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.