July 2014

RC-Spreadsheets: v4B
Spreadsheets for concrete design to
BS EN 1992-1-1 2004 (and its UK National Annex 2005 incl AMD 1) and to
BS 8110: 1997 (Amd 4)

Folder contents:
Spreadsheets to BS EN 1992-1-1 (and UK NA) Spreadsheets to BS 8110
Elements TCC11 Element Design RCC11 Element Design
TCC12 Bending and Axial Force RCC12 Bending and Axial Force
TCC13 Punching Shear RCC13 Punching Shear
TCC14 Crack Width RCC14 Crack Width
TCC15 Axially loaded walls/slabs;
Analysis TCC21 Subframe analysis RCC21 Subframe Analysis
TCC22 FE Assistant
Slabs TCC31 One-way Solid Slabs (A & D) RCC31 One-way Solid Slabs (A & D)
TCC31R Rigorous* One-way Solid Slabs RCC31R Rigorous* One-way Solid Slabs
TCC32 Ribbed slabs (A & D) RCC32 Ribbed Slabs (A & D)
RCC32R Rigorous* Ribbed Slabs
TCC33 Flat Slabs (A & D) (single bay) RCC33 Flat Slabs (A & D)
TCC33X Flat Slabs. Xls (whole floor)
Beams TCC41 Continuous beams (A & D) RCC41 Continuous Beams (A & D)
TCC41R Rigorous* Continuous Beams RCC41R Rigorous* Continuous Beams
TCC42 Post-tensioned Slabs & Beams (A & D) RCC42 Post-tensioned Slabs & Beams (A & D)
TCC43 Wide Beams (A & D) RCC43 Wide Beams (A & D)
Columns TCC51 Column Load Take-down & Design RCC51 Column Load Take-down & Design
TCC52 Column Chart generation RCC52 Column Chart generation
TCC53 Column Design RCC53 Column Design
TCC54 Circular Column Design RCC54 Circular Column Design
TCC55 Axial Column Shortening
TCC55X Axial Column Shortening: 24 storeys
Walls
TCC61 Basement Wall RCC61 Basement Wall
TCC62 Retaining Wall RCC62 Retaining Wall
TCC63 Core Wall Design RCC71 Stair Flight & Landing - Single
Stairs TCC71 Stair Flight & Landing - Single RCC72 Stairs & Landings - Multiple
RCC81 Foundation Pads
Foundations TCC81 Foundation Pads RCC82 Pilecap Design
TCC82 Pilecap Design RCC91 One-way Solid Slabs (Tables)
Tabular RCC92 Ribbed Slabs (Tables)
versions RCC93 Flat Slabs (Tables)
TCC94 Two Way Slabs RCC94 Two-way Slabs (Tables)
TCC101 Detailing data RCC95 Continuous Beams (Tables)

Folders
ADMIN Folder containing Readme.doc, User Guide v4.pdf, User Guide v3.pdf, current issue sheet,
and The Fonts folder
By Others BarSchedule template for reinforcement schedules

THE SPREADSHEETS

The RC-spreadsheets v4 are intended to help with the rapid production of clear and accurate design calculations for
reinforced concrete elements. These Excel spreadsheets are intended as aids for design to both Eurocode 2 and
BS 8110-1:1997.

Version 4B provides an update to Version 4a files as detailed in Spreadsheet issue Sheet 1-Jul-2014.xls within the
ADMIN folder. In the main, the revisions correct bugs pointed out by users and reflect developments and improvements
particularly with respect to punching shear and column design: details may be found in the issue sheet. The TCC series
of spreadsheets are now saved as the more efficient.xlsm files (Office 2010), i.e. macro enabled workbooks rather than
.xls files.

Readme v4B.docx Page 1 of 4

Macros in .xlsm files can help you complete repetitive tasks but may lead to warnings within Excel. For earlier versions
of Excel, a patch is available via Excel Help to enable the .xlsm format to be read. However Excel may not execute the
macros correctly unless you save the file in .xlsm format. Menu.xls has been withdrawn as it did not perform well within
Excel 2010. Two new spreadsheets, TCC61 Basement Wall and TCC101 Detailing data have been added as beta
versions (version 4.x of these spreadsheets will be issued following user feedback).

Version 4a provided relatively minor updates to Version 4 files as detailed in Spreadsheet Issue Sheet 1-July-
2014.xlsx for the 27-May 2011 issue.

Version 4 saw the release of updates to the Eurocode 2 spreadsheets in line with amendment AMD 1 of the UK National
Annex which was published in December 2009. It also formally introduced TCC15 Axially loaded walls/slabs; TCC55X
Axial Column Shortening: 24 storeys; TCC62 Retaining Wall; TCC63 Core Wall Design and TCC94 Two Way Slabs.
Whilst BS 8110 was withdrawn by BSI early in 2010, it was recognised that some projects and indeed some practitioners
may wish to continue using this standard in the short to medium term. Thus the RCC series of spreadsheets was updated
and reissued. They are suitable for design calculations to BS 8110 (up to and including Amendment 4).

Eurocode 2 (BS EN 1992-1-1: 2004) was published in December 2004. The publication of its National Annex in
December 2005 gave those Nationally Determined Parameters (NPD) to be used in BS EN 1992-1-1 in the UK. These
standards together with the BSI document PD6687 allowed the suite of spreadsheets to Eurocode 2 to be finalised. Along
with updates to the BS 8110 spreadsheets as a result of AMD 3 these were issued for general use as Version 3.

Popularity
Since their first release in January 2000, the RC-spreadsheets have proved to be enormously popular. They are written
for engineers by engineers. The original spreadsheets have been maintained and may now be regarded as thoroughly
tested by engineers in practice. The spreadsheets usefulness and robustness have been enhanced by users reporting
problems or suggesting improvements. License holders are periodically informed of available intermediate updates. Any
comments or suggestions on the spreadsheets should be emailed to The Concrete Centre helpline@concretecentre.com.

The original Spreadsheets were produced under a DETR PiT research project by the Reinforced Concrete Council (RCC).
The RCC was subsumed into The Concrete Centre (TCC). The Concrete Centre is now part of the Mineral Products
Association (MPA).

Limitations
Spreadsheets can be a very powerful tool. They can save time, money and effort. They provide the facility to optimise
designs and they can help instil experience. However, these benefits have to be weighed against the risks associated with
any endeavour. Appropriate levels of supervision and checking, including self-checking, must, as always, be exercised
when using these spreadsheets.

The spreadsheets should be used in compliance with the accompanying publication User Guide to RC Spreadsheets:
Addendum for v4, which itself should be considered as an addendum to User Guide to RC Spreadsheets: v3. Please note
amendments to the User Guides noted below.

Licences
The RC Spreadsheets are made available as shareware from The Concrete Centre see www.concretecentre.com/rcdesign

However, the spreadsheets may not be used for commercial purposes until the user has purchased and validated
a licence.

Licences are issued on receipt of an order and payment. In the UK, orders can be made on The Concrete Centre website
links to purchase online or to download an order form are on www.concretecentre.com/rcdesign.
International orders can be made through The Concrete Bookshop visit www.concretebookshop.com.
To request a reissue of a license please email helpline@concretecentre.com, or call 0207 963 8000.

Further information, updates, FAQs, free trial download versions of some spreadsheets, latest news and other information
on the RC-Spreadsheet suite is available on www.concretecentre.com/rcdesign.

Using the spreadsheets for the first time

The spreadsheets are Excel files, part of MS Office and may be copied to your preferred folder and accessed in the normal
way through Windows Explorer or My Computer.

Basic Instructions
Blue underlined cells are for data entry. 0.00
Red highlighted cells indicate entry errors 0.00 or 0.00

Do not paste or drag data (destroys conditional cell formatting).

Do not open an individual spreadsheet in more than one window (this may disable pull-down menus).

Readme v4B.docx Page 2 of 4

Help is available
Within Excel under Help.
To the right hand side of the spreadsheets, cells under 'Operating Instructions' contain help and error messages.
From the User Guide. Files are included within the ADMIN folder within the RC Spreadsheets v4 folder. User
Guide to RC Spreadsheets: Addendum for v4, should be considered as an addendum to User Guide to RC
Spreadsheets: v3. A copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader will be required to read this file.
Visit www.concretecentre.com/rcdesign for FAQs or to submit your query online.
Contact The Concrete Centres helpline by email helpline@concretecentre.com.
Most errors can be fixed by restoring the base version of the spreadsheet.

User Guides
The users attention is drawn to guidance in the accompanying User Guides. Information about each spreadsheet may be
found in either User Guide to RC Spreadsheets:v3 and/or User Guide to RC Spreadsheets:v4 (Addendum to v3), which
are included in the ADMIN folder accompanying the spreadsheets. The contents of both guides is given on pp 2 and 3 of
v4 and reproduced below. Additional files within the ADMIN folder give details of more recent additions to the suite of
spreadsheets.

Contents of User Guides to RC Spreadsheets:v3 and v4

Updates to User Guides v3 and v4

Guidance on TCC13 Slab punching should be amended to include:
Calculation of factorsFor both edge and corner columns, (or part of it) is defined as U1/U1*, where U1* has a
fixed value which is independent of any edge projections. If one takes U1 as defined in figure 6.15 of EC2,
increases as the edge projection increases with the result that vEd remains constant. This is not reasonable.
Therefore, for the purpose of calculating only, TCC13 employs a value of U1 (which has been called U) that
does not include any projection outboard of the column. With this interpretation, vEd reduces as any edge
projection increases.

Guidance for TCC81 in User Guide v3 has been superseded by the file TCC 81 Foundation Pads.pdf (in ADMIN
folder) to reflect that the latest version employs the recommendations of Eurocode 7 and its National Annex. For
example, ground bearing pressure distribution at ULS is rectangular rather than trapezoidal, and instead of
entering a permissible bearing pressure, values for the shear resistance angle, k and effective cohesion, c'k are
required as input.

Guidance for the new spreadsheets, TCC61 and TCC101 are given in the files TCC61 Basement Wall.pdf and
TCC101 Detailing in the ADMIN folder.
Readme v4B.docx Page 3 of 4
FAQ: Macros
When loading the individual spreadsheets, a Security Warning in Excel may warn about the presence of macros. All the
macros provided in the files are either to allow automated calculation routines, automated printing of the calculations or to
provide choices by way of combi-boxes. The printing macros have been assigned to buttons. Turning the macros off will
affect the function of some spreadsheets. Turning the macros off will also make printing of the sheets as configured difficult
and make the choice of options much more difficult.

If macros are not enabled on your system, within Excel click Tools/ Macro/Security and set your security level to Medium.
Reboot.

FAQ: Fonts
For correct appearance (especially of embedded graphics) ensure that the Marker and two Tekton fonts are installed.
Your fonts may be checked by selecting Start (or Settings)/ Control Panel/Fonts, and viewing the font list.

Managing the spreadsheets

Users and managers should be aware that spreadsheets can be changed and must address change control and versions
for use under a QA procedure.
Appropriate levels of supervision and checking, including self-checking, must, as always, be exercised when using
these spreadsheets.
Spreadsheets demand an initial investment in time and effort - but the rewards are there for those who take
advantage.
Good design requires sound judgement based on competence derived from adequate training and experience - not
just computer programs.

Updates
Updates to v4B will be made available to licensed users via www.concretecentre.com/rcdesign.
If changes are significant registrants will be notified by email.

rmw 1/7/2014
chg 2/7/2014

Published by MPA The Concrete Centre

Gillingham House,
38-44 Gillingham Street,
London SW1V 1HU
T 0207 963 8000

Published July 2014

MPA The Concrete Centre
www.concretecentre.com

All advice or information from MPA The Concrete Centre is intended for those who will evaluate the significance and limitations of its contents and
take responsibility for its use and application. No liability (including that for negligence) for any loss resulting from such advice or information is
Readme
acceptedv4B.docx
by MPA The Concrete Centre or its subcontractors, suppliers or advisors. Users should note that all MPA The Concrete Centre Page 4 of 4
software
and publications are subject to revision from time to time and they should therefore ensure that they are in possession of the latest version.