Decoding the Eurocodes

TC250 Coordination Group meeting in Dresden - Day 2

I will modify this post throughout the day, based on the proceedings of the meeting.

[09.30] Meeting re-opened. Discussion has centred on the best way to respond to the European Commission's Mandate regarding future development of the Eurocodes. We are attempting to agree what information should be included in the core response to the Commission, and what should be left in the individual project proposals.

[11.00] We now have a plan - a small team will prepare the core response to the Mandate and individual sub-committees will then update their proposals to align with the core response. This work needs to be completed before the next TC 250 meeting.

 [11.45] We have now moved on to reports from Sub-Committee Chairmen. First up, Eurocode 7, detailing the forthcoming SC7 meeting in Cambridge, the BGA Symposium also in Cambridge, and the ISGSR Symposium in Munich. Also mentioned were the planned formation of Task Groups to take the work of SC7 forward.

[12.30] The was a workshop on seiemic design of buildings held in Lisbon in February. The proceedings include papers relevant to geotechnical engineering.

That's all folks! I have a plane to catch and so have to leave the meeting before its close.

Practical rules of construction: the 'PraxisRegelnBau' initiative

Several interest groups in the German construction sector have come together in an initiative to 'simplify' the Eurocodes, called the 'PraxisRegelnBau' ('Practice rules of construction') initiative. The newly founded association wants more practical codes.

The following information comes from an article about the association that has appeared in the German online press.

"We want [this initiative] to be an engine for preparing practical regulations in the building profession. Our goal is to ensure that standards help and do not hinder," remarked Professor Manfred Nußbaumer, Chairman of the German Concrete and Construction Association. Nussbaumer, who was elected chairman of the association, sees the main work of the association in the coming years to concern the Eurocodes, i.e. the design rules developed in Europe for structures. The founding members of the association admit they did not engage in the process of code development in the past.
               
Deputy chairman of the association, Dr.-Ing. Hans-Peter Andrä, said: "Black-box regulations ... are a risk - not only for security but also economically and socially! This we will correct as soon as possible."
               
Dr.-Ing. Volker Cornelius, vice chairman of the association, said: "This initiative aims ... to improve the Eurocodes and make them practicable."
               
Professor Nußbaumer further said: "The current generation of Eurocodes is a good first step ... and is absolutely commendable. However, there is a second step, [to improve and] to simplify.  Only if this second step is done, will the Eurocodes be a success. ... The PraxisRegelnBau initiative is to participate actively in this important task."
               
Members of this initiative include the following German associations and confederations:

• Association of Consulting Engineers Association (VBI)
• Confederation of test engineers for Building Technology Association (BVPI)
• Federal Chamber of Engineers Association (BIngK)
• Confederation of German Construction Industry
• Central Association of German Construction Industry (ZDB)
• Committee for Reinforced Concrete Association (DAfStb)
• Concrete and Construction Industry Association (DBV)
• Society for Geotechnical Engineering Association (DGGT)
• Society for masonry and Housing Association (DGfM)
• Steel Construction Association (DSTV)

 

PraxisRegelnBau Initiative: Standards are to assist

TC250 Coordination Group meeting in Dresden - Day 1

I will modify this post throughout the day, based on the proceedings of the meeting.

[Thursday 10th March, 2011, 08.50]  I am sitting in a room at the Technical University of Dresden, waiting for the Coordination Group meeting to start. I spent a very pleasant afternoon yesterday looking around Dresden, which is a wonderful place to visit - so many beautiful buildings (many re-constructed after the Second World War, alas).

[09.50] Jean-Armand Calgaro (Chairman of TC250) has just reported significant interest from Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus in adopting the Eurocodes! These countries have translated the codes into Russian for use in their countries, alongside their national standards.

[11.00] The Construction Products Regulation (CPR) passed its second reading in the European Parliament on 18th January 2011. Article 3 covers basis requirements for constructions works and essential characteristics of construction products. See also Annex 1 – construction works ‘as a whole and in their separate parts must be fit for their intended use…’ The text of the CPR may be downloaded from the Commission’s website.

[12.00] We are discussing the procedure or dealing with engineers' and clients' questions regarding the interpretation of the Eurocodes. The currently published procedure envisages comments being submitted to National Standards Bodies (NSBs) in the first instance; and filtered comments are then passed to the relevant Sub-Committee (SC) of TC 250 for answering.

[13.45] Back from lunch. I have just outlined SC7's plans for an amendment to Section 8 of Eurocode 7 (on anchors), which is in preparation. This depends on liaisons with the committees responsible for the execution and testing standards. SC7 aims to get this Amendment out for formal vote by middle of 2011, with a view to publication by end of 2011.

[14.30] Presentation of German proposal to simplify the Eurocodes. ENVs have been used in Germany for the past 15 years for steel, composite, timber, and - partially for - concrete construction, alongside national standards. The German Laender committees decide which DIN and CEN standards (with or without annexes) will be in the ‘Model List of Technical Construction Regulations’. Based on this Model List and subsequent public consultation, they prepare ‘Lists of Technical Building Regulations’. Most Eurocodes may be use d in Germany from January 2011 (includes Eurocode 7 Part 1 but not Part 2).

[15.00] Further discussion, with many people asking what is meant by'simplification'. Concerns have been raised about the complexity and volume of the Eurocodes. Denmark has taken some of the Eurocodes and re-printed selected clauses in a single document. BSI has done something similar with PP 1990. Research with users of Eurocode 7 has shown that more guidance is wanted, not less (but may be a special case, since it currently lacks detailed rules). Has anyone else actually surveyed end-users? There are a range of codes, running from ‘Principles-focussed standards’ to ‘Simple rule-book standards’. Initially, users prefer rule-book to principle-based standards, because they are easy to use. However, on further use they become frustrated with the limited scope of the rule-based standards.

[16.30] Meeting closed for the day.

Less than three weeks to go to BGA Symposium

The BGA Symposium 'Eurocode 7 - Today and Tomorrow' is now less than three weeks away. Confirmed speakers from the UK include:

• Prof. Malcolm Bolton (Cambridge University)
• Prof. Chris Clayton (Southampton University)
• Dr Brian Simpson (Arup Geotechnics)
• Tony O'Brien (Mott MacDonald)
• David Norbury (independent consultant)
• Andrew Smith (Coffey Geotechnics)
• David Beadman (Byrne Looby)
• and myself (Dr Andrew Bond, Geocentrix)

We now have 100 delegates confirmed as attending - so why not join them? Cost is just £80 + VAT. Full details and a booking form are available at the Today and Tomorrow webpage.

The structural Eurocodes: imposition or opportunity?

CIRIA is organising a half-day seminar entitled 'The structural Eurocodes: imposition or opportunity?' for 23rd March 2011. Cost is £50 to attend. Synopsis:

Structural Eurocodes are the design codes which British Standards will help to maintain and update. There are many of them for the different structural materials, each with a National Application Document (NAD) for each country in Europe. For each material code there is also a BSI Published Document (PD) which is basically a Residual Standard: There are also various guidance manuals and supplementary industry information and Eurocode design software.

When should designers make the transition to Eurocodes? Is all the material in place? How can it be accessed? Is the software ready? The afternoon will address these issues. The speakers who will be addressing the what, where, when, why and how of Structural Eurocodes, are:

• John Morton, BMADE Ltd
• Peter Watt, DCLG
• Keith Evans, CADS (Computer and Design Software Ltd)
• Keith Wilson, NBS

Further details about this seminar can be obtained from CIRIA.