Guidelines for Safety Inspection of Dams - Central Water Commission

category will be those located where failure may cause serious
damage to homes, extensive agricultural, industrial and
commercial facilities, important public utilities, main highways or
railroads.
Category
Low
Significant
Table II
Hazard Potential Classification
Loss of Life
(Extent of
Development)
None expected (nonpermanent
structures for
human habitation)
Few (no urban
developments and no
more than a small
number of inhabitable
structures)
High More than few
Selection of dams to be investigated
Economic Loss
(Extent of
Development)
Minimal (undeveloped to
occasional structures or
agriculture)
Appreciable (notable
agriculture, industry or
structures)
Excessive (extensive
community, industry or
agriculture)
2.2 The selection of dams to be investigated should be based upon an
assessment of existing developments in flood hazard area. Those
dams possessing a hazard potential classified high or significant
as indicated in Table II should be given first and second
priorities, respectively, in the inspection programme. Inspection
priorities within each category may be developed from a
consideration of factors such as size classification and age of the
dam, the population size in the downstream flood area, and
potential developments anticipated in flood hazard areas.
Technical investigations
2.3 A detailed, systematic, technical inspection and evaluation should
be made of each dam selected for investigation in which the
hydraulic and hydrologic capabilities, structural stability and
operational adequacy of project features are analysed and
evaluated to determine if the dam constitutes a danger to human
life or property. The investigation should vary in scope and
completeness depending upon the availability and suitability of
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