Eurocodes

This article is about the series as a whole. For the primary document forming the basis for all other Eurocodes, see Eurocode: Basis of structural design.
0: Structural safety, service-
ability and durability
1: Actions on structures
Material-specific design and detailing:
2: Concrete3: Steel
4: Composite5: Timber
6: Masonry9: Aluminium
7: Geotechnics8: Earthquake
Eurocodes (EN 199-)
  Eurocodes used by CEN members (EU and EFTA members)
  Eurocodes used by CEN members (EU and EFTA non-members)
  Eurocodes used by EU non-members or states in process of adoption
  States interested in Eurocodes adoption
Logo of the eurocodes

The Eurocodes are the ten European standards (EN; harmonised technical rules) specifying how structural design should be conducted within the European Union (EU). These were developed by the European Committee for Standardization upon the request of the European Commission.[1]

The purpose of the Eurocodes is to provide:[1]

  • a means to prove compliance with the requirements for mechanical strength and stability and safety in case of fire established by European Union law.[2]
  • a basis for construction and engineering contract specifications.
  • a framework for creating harmonized technical specifications for building products (CE mark).

By March 2010, the Eurocodes are mandatory for the specification of European public works and are intended to become the de facto standard for the private sector. The Eurocodes therefore replace the existing national building codes published by national standard bodies (e.g. BS 5950), although many countries had a period of co-existence.[3] Additionally, each country is expected to issue a National Annex to the Eurocodes which will need referencing for a particular country (e.g. The UK National Annex). At present, take-up of Eurocodes is slow on private sector projects and existing national codes are still widely used by engineers.

The motto of the Eurocodes is "Building the future".[4] The second generation of the Eurocodes (2G Eurocodes) is being prepared.[5][6]

  1. ^ a b EN 1990:2002 E, Eurocode - Basis of Structural Design, CEN, November 29, 2001
  2. ^ European Council Directive 89/106/EEC
  3. ^ "Eurocodes: ready in 2008 - but are you?". New Civil Engineer. 2007-11-01. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  4. ^ "Eurocodes Homepage | Eurocodes". eurocodes.jrc.ec.europa.eu.
  5. ^ "Eurocodes: Building the future - the European Commission website on the Eurocodes 63".
  6. ^ "Insight | What could Brexit mean for Eurocodes?". New Civil Engineer. 2018-10-23. Retrieved 2023-02-11.