage5.2Replacement of bolts and rivets5.3Repair of fatigue cracks5.4Strengthening of corroded elements5.5Bearing replacement5.6Deck renewal5.7Environmental management of paint waste5.8Safety in maintenance work5.9Quality control5.10Case study: repainting a bridge over a river
6.1Description of the bridge6.2Inspection of current condition6.3Diagnosis6.4Preventive maintenance plan6.5Proposed protection system6.6Priority interventions6.7Life cycle costs6.8Safety plan6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with your tutor
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.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
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.
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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