What are the Eurocodes?
· Where may I obtain the Eurocodes?
· What Eurocodes will I need for the design of conventional buildings in steel and/or composite construction?
· How will the Eurocodes be used in an individual country?
· When will the Eurocodes come into operation?
· Will the use of the Eurocodes be mandatory?
· What difference will the use of the Eurocodes make to the design process?
· What difference will the Eurocodes make to future construction in Europe?
· What is Access Steel?
How may I understand the overall framework for fire design to the Eurocodes?
Type "structural fire design" into the Access Steel search box and click on the title of the first resource which appears in the results list. Sections 2 and 3 of this resource provide appropriate background information and cross references to the Eurocodes.
How may I demonstrate the commercial benefits of fire engineering to my client?
Type "fire engineering" into the Access Steel search box; click on "Client Guides", which is one of the tabs which runs across the top of the page; and then click on the title of your preferred Case study in the results list.
The Eurocodes provide a wide range of fire engineering strategies; how may I select the most appropriate for a specific building?
Type “fire strategy” into the Access Steel search box; select “Scheme Development”, which is one of the tabs that runs across the top of the page; and refine your search by typing “single storey”, “mult-storey” or “residential” into the quick search box in the top right hand corner.
How can I be sure I have considered all the issues relevant to the overall fire safety of a specific building?
Type “fire checklist” into the Access Steel search box and click on the title of one of the first four resources listed.
How may I consider using steel without any fire protection in my design?
Type “fire unprotected” into the Access Steel search box and select the most appropriate tab from the types of information listed across the top of the page:-
| Client guides |
for examples |
| Scheme development |
for initial guidance |
| Flowcharts |
for guidance and detailed design |
| NCCI |
for relevant design data |
| Example |
for worked examples |
In any of the above, you may refine your search by using the quick search box in the top right hand corner of the page. For example, typing “beam” will prioritise results which are most relevant to unprotected beams.
How may I design/select passive fire protection for a steel or composite element?
Type “fire protection” into the Access Steel search box and select the most appropriate tab from the following types of information listed across the top of the page:-
| Scheme development |
top resources listed here describe the types of passive fire protection |
| Flowcharts |
escribe the processes |
| NCCI |
provide relevant design data |
| Example |
appropriate worked examples are provided |
How do I size a column in a multi storey building to EC3?
Type 'sizing guidance' into the Access Steel search box; click on the relevant title and open the resource.
How do I design bearing and non bearing column splices to EC3?
Type 'Column splice' into the Access Steel search box; click on the 'NCCI' tab and open the relevant resource.
How do I demonstrate to a client the potential benefits of long span, column- free spaces for offices?
Type 'Le Sequana' into the Access Steel search box; click on the relevant title and open the resource.
How do I choose the appropriate steel sub grade to EC3?
Type 'sub grade' into the Access Steel search box; click on the relevant title and open the resource.
How do I design a fixed column base to EC3?
Type 'fixed column base' into the Access Steel search box; click on the 'Flow Chart' tab; open the relevant resource and click on the links to related resources.
How do I determine the relevant fire engineering strategy for a specific multi storey office building?
Type 'fire strategy' into the Access Steel search box; click on 'Scheme Development' tab and open the relevant resource.
How do I design a pinned column to EC3?
Type 'pinned column' into the Access Steel search box; select 'interactive example' and follow the installation instruction for TEDDS Lite.
How do I design a simply supported unrestrained beam to EC3?
Type 'unrestrained beam' into the Access Steel search box; select 'interactive example' and follow the installation instruction for TEDDS Lite.
How do I size a composite secondary or primary beam?
Type 'composite beam' into the Access Steel search box and click on the 'NCCI' tab.
How do I ensure my floor system will have a satisfactory dynamic performance?
Type 'vibrations' into the Access Steel search box and select the first resource listed.
What are the Eurocodes?
The Eurocodes are harmonised technical rules for the design of construction throughout Europe. The objective of their preparation, from 1975 to 2004/5, was the elimination of technical obstacles to trade and the harmonisation of technical specifications for construction.
The structural Eurocode programme comprises the following standards, each generally consisting of a number of Parts:
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EN 1990 |
Eurocode 0 |
Basis of structural design |
|
EN 1991 |
Eurocode 1 |
Actions on structures |
|
EN 1992 |
Eurocode 2 |
Design of concrete structures |
|
EN 1993 |
Eurocode 3 |
Design of steel structures |
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EN 1994 |
Eurocode 4 |
Design of composite steel and concrete structures |
|
EN 1995 |
Eurocode 5 |
Design of timber structures |
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EN 1996 |
Eurocode 6 |
Design of masonry structures |
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EN 1997 |
Eurocode 7 |
Geotechnical design |
|
EN 1997 |
Eurocode 8 |
Design of structures for earthquake resistance |
|
EN 1999 |
Eurocode 9 |
Design of aluminium structures |
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The parts of EC3 and EC4 are listed below:
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Parts of EN 1993 Design of Steel Structures: |
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EN 1993-1 |
General rules and rules for buildings |
|
EN 1993-2 |
Steel bridges |
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EN 1993-3 |
Towers, masts and chimneys |
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EN 1993-4 |
Silos, tanks and pipelines |
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EN 1993-5 |
Piling |
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EN 1993-6 |
Crane supporting structures |
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Parts of EN 1993-1 General rules and rules for buildings: |
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EN 1993-1-1 |
General rules and rules for buildings |
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EN 1993-1-2 |
Structural fire design |
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EN 1993-1-3 |
Cold-formed thin gauge members and sheeting |
|
EN 1993-1-4 |
Stainless steel |
|
EN 1993-1-5 |
Plates structural elements |
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EN 1993-1-6 |
Strength and stability of shell structures |
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EN 1993-1-7 |
Strength and stability of planar plated structures transversely loaded |
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EN 1993-1-8 |
Design of joints |
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EN 1993-1-9 |
Fatigue strength of steel structures |
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EN 1993-1-10 |
Selection of steel for fracture toughness and through-thickness properties |
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EN 1993-1-11 |
Design of structures with tension components made of steel |
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EN 1993-1-12 |
Supplementary rules for high strength steel. |
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Parts of Eurocode 4: |
|
EN 1994 |
Design of composite steel and concrete structures: |
|
EN 1994-1-1 |
General rules and rules for buildings (composite) |
|
EN 1994-1-2 |
Structural fire design |
|
EN 1994-2 |
Bridges |
Where may I obtain the Eurocodes?
The Eurocodes will be published by and may be purchased from National Standards Bodies, together with the National Annexes that govern their application in an individual country.
What Eurocodes will I need for the design of conventional buildings in steel and/or composite construction?
You will need the following parts, and their associated National Annexes:
|
For steel buildings: |
|
EN 1990 |
Basis of structural design (needed for load combinations) |
|
EN 1991-1-1 |
Densities, self weight and imposed loads on buildings |
|
EN 1991-1-3 |
Snow loads |
|
EN 1991-1-4 |
Wind loads |
|
EN 1993 |
Eurocode 3 : |
Design of steel structures: |
|
|
EN 1993-1-1: |
General rules and rules for buildings |
|
|
EN 1993-1-2: |
General rules - structural fire design |
|
|
EN 1993-1-3: |
General rules - light gauge steel |
|
|
EN 1993-1-8: |
General rules - design of joints |
|
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EN 1993-1-5: |
Plated structural elements (needed for web buckling and stiffener design) |
|
|
EN 1993-1-10: |
Material toughness and through-thickness properties |
|
EN 1997 |
Eurocode 7: |
Geotechnical design |
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For composite buildings
You will need the above plus: |
|
EN 1994 |
Eurocode 4: |
Design of composite steel and concrete structures |
|
|
EN 1994-1-1: |
General rules and rules for buildings (composite) |
|
EN 1992 |
Eurocode 2: |
Design of concrete structure |
|
|
EN 1992-1-1 |
General rules and rules for buildings (concrete) |
|
For construction in seismic regions
You will also need: |
|
EN 1998 |
Eurocode 8: |
Design of structures for earthquake resistance |
How will the Eurocodes be used in an individual country?
The Eurocodes will be published by the National Standards body for use in that country, together with National Annexes, one for each part of the Eurocode programme.
The National Annex contains information on those parameters which are left open for national choice, known as Nationally Determined Parameters.
Nationally Determined Parameters, NDP, may cover: - values and/or classes where alternatives are given in the Eurocode, values to be used where a symbol only is given in the Eurocode, country specific date (geographical, climatic, etc.), e.g. snow map, the procedure to be used where alternative procedures are given in the Eurocode.
The National Annex may also contain:
· decisions on the application of informative annexes,
· references to non contradictory complementary information to assist the user to apply the Eurocode.
Different Standards have different numbers of NDPs, for example:
EN 1992-1-1 122 parameters
EN 1993-1-1 22 parameters
EN 1994-1-1 19 parameters
These reflect differences in drafting philosophy by different technical committees.
When will the Eurocodes come into operation?
Implementation plans vary, in practice, between different countries. Leading countries have already adopted them, e.g. most of the steel structures for the 2004 Olympics in Athens were designed to the Eurocodes.
More formally:
The first tranche of Eurocodes was published in April 2005.
The National Annexes to this tranche should be published by April 2007.
There will be a three year period of co existence with National provisions after the National Annexes have been published.
National provisions, outside the Eurocodes, and conflicting with them, must be withdrawn by April 2010.
The first tranche of the steel and composite Eurocodes comprise:
|
EN 1993 1 1 |
General rules and rules for buildings |
|
EN 1993 1 2 |
General rules - structural fire design |
|
EN 1993 1 8 |
General rules - design of joints |
|
EN 1993 1 9 |
Fatigue strength of steel structures |
|
EN 1993-1-10 |
Selection of steel for fracture toughness and through thickness properties |
|
EN 1994-1-1 |
General rules and rules for buildings |
Will the use of the Eurocodes be mandatory?
Their use will certainly not be mandatory until the end of the period of co-existence with National provisions (generally April 2010 for the first tranche).
During the co existence period they are expected to be required to be adopted for publicly procured buildings above a certain cost.
Attitudes to the continuing use of National Provisions, once they have been withdrawn in April 2010, will vary from country to country.
What difference will the use of the Eurocodes make to the design process?
The Eurocodes differ from National Standards in:
- Systems of axes - notation - some design rules (calculation models)
The Eurocodes are neither structured to mirror the design process nor to provide the background (text book) information necessary for design in practice.
They were drafted on the assumption that design aids, based on their calculation models will be produced by interested parties.
What difference will the Eurocodes make to future construction in Europe?
Europehas a rich and valued diversity of architecture and buildings. The Eurocodes will not reduce this diversity, which arises for complex cultural and historical reasons. However, the Eurocodes, designed to remove technical obstacles to trade, will encourage the transfer of best design and construction practice across national boundaries. This best practice, applied to vernacular architecture, will enable the European Construction industry to provide better value to the built environment, while retaining its diversity and breadth.
What is Access Steel?
Access Steel is a unique electronic resource to ensure that the European steel construction community takes maximum advantage from the commercial opportunities arising from the Eurocodes.
With input from six leading institutes for steel construction Europe, it provides harmonised information for clients, architects and engineers on:
· multi storey commercial buildings
· single storey buildings
· residential construction
· fire safety engineering