See Code of Federal Regulations 23 CFR 650.305. Levels of Critical Findings and corresponding response times follow:
a. Emergency: used to report the failure or imminent failure of a critical primary structural component. An Emergency Critical Finding means that a failure is likely within a short time period. A re-inspection or repair should be scheduled, and the structure may require a Prompt Interim Action (PIA), load posting, or closure. Immediate action required.
b. Urgent: used to report a potentially hazardous condition, which, if left unattended beyond the next anticipated inspection, would likely become dangerous to persons or property. Also used to report the actual or imminent failure of a non-critical structural component. Such failures may reduce the reserve capacity or redundancy of the structure but would not result in a structural collapse. A re-inspection or repair should be scheduled, and the structure may require load posting. Action required prior to next routine inspection.
c. Rapid: used to report a potentially hazardous condition that is non-structural in nature but if left unattended beyond the next anticipated inspection would likely become dangerous to persons or property. Such failures would not affect the structure’s load carrying capacity. Schedule required actions.