The Structural Eurocodes
A New Era for the Construction Industry in
Europe
Professor Haig Gulvanessian
Director, Construction Division, BRE
Visiting Professor, Imperial College, London
SCOPE OF PRESENTATION
• Objectives of the Eurocodes
• Eurocode system
• Brief description of the head code EN1990
• Eurocodes programme
• National Implementation, National Annexes and
National Determined Parameters
• Implications for the profession
• Commission recommendations on Eurocodes
• Conclusion – benefits to industry
• ICE initiatives
OBJECTIVES OF EUROCODES
AND THEIR STATUS
The European Commission’s objective is for:
“The Eurocodes to establish a set of common
technical rules for the design of buildings and civil
engineering works which will ultimately replace
the differing rules in the various Member States”
OBJECTIVES OF THE EUROCODES
AND THEIR STATUS
The Special Agreement between CEN and the European
Commission (BC/CEN/03/89) specified that the Eurocodes are
intended to serve as reference documents to be recognised by
authorities of the member states for the following purposes:
• as a means of compliance of building and civil engineering works
with the Essential Requirements as set out in Council Directive
89/106/EEC, (The Construction Products Directive) particularly ER
No 1 - Mechanical resistance and stability and part of ER2 – Safety
in case of fire.
• as a basis for specifying contracts for the execution of
construction works and related engineering services in the area of
public works (relates to Council Directives on Public Procurement)
• as a framework for drawing up harmonised technical
specifications for construction products
Treaty of Rome 25/03/57
Unique Act – New Approach 12/07/86
End of EEC and birth of EU 1/11/93
Birth of the Euro 1/1/02
LINKS BETWEEN THE EUROCODES
Structural safety,
EN 1990 serviceability and
durability
EN 1991 Actions on
structures
EN 1992 EN 1993 EN 1994 Design and detailing
EN 1995 EN 1996 EN 1999
EN 1997 EN 1998 Geotechnical and
Seismic design
LINKS BETWEEN THE EUROCODES
Structural safety,
EN 1990 serviceability and
durability
EN 1991 Actions on
structures
EN 1992 EN 1993 EN 1994 Design and detailing
EN 1995 EN 1996 EN 1999
EN 1997 EN 1998 Geotechnical and
Seismic design
EN 1990 : BASIS OF STRUCTURAL DESIGN:
CONTENTS
Foreword
Section 1 : General
Section 2 : Requirements
Section 3 : Principles of limit states
Section 4 : Basic variables
Section 5 : Structural analysis and design assisted by
testing
Section 6 : Verification by the partial factor method
Annex A(n);(N) : Application for buildings (1); bridges (2)
Annex B (I) : Management of structural reliability for
construction works
Annex C (I) : Basis for partial factor design and
reliability analysis
Annex D (I) : Design assisted by testing
EN 1990: BASIS OF STRUCTURAL DESIGN
Objectives of EN 1990: Basis of Design
EN 1990 describes the principles and
requirements for the
• Safety
• Serviceability
• Durability
of structures
EN 1990 : BASIS OF STRUCTURAL DESIGN
REQUIREMENTS
• Fundamental requirements (safety;
serviceability; and robustness)
• Reliability differentiation
• Design working life
• Durability
• Quality Assurance
EN 1990 : BASIS OF STRUCTURAL DESIGN
Design Situations
Design situations shall be classified as follows:
• persistent design situations, which refer to the conditions of
normal use
• accidental design situations, which refer to exceptional
conditions applicable to the structure or to its exposure, e.g. to
fire, explosion, impact or the consequences of localised failure
• seismic design situations, which refer to conditions applicable
to the structure when subjected to seismic events
• transient design situations which refer to temporary
conditions applicable to the structure, e.g. during execution or
repair
EN 1990: Representation of Actions and Effects of
Actions
Material
Properties γm
Effects
Ed<Rd γ Rd(ii) Xk
Actions of Xd
R
Actions γ Sd(ii)
COMBINATIONS Rd
CALCULATION OF RESIST ANCE
Ed
Fd E
STRUCTURE ANALYSIS
γf
Fk ψ
ACTION VARIABLE ACTIONS
LEADING ACCOMPAN YING
Frep
CHARACTERI STIC MATERIAL PROPERTY
DESIGN MAT ERIAL PROPERTY
REPRESENT ATIVE ACTIONS
CHARACTERI STIC ACTION S
DESIGN RESIST ANCE
(i)
DESIGN ACTIONS
DESIGN EFFECT
RESIST ANCE
PERMANENT
ACTIONS
EFFECT
In many cases, ψSd is combined with γ f and applied as a
single factor γF to the actions, and ψRd is combined with gm
and applied as a single factor γM to the material properties.
Example of the European standardisation system for
concrete structures
STRUCTURE OF THE EUROPEAN EN STANDARD
SYSTEM FOR BUILDING AND CIVIL ENGINEERING
WORKS USING EUROCODE 2 AS AN EXAMPLE
Eurocode Programme for EN 1990 & EN 1991
EN 1990: Eurocode: Basis of Structural Design
Title Date of Availability Withdrawal of NS
Basis of Structural Design with Annex A1 for buildings April 02 March 2010
Basis of Structural Design with Annex A2 for bridges November 05 March 2010
EN 1991: Eurocode 1: Actions on Structures
Title Date of Availability Withdrawal of NS
Densities, self-weight and imposed loads April 02 March 2010
Actions on structures exposed to fire Nov 02 December 2009
Snow Loads July 03 March 2010
Wind actions May 05 March 2010
Thermal actions March 04 March 2010
Actions during execution July 05 March 2010
Accidental actions May 06 March 2010
Traffic loads on bridges October 03 March 2010
Actions induced by cranes and machinery May 06 March 2010
Actions in silos and tanks February 06 March 2010
Eurocode Programme for ENs 1992
Eurocode 2: Design of Concrete Structures
Eurocode Title Date of Availability Withdrawal of NS
EN 1992-1-1 General rules and rules for buildings December 04 March 2010
EN 1992-1-2 Structural fire design February 05 March 2010
EN 1992-2 Reinforced and prestressed concrete bridges December 05 March 2010
EN 1992-3 Liquid retaining and containment structures March 06 March 2010
Eurocode Programme for ENs 1997, & 1998
Eurocode 7: Geotechnical Design
Eurocode Title Date of Availability Withdrawal of NS
EN 1997-1-1 General requirments December 04 March 2010
EN 1997-1-2 Ground investigations June 06 March 2010
Eurocode 8: Design of Structures for Earthquake Resistance
Eurocode Title Date of Availability Withdrl of NS
EN 1998-1 General rules, seismic actions and rules for December 04 March 2010
buildings
EN 1998-2 Bridges January 01 March 2010
EN 1998-3 Assessment and retrofitting of buildings November 05 March 2010
EN 1998-4 Silos, tanks and pipeline July 06 March 2010
EN 1998-5 Foundations, retaining structures and November 04 March 2010
geotechnical aspects
EN 1998-6 Towers and masts November 05 March 2010
IMPLEMENTATION OF EUROCODES AND
OBJECTIVES OF NATIONAL ANNEX
“Eurocodes recognise the responsibility
of Regulatory and other Relevant
Authorities in each Member State and
have safeguarded their right to
determine values related to safety
matters at National level where these
continue to vary from State to State ”
This is through the National Annex
Elements of the national publication of a European
Standard
ISO/CEI Directives
Part 3 (supplement)
a
b
c
d
a National title page
b National foreword
c EN title page e
d EN text
e EN Annex(es) f
f National annex
NATIONAL ANNEX
Annex to a Eurocode Part containing the National
Determined Parameters (NDPs) to
be used for the structural design of buildings and civil
engineering works in Member States
NATIONALLY DETERMINED PARAMETER
IN THE NATIONAL ANNEX
• Values and/or classes where alternatives are given in
the EN Eurocode
• Values to be used where a symbol only is given in the
EN Eurocode
• Country specific data (geographical, climatic etc) e.g.
a snow map
• The procedure to be used where alternative
procedures are given in the EN Eurocode
A1.2.2 Values of ψ factors
(1) Values of ψ factors should be specified.
NOTE The ψ values may be set by the National Annex. Recommended values of ψ
factors for the more common actions may be obtained from Table A1.1.
Action ψ0 ψ1 ψ2
Imposed loads in buildings, category (see
EN 1991-1-1)
Category A : domestic, residential areas 0,7 0,5 0,3
Category B : office areas 0,7 0,5 0,3
Category C : congregation areas 0,7 0,7 0,6
Category D : shopping areas 0,7 0,7 0,6
Category E : storage areas 1,0 0,9 0,8
Category F : traffic area, Table A1.1 -
vehicle weight ≤ 30kN 0,7 0,7 0,6 Recommended
Category G : traffic area,
values of ψ
30kN < vehicle weight ≤ 160kN 0,7 0,5 0,3
Category H : roofs 0 0 0 factors for
Snow loads on buildings (see EN 1991-1-3)* buildings
– Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden 0,70 0,50 0,20
– Remainder of CEN Member States, for sites 0,70 0,50 0,20
located at altitude H > 1000 m a.s.l.
– Remainder of CEN Member States, for sites 0,50 0,20 0
located at altitude H ≤ 1000 m a.s.l.
Wind loads on buildings (see EN 1991-1-4) 0,6 0,2 0
Temperature (non-fire) in buildings (see EN 0,6 0,5 0
1991-1-5)
NOTE The ψ values may be set by the National annex.
* For countries not mentioned below, see relevant local conditions.
NATIONALLY DETERMINED PARAMETER
IN THE NATIONAL ANNEX
• Values and/or classes where alternatives are given in
the EN Eurocode
• Values to be used where a symbol only is given in the
EN Eurocode
• Country specific data (geographical, climatic etc) e.g.
a snow map
• The procedure to be used where alternative
procedures are given in the EN Eurocode
Ground Snow load map
European Climatic Regions
UK and Republic of Ireland Ground Snow Load
Map
Determination of Sk
Sk = (0,15 + [0,1Z + 0,05]) + ((A –
100)/525))
Sk = Characteristic ground snow
load (kN/m2)
Z = Zone number (obtained from
map)
A = Site altitude (m)
NATIONALLY DETERMINED PARAMETER
IN THE NATIONAL ANNEX
• Values and/or classes where alternatives are given in
the EN Eurocode
• Values to be used where a symbol only is given in the
EN Eurocode
• Country specific data (geographical, climatic etc) e.g.
a snow map
• The procedure to be used where alternative
procedures are given in the EN Eurocode
EN1990 : BASIS OF STRUCTURAL DESIGN
Ultimate limit states of STR/GEO - Fundamental
combination for persistent and transient design situations
Expression (6.10)
∑γ
j ≥1
G, j G k , j "+ " γ P P "+ " γ Q ,1Q k ,1 "+ " ∑ γ Q , iψ 0 , i Q k , i
i >1
Expressions (6.10a) and (6.10b)
⎧ ∑ γ G , j Gk , j "+" γ P P"+" ∑ γ Q ,iψ 0 ,i Qk ,i
⎪ j ≥1 i ≥1
⎨
⎪ ∑ ξ j γ G , j Gk , j "+" γ P P"+" γ Q ,1Qk ,1 "+" ∑ γ Q ,iψ 0 ,i Qk ,i
⎩ j ≥1 i >1
0,85 ≤ ξ ≤ 1,00
EN 1990 vs BSI for one variable action
6
5
A
β BSI
B
B
4
.
3
0 0.2 0.4 χ 0.6 0.8 1
OTHER GUIDANCE ALLOWED IN THE
NATIONAL ANNEX
• Decisions on the application of informative annexes
• Reference to non-contradictory complementary
information to assist the user to apply the Eurocodes
MANAGEMENT DECISIONS REGARDING
IMPLEMENTATION
The Eurocodes will :
• Open European Markets
• Open World Markets
• Encourage Innovative Design
MANAGEMENT DECISIONS REGARDING
IMPLEMENTATION
Business Decisions
The single, most important decision an
organisation has to make is:
WHEN TO IMPLEMENT THE EUROCODES
MANAGEMENT DECISIONS REGARDING
IMPLEMENTATION
Business Decisions require consideration of:
• Timing
• Office Procedures
• IT Implications
• Competition
MANAGEMENT DECISIONS REGARDING
IMPLEMENTATION
Business Decisions - Timing
• When will the Eurocodes with their National
annexes be available?
• What is the timetable for implementation?
• When will National codes be withdrawn?
• When will Government/EC require the use of
Eurocodes?
MANAGEMENT DECISIONS REGARDING
IMPLEMENTATION
Business Decisions - Timing
• If you want to jump
The earliest date of use for buildings will be 2006
• If you want to be pushed
The latest date will be 2009/2010
MANAGEMENT DECISIONS REGARDING
IMPLEMENTATION
Business Decisions - Office Procedures
• What are the technical differences?
• What QA issues are there?
• What training is required?
MANAGEMENT DECISIONS REGARDING
IMPLEMENTATION
Business Decisions - Office Procedures
Training
• Good training will be required
• All levels of staff will need training
MANAGEMENT DECISIONS REGARDING
IMPLEMENTATION
Business Decisions - IT Implications
In a large consultancy
• 75 – 90% Structural steel is designed using
computers
• 25% Concrete design uses computers
• Large amount of element design is done on
computers
Availability of quality software will be a key issue
MANAGEMENT DECISIONS REGARDING
IMPLEMENTATION
Business Decisions - Competition
• Client reaction?
• Overseas opportunities?
• European competition?
Where there is an opportunity there is a threat
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS ON USE OF
EUROCODES FOR EU MEMBER STATES
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS ON USE OF
EUROCODES FOR EU MEMBER STATES
• To adopt Eurocode for designing construction works
• To select NDPs for their territory, and urged to use
recommended values
• To compare NDPs, assess the impact on any technical
differences and reduce divergence
• To refer to Eurocodes in their provisions on structural
construction products
• To undertake, in collaboration, appropriate research
relating to Eurocodes ensuring an ongoing increased level
of protection
• Urged to promote instructions on use of Eurocodes
POTENTIAL BENEFITS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION
INDUSTRY WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
EUROCODES
• A common understanding regarding the design of
construction works between owners, operators and users,
designers, contractors and manufacturers of construction
products;
• A common design criteria and methods to fulfil the
specified requirements for mechanical resistance, stability
and resistance to fire, including aspects of durability and
economy;
• Opportunities for marketing and use of structural
components and kits in concrete in Member States;
POTENTIAL BENEFITS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION
INDUSTRY WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
EUROCODES (Cont.)
• Opportunities for marketing and use of construction
materials and products, the properties of which enter into
design calculations, in Member States;
• A common basis for research and development in
concrete in Europe;
• To allow the preparation of common design aids and
software;
• Benefit the European concrete industry including civil
engineering firms, contractors, designers and product
manufacturers in their worldwide activities, and increasing
their competitiveness.
EUROCODES EXPERT
www.eurocodes.co.uk
• Eurocodes Expert is an Institution of Civil
Engineers (ICE) & Thomas Telford initiative
designed to help clients, designers, contractors
and suppliers understand and use the new codes.
EUROCODES EXPERT
www.eurocodes.co.uk
Objectives
• To develop usage of Eurocodes across the UK
construction industry
• To become recognised as the focal point for information
on Eurocodes
• To disseminate information on Eurocodes as widely as
possible
• To develop a range of products and services to support
Eurocodes
EUROCODES EXPERT
www.eurocodes.co.uk
Current initiatives
• A successful website
• Publication of Eurocodes Designers’ Guide series
• Eurocodes Newsletter
• Training courses
• Users Group free subscription
• Roadshows
• Liaison with BSI, ODPM and IStructE
• Set up Eurocodes Advisory Group
EUROCODES EXPERT
www.eurocodes.co.uk
Eurocodes Designers’ Guides
EN1990
EN1993- 1.1
EN1997-1
EN1994-1-1
EUROCODES EXPERT
www.eurocodes.co.uk
EUROCODES EXPERT
www.eurocodes.co.uk
The Eurocodes
have arrived.
31 parts have been
voted positively
All 58 parts should
have positive votes
by end of 2006
The design of construction works with Eurocodes will be
possible, in many cases, by end of 2005 : their usability
has been checked, the design loads cover correctly actual
physical loads and their rules are modern and reliable.
Thank you for your attention
