This European Standard applies to the inspection and maintenance of bearings designed in accordance with EN 1337-1, when used in the construction of bridges or structures requiring similar bearing systems. It presupposes the existence of guidelines for the regular inspection of the whole structure during its service life. It may also be used as appropriate for the inspection and maintenance of bearings designed and/or installed before the introduction of this European Standard. This European Standard specifies the aspects of each type of bearing that shall be inspected and recorded. It does not specify permissible values. For these reference shall be made to the relevant parts of this European Standard and to the drawings and design calculations for the bearing and the structure. NOTE 1 Attention is drawn to the particular necessity for regular inspection and maintenance of bearings as, without such inspection and maintenance, premature failure may occur. NOTE 2 National regulations may exist on the subjects covered by this European Standard and, therefore, they prevail on it.