Abstract: In this paper, the basic scope of defect inspection and the assessment of sluices are presented. The scope of defecet inspection includes field safety inspection, check of calculation and supplementary analyses. The assessment guideline and standard should be worked out according to relative codes for hydraulic structures and codes of other industries which can be referred to. At the same time, the assessment method should be easy to use. At last the authors suggest that the above water and under water structure of sluices should be paid equal attention to. The stabilization of foundation seepage and the deformation induced breakage of sluices should be seriously dealt with.