A standardized methodology for assessing the civil, structural, drainage, mounting, alignment, and pavement-interface condition of AGL base cans, light foundations, pits, mounting hardware, and associated civil works. Covers base-can condition, foundation, grouting, level, alignment, drainage, pit covers, bolts, frangible couplings, cable entries, pavement interfaces, settlement, cracks, cleanliness, and water accumulation.
Critical technical control — The civil installation should be treated as an integral part of AGL equipment reliability and photometric performance. The inspection chain is Pavement → Foundation → Base Can → Frangible Coupling → Fixture → Cable Entry → Pit → Drainage. A fixture that is electrically healthy can still become operationally unacceptable because of incorrect base-can level, settlement, fixture misalignment, damaged mounting hardware, compromised frangible components, pavement movement, inadequate grouting, water accumulation, blocked drainage, damaged cable entries, or foundation deterioration. Particular attention should be given to level, alignment, pavement interface, drainage, water, and mounting security. Any condition affecting fixture elevation, alignment, frangibility, structural stability, cable protection, or safe pavement operation should be escalated according to the applicable airport engineering and maintenance procedure.
Inspection of the complete base-can installation for structural, mechanical, alignment, environmental, and operational condition.
Verification of base-can/fixture location and association with the applicable AGL circuit and asset records.
Verification that the installed base-can arrangement corresponds with approved design and installation requirements.
Inspection for impact damage, deformation, cracking, corrosion, or other physical deterioration.
Inspection of exposed metallic components for corrosion and material deterioration.
Verification that the base can remains correctly level relative to the applicable pavement/installation reference.
Inspection of base-can elevation relative to the intended installation requirement.
Verification that the base can remains correctly aligned.
Inspection for unintended rotation or movement affecting fixture orientation.
Identification of settlement, displacement, tilting, or differential movement.
Verification that the base-can position remains consistent with the applicable layout and location requirements.
Inspection of the foundation supporting the base can or fixture.
Identification of cracks, fractures, openings, or deterioration.
Inspection for settlement, differential settlement, displacement, or ground movement.
Inspection for broken, spalled, chipped, or deteriorated concrete around the foundation.
Assessment of the general structural condition of the foundation.
Inspection for deterioration associated with persistent water exposure.
Inspection of grout surrounding/supporting the base can where applicable.
Identification of cracked, loose, missing, deteriorated, or displaced grout.
Inspection for separation between base can, grout, and surrounding foundation.
Identification of gaps or pathways that may permit water penetration.
Inspection following grout repair or reinstatement.
Inspection of drainage arrangements within and around AGL pits/base-can installations.
Verification that water can drain away from the base-can installation as intended.
Inspection for standing water inside AGL pits.
Identification of excessive moisture, condensation, or persistent dampness.
Identification of blocked, restricted, or ineffective drainage paths.
Inspection of drainage discharge arrangements where applicable.
Identification of cracks, gaps, damaged seals, interfaces, or other pathways allowing water entry.
Inspection of AGL pit covers for physical and structural condition.
Verification that covers are correctly seated and stable.
Identification of cracks, deformation, corrosion, breakage, or other damage.
Verification that the cover remains appropriately secured.
Verification that the cover remains appropriately positioned relative to the surrounding surface.
Identification of raised, displaced, sunken, or uneven covers creating a surface hazard.
Inspection of bolts, nuts, washers, brackets, clamps, and other applicable mounting components.
Inspection for corrosion, damage, deformation, looseness, or missing components.
Verification of mechanical security of applicable mounting hardware.
Inspection for corrosion and material degradation.
Inspection of the mechanical interface between fixture and base can.
Inspection of the applicable frangible coupling for physical condition and installation integrity.
Verification of correct alignment and installation.
Identification of cracks, deformation, impact damage, or other deterioration.
Verification that the coupling remains correctly installed and secure.
Verification of applicable replacement/maintenance records.
Inspection of cable entry points into the base can.
Inspection of sealing arrangements at cable-entry interfaces.
Verification that cables are protected from abrasion, sharp edges, crushing, and mechanical stress.
Inspection for evidence of water entering through cable-entry points.
Identification of excessive tension, bending, or pulling at the cable entry.
Inspection of the interface between AGL installation and surrounding pavement.
Identification of cracks around the base can, fixture, pit, or foundation.
Identification of local settlement or differential pavement movement.
Inspection for broken or deteriorated pavement around the installation.
Inspection of joints, gaps, interfaces, and transitions around the AGL installation.
Verification that the fixture/base-can installation does not create an unacceptable surface irregularity.
Inspection for localized water accumulation around the installation.
Inspection for settlement around the AGL installation.
Identification of uneven settlement between pavement, foundation, base can, and surrounding surface.
Identification of localized ground or pavement subsidence.
Verification of the surrounding surface condition relative to the installed AGL equipment.
Inspection for cracks in foundations, pit structures, collars, and surrounding concrete.
Identification of concrete surface deterioration and spalling.
Inspection of damaged edges around pits and foundations.
Identification of vehicle, equipment, maintenance, or other impact damage.
Inspection following civil repair or reinstatement work.
Inspection for dirt, mud, dust, FOD, vegetation, oil, waste, and other contamination.
Identification and removal/escalation of foreign object debris.
Inspection for vegetation growth inside or around pits.
Identification of oil, fuel, chemicals, mud, or other contaminants.
Inspection of the interface between fixture/base can and surrounding civil structure.
Inspection of civil conditions around isolating-transformer pits where applicable.
Inspection of cable entry, exit, support, protection, and sealing at pits.
Inspection of interactions between drainage infrastructure and AGL installations.
Identification of civil works that may affect AGL equipment, cables, fixtures, or foundations.
Inspection of AGL equipment following nearby excavation.
Inspection following resurfacing, repair, milling, grooving, or other pavement work.
Verification following foundation or concrete repairs.
Inspection following base-can replacement or reinstallation.
Verification that the complete AGL/civil interface has been correctly reinstated.
Identification of base-can, foundation, mounting, alignment, drainage, pavement, and pit defects.
Classification of civil defects according to operational and structural significance.
Recording of fixture/base-can location, defect type, severity, and affected equipment.
Recording of repair, replacement, drainage correction, grouting, pavement repair, or other corrective action.
Verification that corrective action has restored the required civil and AGL installation condition.
Each applicable base can, foundation, pit, or pavement interface should be assessed against the relevant parameters below — the common checklist spine underlying all 85 topics above.
| Parameter | Inspection Status |
|---|---|
| Base Can | Good / Damaged |
| Base-Can Level | Correct / Abnormal |
| Base-Can Elevation | Correct / Abnormal |
| Base-Can Alignment | Correct / Misaligned |
| Foundation | Good / Damaged |
| Grouting | Good / Cracked / Missing |
| Foundation Cracks | None / Present |
| Settlement | None / Present |
| Differential Settlement | None / Present |
| Drainage | Good / Restricted / Failed |
| Pit Water | None / Present |
| Pit Cleanliness | Clean / Contaminated |
| Pit Cover | Good / Damaged / Displaced |
| Cover Level | Correct / Raised / Sunken |
| Mounting Bolts | Good / Loose / Damaged / Missing |
| Mounting Hardware | Good / Defective |
| Frangible Coupling | Good / Damaged / Misaligned |
| Cable Entry | Good / Damaged |
| Cable Entry Sealing | Good / Deficient |
| Pavement Interface | Good / Deficient |
| Pavement Cracks | None / Present |
| Pavement Spalling | None / Present |
| Water Accumulation | None / Present |
| FOD | None / Present |
| Vegetation | None / Encroachment |
| Corrosion | None / Present |
| Civil Work Impact | None / Present |
| Defect Status | Normal / Defective / Unserviceable / Immediate Action Required |
Quick answers about civil works & base can inspection in the AGL Inspection Handbook.
Division 12 contains 85 published topics in 16 sections (A–P). It gives a standardized methodology for assessing the civil, structural, drainage, mounting, alignment and pavement-interface condition of AGL base cans, light foundations, pits, mounting hardware and associated civil works.
It covers base-can level and alignment, foundation condition, grouting, drainage and water management, pit covers, mounting hardware, frangible couplings, cable entry into the base can, pavement interface, surface settlement, cracks and concrete damage, pit cleanliness, the civil interface with AGL equipment, and post-civil-work inspection.
The checklist includes base-can condition, level, elevation and alignment, foundation, grouting, cracks, settlement and differential settlement, drainage, pit water, pit cleanliness, pit cover and cover level, mounting bolts and hardware, frangible coupling, cable entry and sealing, pavement interface, cracks and spalling, water accumulation, FOD, vegetation, corrosion and civil work impact.
The sequence identifies the location and fixture or base can, checks level, elevation and alignment, and inspects the foundation, grouting, mounting hardware, frangible coupling, cable entry, pit, cover, drainage and water. It then checks the pavement interface, settlement, cracks and spalling, and cleanliness and FOD, before recording the defect, classifying, correcting, reinspecting and closing.
Yes. Section O covers post-civil-work inspection, and the checklist records civil work impact as None or Present.
Defect status is recorded using the four-level scheme Normal, Defective, Unserviceable and Immediate Action Required, so every observation ends with a clear classification before it is recorded and escalated.
The civil installation is treated as an integral part of AGL equipment reliability and photometric performance. An electrically healthy fixture can still become operationally unacceptable because of base-can level, settlement, misalignment, damaged mounting hardware, compromised frangible components, pavement movement, inadequate grouting, water accumulation, blocked drainage, damaged cable entries or foundation deterioration.
Yes. This handbook is an uncontrolled educational reference, not an approved procedure. The airport's approved inspection schedule, SMS procedures, ATC instructions, NOTAM procedures and local aerodrome regulations always take precedence, and the current revision of any official document should be verified before use.
Yes. Each inspection topic has a Download as Word option that produces an uncontrolled Word checklist template (description, a tick-box inspection table and an inspector sign-off block) for personal reference and internal training, to be reviewed and adopted under the user’s own document control.
Civil works and base can inspection is where foundation, frangibility and ingress-protection condition awareness begins. Go beyond identifying defects and build the technical knowledge to understand why abnormalities occur, how they affect system serviceability, and when further testing, troubleshooting, maintenance or corrective action is required.
Develop structured knowledge across:
Learn to connect the inspection process with the wider AGL engineering lifecycle.
Inspect with purpose. Understand the system. Act with technical confidence.
Please read before relying on any content on this page or on any record downloaded from it.