Understanding Eurocode: The Gold Standard for Modern Construction

The Structural Eurocodes are European standards for the design and dimensioning of building and civil engineering structures, taking into account assumptions made about materials, implementation and control. They concern structures in concrete, steel, steel/concrete, wood, masonry and aluminium. They are not harmonised standards, but voluntary standards. There are 60 Eurocodes, grouped into 10 families.

Wikipedia of Eurocodes

The lack of harmonisation at European level appears to be an obstacle to the free access of construction companies or design offices to the markets of other Member States. The European Union has entrusted the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) with the drafting of the Eurocodes, so that they can be published as standards. The European Committee for Standardisation (CEN), in agreement with the European Union, decided to give the Eurocodes the status of a European pre-standard (ENV). This corresponds to the status of an experimental standard. These standards are valid for three years, with a possible extension of two years. This period allows the Eurocodes to be tested on construction projects. During this ENV period, the coexistence of national standards or rules with the Eurocodes is effective.

Pre-standards

Subsequently, these pre-standards, improved thanks to this phase of experimentation and exchange, will be transformed into national standards which would be in contradiction with the various Eurocodes will be cancelled in the countries of the European Union. In France, the Eurocodes are published as an experimental standard and are accompanied by a national application document (DAN). The DAN specifies which national standards it refers to but also makes changes to the European pre-standard.

Different Eurocodes.

Eurocodes 1: ENNV 1991 Design bases and actions on structures.
Eurocodes 2: ENV 1992 Design of concrete structures.
Eurocodes 3: ENV 1993 Design of steel structures.
Eurocodes 4: ENV 1994 Design and Sizing of Mixed Steel/Concrete Structures.
Eurocodes 5: ENV 1995 Design of Timber Structures.
Eurocodes 6 : ENV 1996 Design of masonry structures.
Eurocodes 7 : ENV 1997 Geotechnical design.
Eurocodes 8 : ENV 1998 Earthquake resistance of structures.
Eurocodes 9 : ENV 1999 Design of aluminium alloy structures.

ISO 19011

Eurocode 1 (EC1) defines the basis of calculation and actions on structures. Eurocode 3 (EC 3) defines the calculation of steel structures. If necessary, consult Eurocode 2 which defines the calculation of concrete structures (for the calculation of column feet) and Eurocode 8 which defines the resistance of structures to earthquakes.

Composition of Eurocode 1 ENV 1

Part 1. Basis of calculation
Part 2.
2.1 - Densities, dead weights, working loads.
2.2 - Actions on structures exposed to fire.
2.3 - Snow loads.
2.4 - Wind action.
2.5 - Thermal actions.
2.6 - Actions during execution.
2.7 - Accidental actions due to shocks and explosions.
Part 3. Loads on bridges due to traffic.
Part 4. Actions in silos and tanks.
Part 5. Actions induced by cranes, overhead cranes and machinery.