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Conversion to Eurocodes: ready for action
06 Sep 2010
Topics: Eurocodes, Construction
A set of new Eurocodes is standardizing key aspects of structural design across the European Union, replacing national standards that have been in force for years. The aim is to boost trade across European borders, but are engineers ready to start working with them?
In March 2010, a new set of Eurocodes officially replaced the national construction standards used in a large number of European countries. This was a key transition point in one of the most significant changes to international construction standards in history. Nations are at various stages of implementation, but the standards are already being used right around the world - in the design processes for infrastructure, bridge and building projects as far afield as South Africa, Lebanon and New Zealand. They represent the latest chapter in the story of growing European conversion and co-operation.
"The consensus is that the Eurocodes are the most technologically advanced set of structural and civil engineering standards in the world - the most current in terms of engineering practice," says Jonathan Griffin, head of market development for the construction sector at BSI. "They represent the pooling of expertise that has developed across the whole of Europe."
Arguably, the move could not have come at a better time. The recent Eurozone currency crisis means many countries are looking to export more goods and services to shift their economic recoveries up a gear, and construction clearly has a crucial part to play in their progress. Indeed, there are already strong signs of growth in the sector. The UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS) surprised markets in July this year by revealing that the economy had grown an estimated 1.1 per cent in the second quarter - much more than analysts expected. The construction sector was one of the most prominent areas of all, surging 6.6 per cent; its largest quarterly rise since 1963. Germany's growth then jumped twice as high, posting economic expansion of 2.2 per cent and picking up the pace of the entire continent.
Building: the basics
Drafted by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), the 10-code, 58-part set of standards are now being used by structural engineers in the design and calculation of buildings and infrastructure to ensure that they are suitably safe and fit for purpose. Different codes cover building with certain materials, such as concrete, steel, timber and aluminium, while others cover general rules for robustness, the actions of extreme external climatic influences such as snow, wind and temperature, geotechnical design, and the clear challenges of building to withstand earthquakes. The full list is:
Eurocode 0: General rules for structural design
Eurocode 1: Loads (snow, wind, traffic, temperature)
Eurocode 2: Concrete structures
Eurocode 3: Steel structures
Eurocode 4: Composite steel-concrete structures
Eurocode 5: Timber structures
Eurocode 6: Masonry
Eurocode 7: Geotechnical structures
Eurocode 8: Seismic design
Eurocode 9: Aluminium structures
Crucially, however, all the elements are expected to provide the same acceptable level of construction safety, but without any significant increase in cost unless new safety expectations have been agreed. Indeed, in some cases Eurocode methods of analysis could actually lead to improvements in cost-effectiveness, especially important at this time when businesses are working with tighter budgetary restrictions in the wake of the recent recession. Furthermore, leaner construction also plays a vital part in the struggle to control climate change through sustainable, low-carbon building development.
BS EN 1990 Eurocode: Basis of structural design is the set's lead code, and underpins all the others. It provides the principles for each subsequent Eurocode part in demonstrating the key qualities of safety, serviceability and durability, including resistance to fire and certain standards of reliability management. The separate material Eurocodes, on the other hand, only contain clauses to aid design and detailing with their respective materials - a significant point of departure from the previous British Standards. BS EN 1990 applies to civil engineering structures as well as buildings, including bridges, towers, chimneys, masts, tanks, silos and various construction products such as metal and timber frame housing. In general, this overarching Eurocode also encourages the exploitation of more advanced analytical techniques and includes concepts that offer more opportunities for design innovation.
However, there is also a limited amount of flexibility for every country built into the framework for the Eurocodes. Each member state has also been required to assemble an additional "National Annex", informed by and accompanying the various Eurocodes, to allow for variations in geography, climate and local conventions in the business of building. These potential deviations are known as nationally determined parameters (NDPs).
For example, in the UK's National Annex for Eurocode 8: Design of structures for earthquake resistance, it is suggested that seismic loading should only come into play for structures where there is a high consequence of failure. As the UK is not a country with a high risk of experiencing earthquakes, Eurocode 8 will play a far larger part elsewhere in the world, where adequate seismic protection is a much greater issue.
A period of coexistence has been in place, with the Eurocodes operating alongside the individual national standards for a number of years now to allow industry time to adjust. However, the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) set 31 March as the date for the formal withdrawal of all conflicting national standards. The UK has withdrawn a total of 54 British Standards, for example. As a result, the Eurocode have become the preferred standards in all public sector works. However, it is also fast expected to become the norm in the private sector - and on the international stage - based on superior best practice and evidence of increased performance.
"Eurocodes are actually the new British Standards," Griffin says. "They are not something that have been imposed on us. They have been developed with the aid of British engineers, who have played a substantial role in their development over the last 40 years. Similarly, in Germany, for example, they are the new DIN standards.
Ready or not?
But how have engineers managed the transition? It is somewhat concerning that a survey of 205 Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) members in February 2010 found that over ten per cent were entirely unaware that Eurocodes were replacing British Standards. And although over half (58 per cent) agreed that innovation was an "important" or "very important" development for their work, fewer than a third (29 per cent) said their organization was sufficiently prepared for the change.[1]
Griffin says. "Engineers are now going through a transitional period where they are now using Eurocodes more and more. It isn't a line in the sand."
For new public projects there is an expectation that Eurocodes will be used, he explains. However, in private projects it is still possible to specify the old British Standards. The reason for this is that a key document - Part A of the Building Regulations - has not yet been revised as it needs to refer to the standards. "Building Control will still accept designs to British Standards, but it becomes increasingly problematic as time passes because of issues surrounding insurance and liability," Griffin says.
"There is a fast track that relates to infrastructure projects," he adds. "That transition has happened relatively quickly, and those using the Eurocodes aren't reporting any significant problems. Some European countries, such as Denmark and Austria, have even made the transition ahead of time."
Flexible focus
The biggest challenge, he continues, is the different approach - and therefore training - required to work in the more "principles-based" way underpinning the new standards and contributing to their flexibility.
Help has certainly been at hand, however, in the form of training packages, both online and through the more traditional courses and components.
"We're running conferences and masterclasses, but there are also a large number of professional and trade associations running events," Griffin explains. "There's also a huge amount of guidance that has been published. We're publishing seven guide books as an introduction."
The Steel Construction Institute (SCI) has even delivered Eurocode training in India - in Delhi and Hyderabad. A number of companies had asked SCI lecturers to come to India to deliver sessions face to face, which is something the organization has also done for engineers in the UK. [2]
Poles apart
This move is also a good illustration of the truly global potential of the Eurocodes as they are increasingly taken up. The standards are not confined to the European Union, and indeed their promotion has already met with considerable interest around the world. Countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, UAE and Hong Kong, for example - with close links to the previous British Standards - are exploring the opportunities with particular interest.
"There is a large amount of interest overseas," Griffin agrees. "It is probably most advanced in Singapore, which is a major source of contractor work throughout Asia. One of the real strengths of the Eurocodes is the national annexes, which are able to reflect local climatic conditions wherever they might be applied."
In February this year the SCI also completed a long project involving a number of joint workshops with the Centre Technique Industriel de la Construction Métallique (CTICM) in France.[3] The two institutes successfully produced a list of 21 deliverables for multi-storey and single storey structures, leading to design tools that they now plan to translate for the steel markets in a number of European countries. The SCI felt this project highlighted major differences between the UK and France, while increasing useful exposure to various aspects of practical working with the Eurocodes.
Meanwhile, just one example of a project that has already been designed using the Eurocodes is New Zealand's Te Wero Bridge, now expected to span the impressive Auckland waterfront by 2016.[4] The bridge will split in half to allow boats to enter the inner harbour, and the design was required to do so with minimum disruption, quickly and quietly. A low-maintenance, low-energy, but durable solution was also requested of designers Hyder Consulting and Kenneth Grub Associates.
"Constructed with a lightweight aluminium deck, the design of the counterweight results in a very low energy use," explained Phil Tindall, Hyder Consulting's technical director in the winning design team. "The material selection also gives excellent durability and provides a sustainable, low-maintenance solution."
The team eventually delivered the resulting NZ$50m winning design using EN 1999 Design of aluminium structures. It is one of many projects that have the potential to benefit from the start of a new standards era.
For more information on Eurocodes.
[1] http://www.eurocodes.co.uk/NewsView.aspx?NewsID=231
[2] http://www.steel-sci.org/News/An+Indian+Summer+for+SCI+Courses.htm
[3] http://www.steel-sci.org/News/Moving+forward+with+Eurocodes.htm
[4] http://eurocodes.jrc.ec.europa.eu/showpage.php?id=3411
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