eurocodesnews

EUROCODES NEWS APRIL 2008

issue 6

Newsletter of Eurocodes Expert, the construction industry’s forum for users of the new structural Eurocodes

Editorial
by Haig Gulvanessian

Welcome to the latest issue of Eurocodes News.
In this issue you will find reports of the
Eurocodes seminar held in Brussels in February.
The most popular session, with by far the largest
audience (over 300 delegates) was for on EN 1990:
Basis of structural design.
The interest shown in this key head Eurocode
shows the appreciation of European engineers of
its importance. But why is EN 1990 so vital?
Material-independent information
EN 1990’s principal objective is that it sets out
for every other Eurocode part the principles and
requirements for achieving
n safety
n serviceability
n durability
of structures.
Unlike existing British codes of practice – such
as BS 8110 for concrete, BS 5950 for steel, BS 5628
for masonry and BS 5268 for timber – the material
Eurocodes for concrete, steel, composite steel
and concrete, timber, masonry and aluminium
structures only include clauses for design and
detailing specific to that material. All material-
independent information for design has to come
from EN 1990.
Thus, for the design of buildings and civil
engineering works, all other 57 Eurocode parts
– from EN 1991-1-1 to EN 1999-1-5 – have to be
used together with EN 1990.
Essential to CE marking
Furthermore, construction products requiring
CE marking – such as pre-cast concrete products
and metal and timber frames for housing – all need
to use the principles and rules in EN 1990 together
with the appropriate Eurocodes, thus ensuring a
level playing field.
To achieve safety, serviceability and durability for
structures, EN 1990’s requirements on
n fundamental requirements (safety,
serviceability, resistance to fire and
robustness)
n reliability differentiation
n design working life
Economy through innovation
As well as being the key Eurocode in setting
recommended safety levels, EN 1990 also
encourages economy through a variety of
innovative initiatives. These include
n reliability differentiation based on
consequences of failure
n representative values of actions, not just
characteristic values
n alternative load-combination formats
n advanced analytical techniques
n probabilistic methods.
In conclusion, EN 1990 is a fully operative code.
It is certainly not a code that should be read once
and then placed on the book shelf. It is the key
Eurocode that sets the requirements for design,
material, product and execution standards.
EN 1990 needs to be fully understood as it is key
to designing structures that have an acceptable
level of safety and economy. It also provides
opportunities for innovation.
The audience at the Brussels seminar appreci-
ated the importance of the code – it is vital EN 1990
is also appreciated by the profession in the UK.

in this issue
n durability
n quality assurance and quality control
have to be adhered to by the complete Eurocode
suite and all EU construction product standards.
Professor Gulvanessian is former construction
division director of BRE, visiting professor at
Imperial College and chairman of the EN 1990 and
EN 1991 drafting committees. He is also chairman
of the Eurocodes Expert advisory group. H

Editorial 1

Eurocodes news
• Eurocodes lead to cheaper bridges 2
• News from BSI British Standards 2
• News from JRC 3
• Over 300 attend first European Eurocodes workshop 3

Content partner updates

• Institution of Structural Engineers 4
• Institution of Civil Engineers 4
• Association for Structural Engineers of London
Boroughs 4
• International Masonry Society and Brick
Development Association 5
• The Concrete Centre 5
• The Steel Construction Institute 6
• Timber Research and Development Association 6

Eurocodes Expert news

• Eurocodes events 7
• Eurocodes publications update 7
• Eurocodes software 7

www.eurocodes.co.uk APRIL 2008 ISSUE 6 eurocodesnews 1

EUROCODES NEWS
EUROCODES LEAD TO
CHEAPER BRIDGES
By Simon Fullalove, Editor
Pilot studies carried for the UK Highways Agency
confirm that the new structural Eurocodes produce
more economic designs for bridges. The findings
were published in the latest issue (161 BE1) of the
Institution of Civil Engineers’ Bridge Engineering
journal.1
According to Chris Hendy, head of bridge
design and technology at Atkins, ‘Trial calculations
conducted on existing concrete and steel-concrete
composite bridges, carried out for the Highways
Agency and other clients, have indicated that the
Eurocodes give a small increase in economy in the
design, on average, when the basic application
rules are used.’
He said that for steel designs, there was more
economy to be obtained from using Eurocodes for
stiffened structures, reflecting a greater confidence
in the behaviour of such structures as a result of
recent testing and non-linear parametric studies.
For concrete designs, Hendy reported there was
a systematic saving in flexural reinforcement
and shear reinforcement for reinforced concrete
structures, though there was generally little
difference for prestressed structures.
More analysis leads to more savings
‘Economy can, however, be improved further
when the more complex methods of analysis
permitted are employed,’ he said. ‘This is all part
News from BSI
British Standards
By Clare Price, BSI British Standards
BSI British Standards now expects to publish
UK versions of the final two Eurocode parts in
May 2008, just under two years from the planned
withdrawal of existing national design standards in
March 2010.
Parts 3-1 and 3-2 of Eurocode 3, covering steel
towers and masts and steel chimneys respectively,
were originally due for UK release in October 2007.
However, BSI is still seeking clarification from the
European Committee for Standardization (CEN) on
final changes made to the core EN documents.
By the end of March 2008, BSI had published 56
of the 58 Eurocode parts and 18 of Britain’s likely
total of 56 national annexes – the latest being
of the general conclusion that the Eurocodes give
greater scope for innovation and often reward
more complex analysis.’
Hendy said that another significant conclusion
from the pilot studies was that the engineers best
able to cope with the change to Eurocodes were
those who were taught with an emphasis on
structural theory, rather than on the use of specific
design codes. This may well influence where the
emphasis lies in teaching in the future.
He concluded that there are cultural and
technical differences in the Eurocodes that
designers will have to get used to and extensive
training and guidance documents will be needed
in the transition. ‘However, the pilot studies also
reveal that designers adapt quickly and there are
many similarities to current UK practice, he said.
‘Further motivation for the change should be that
the less prescriptive approach and more up-to-date
rules provide the designer with greater scope for
innovation and economy.’ H
Reference
1. Hendy, CR. Implications of the change to Eurocodes for
bridge design, Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers
– Bridge Engineering, 161, March 2008, Issue BE1, Pages 3–10
Piers for the High Speed One rail crossing of the River Medway
were designed using non-linear analysis codifed in EN 1992-2,
leading to a significant reduction in reinforcement
2 parts
19 parts
for Eurocode 2 part 2 on concrete bridges and
Eurocode 4 part 2 on composite bridges, both of
which were published on 31 December 2007.
BSI has decided no national annex is needed 37 parts
for Eurocode 8 part 3 on seismic retrofit and
CEN-recommended values are also likely to be
accepted for Eurocode 3 part 1-7 on steel plates in
bending. KEY Eurocodes status
A further 26 national annexes are due for Part(s) not (all) 0 – Basis
1 – Actions
publication in 2008, with the remaining 12 due out published
2 – Concrete
in the first half of 2009. Part(s) published, 3 – Steel
All BSI Eurocodes and national annexes can be (final) annex 4 – Composite
not published 5 – Timber
bought via the Eurocodes pages of the BSI website 6 – Masonry
Part(s) and
at www.bsi-global.com/eurocodes. H annex(es) published 7 – Geotechnical
or not needed 8 – Earthquake
9 – Aluminium
(Bracketed terms relate
to Eurocode status)
www.eurocodes.co.uk APRIL 2008 ISSUE 6 eurocodesnews 2
EUROCODES NEWS
News from JRC OVER 300
by Georgios Tsionis and Artur Pinto
Joint Research Centre of the European Commission
Eurocodes workshop
The first training event on the Eurocodes organised
at European level was held in Brussels on 18–20
February 2008. Entitled ‘Eurocodes: background
and applications’, it was jointly organised by the
Directorate-General Enterprise and Industry (DG
ENTR) and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the
European Commission (EC), and supported by the
European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and
member states.
More than 300 delegates attended from all
European Union (EU) member states and candidate
countries as well as from Montenegro, Norway,
Switzerland and South Africa. High-level decision
makers attending included Slovenian minister for
growth Žiga Turk and Bulgarian deputy minister of
regional development and public works Dimcho
Mihalevski.
The opening session at Charlemagne Conference
Centre on 18 February covered the major issues
and priorities related to implementation, use and
further development of the Eurocodes. The common
afternoon session was dedicated to EN 1990: Basis
of structural design. On 19 and 20 February, parallel
sessions – each dedicated to one Eurocode and to
structural fire design – were hosted at the Palace of
the Royal Academy of Science, Humanities and Fine
Arts of Belgium.
Over 60 lectures were delivered by members of
CEN technical committee 250 (CEN/TC250) and other
experts who were directly involved in developing
the new standards. These lectures constitute an
invaluable collection of high-level training material,
all of which can be downloaded from the Eurocodes
website at eurocodes.jrc.ec.europa.eu.
Eurocodes website
The EC Eurocodes website at eurocodes.jrc.
ec.europa.eu has been significantly upgraded. New
pages feature information on Eurocode use outside
the EU and European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
countries, as well as on information technology
tools developed by the JRC
n nationally determined parameters database
n background documents database
n centralised Eurocodes helpdesk.
Updated and detailed information on the progress
of national implementation – including publication
of national standards and national annexes – is also
provided.
Future activities
Future JRC activities will continue on the
maintenance of the information technology tools
and on support to training and international
promotion of Eurocodes.
Within a memorandum of understanding with
DG ENTR, JRC in cooperation with CEN/TC250 and
other stakeholders will undertake actions aiming to
define a concept for the evolution of Eurocodes to
additional fields of design and to develop a concept
for design standards to incorporate sustainability
and other emerging aspects.
For more information visit eurocodes.jrc.
ec.europa.eu, or contact the authors on +39 0332
789511 or email eurocodes@jrc.it. H
ATTEND
FIRST
EUROPEAN
EUROCODES
WORKSHOP
By Simon Fullalove, Editor
Over 300 delegates recently attended the
European Commission’s first Eurocodes
workshop, which was held in Brussels on 18–20
February 2008. The principal aim of the event
– at which the UK was well represented – was
to provide national trainers with appropriate
knowledge and expertise.
Entitled ‘Eurocodes: background and
applications’, the workshop was organised
with the support of the European Committee for
Standardization and European Union member
states. Its objective was to enhance the training
potential of member states by providing state-
of-the-art training material and background
information. It also facilitated networking
and cooperation between representatives of
institutions, industry and technical associations
involved in Eurocode training.
The first session on 18 February covered the
major issues and priorities related to national
implementation and use of Eurocodes, including
their further development and associated
challenges. Two members of the Eurocode Expert
advisory panel presented lectures – Professor
Steve Denton discussed opportunities for the
construction industry offered by Eurocodes and
Professor Haig Gulvanessian, who also chaired
part of the session, spoke on the issues and
challenges of implementing the codes in Britain.
Strong political support for Eurocodes
Senior politicians in Europe and personnel
from the European Commission made positive
statements during the first session, recognising
that the codes will boost business in the
construction sector by removing technical barriers
to trade for construction products and services.
They said Eurocodes will also improve quality
of products and services and will create new job
opportunities in the construction sector, which
currently covers 28% of industrial employment
in Europe. In addition Eurocodes are the
recommended means of giving a presumption of
conformity with the essential requirements of the
Construction Products Directive for construction
works and products that bear the CE marking,
as well as the preferred reference for technical
specifications in public contracts.
www.eurocodes.co.uk
Günter Verheugen, European commissioner
for enterprise and industry said, ‘The new
standardisation environment – European standards
for design and construction works – provides a
framework for a successful market uptake of high
quality products, services and innovation and
will thus strengthen the worldwide competitive
advantage of the European construction industry,
which is a leading source of employment’.
Janez Potočnik, European commissioner
for science and research added, ‘Enhanced
competition on a European level playing field will
enhance cost savings, quality improvement and
technological innovation. That is why the European
Commission has supported the Eurocodes from
the very beginning, including through active
research at its European Laboratory for Structural
Assessment in the Joint Research Centre’.
High profile for UK and Eurocodes Expert
The second session on 18 February, which was
chaired by Professor Gulvanessian, concentrated
on EN 1990: Basis of structural design. A total
of 330 delegates attended – more than for any
other session. Important background information
presented during the session included a paper
published in the UK Institution of Civil Engineers’
Proceedings.
On 19 and 20 February, the other Eurocodes
– covering actions, concrete, steel, composite
steel and concrete, timber, foundations, seismic
and aluminium – were comprehensively discussed
through a series of parallel sessions. The
presenters included UK personnel from Arup, BRE,
The Steel Construction Institute and Trinity College
Dublin.
Eurocodes Expert also had a stand at the
workshop, which included the complete series
of Eurocodes Expert designers’ guides. The
overwhelming opinion of delegates was that the
workshop was a major success, and that the
information provided would be a major aid to
implementation.
The European Commission said at the
conference that its next goal was to extend the
scope of the Eurocodes to sustainability aspects,
such as the protection of environment, resources,
energy saving, health protection and security. H
APRIL 2008 ISSUE 6 eurocodesnews 3
EUROCODE EXPERT CONTENT PARTNER UPDATES
Institution of
Structural Engineers
by Sue Doran, Director, Technical and Engineering, Institution of Structural Engineers
The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE)
published the Manual for the design of plain
masonry in building structures to Eurocode 6 in
February 2008. It is the latest in IStructE’s planned
suite of Eurocodes manuals, which follow a
similar format to its popular British Standards
manuals.
Written specifically for construction in the UK,
the new Eurocode 6 manual provides practical
guidance on the design of structures using load-
bearing masonry and masonry infill to structural
frames in accordance with BS EN 1996-1-1: 2005,
BS EN 1996-1-2: 2005 and BS EN 1996-2: 2006.
Nationally determined parameters from the UK
national annexes have been taken into account in
the design formulae.
According to Keith Eaton, IStructE chief
Institution of
Civil Engineers
by Amrit Ghose, Chairman, Institution of Civil Engineers Structures Panel
The Institution of Civil Engineers’ (ICE) structures
panel is producing a briefing note on the six
Eurocode assumptions for dissemination to ICE
members. The document is intended to help
practitioners understand Eurocodes and will
form a fundamental part of their implementation
strategy.  The panel and Eurocodes Expert are intending
The panel has also been working with BSI
British Standards to arrange workshops to consult
UK practitioners with the aim of providing tools
to ease the transition between current national
standards and the Eurocodes.
ICE continues to manage the joint ICE / Institution
ASSOCIATION FOR STRUCTURAL
ENGINEERS OF LONDON BOROUGHS
by Barry Ayres, Chairman, ASELB
Members of the Association for Structural
Engineers of London Boroughs (ASELB) – who
comprise chartered structural engineers working
for London’s 33 boroughs – have been getting to
grips with Eurocodes from the early 1990s, when
the first round of training courses were presented.
So what has changed?
The task of converting the ten Eurocodes into
the same technical langugage throughout Europe
(and beyond) has inevitably been immense, and
it has taken until this year to complete the 58
Eurocode documents. For buildings, Eurocodes
are soon to be listed in approved document A of
the UK Building Regulations, and the EU Public
executive, ‘This manual provides concise,
practical and straightforward guidance for
engineers using masonry in the design process
and will facilitate a more comfortable transition to
Eurocode 6 within the UK’.
Partly funded by Aircrete Products
Association, Brick Development Association and
Concrete Block Association, the manual costs
£70 (£45 for IStructE members) and is available
from the IStructE in London.
In addition to the Eurocode 2 (concrete)
manual published in 2006 and Eurocode 5 (timber)
manual published in 2007, IStructE is planning
further manuals on Eurocode 1 (actions) and
Eurocode 8 (seismic) later this year, on Eurocode
3 (steel) in 2009 and on Eurocode 7 (geotechnics)
in due course.
of Structural Engineers Eurocodes Expert website
and Users’ Group. Members of the ICE structures
panel are represented on the Eurocodes Expert
advisory group, which provides guidance on
implementation issues, web development and the
sourcing of information and advice.
to hold a number of Eurocodes implementation
seminars and conferences over the next year
on a wide range of subjects. Further details will
be announced in Eurocodes News and on the
Eurocodes Expert website in due course.  oriana.marcolongo@eurocodes.co.uk or visit
Finally, ICE subsidiary Thomas Telford Training
Procurement Directive is the preferred route to
implementation.
However, existing British Standards – such as
BS 8110, BS 5950, BS 5268, BS 5628 and even BS
449 – can continue to be used for structural design
in appropriate cases, depending on the scale
of the project. For example, for minor structural
alterations to a domestic house, where a steel
section is required, BS 5950 or BS 449 may be
appropriate. It is important to note though that BSI
will soon no longer support these standards, and
BS449 has not been supported for many years.
ASELB will be welcoming Kieran Dineen of
Thomas Telford Training to its spring seminar on 25
www.eurocodes.co.uk
For further information please call +44 20 7235
4535 or visit www.istructe.org/publications H
IStructE’s ‘Manual for the
design of plain masonry
in building structures to
Eurocode 6’ was published
in February 2008
is launching a new course on Eurocode design of
steel, concrete and composite bridges in autumn
2008. Developed by leading bridge engineers, the
course will deliver key guidance on Eurocodes,
associated national annexes and other non-
contradictory complementary information relevant
to bridge design, enabling delegates to understand
underlying Eurocode principles and practical
differences from BS 5400.
For further information please contact
Oriana Marcolongo on +44 20 7665 2427, email
www. eurocodes.co.uk H
April 2008 at the Institution of Structural Engineers
in London. Kieran will be giving local authority
engineers an overview of the training and other
essential support resources available through
Eurocode Expert.
For further information please contact
Barry Ayres on +44 20 8313 4529, email
barry.ayres@bromley.gov.uk or visit
www.aselb.com H
APRIL 2008 ISSUE 6 eurocodesnews 4
EUROCODE EXPERT CONTENT PARTNER UPDATES
INTERNATIONAL MASONRY SOCIETY AND
BRICK DEVELOMPENT ASSOCIATION
by Cliff Fudge, International Masonry Society, and Ali Arasteh, Brick Development Association
The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE)
published the Manual for the design of plain
masonry in building structures to Eurocode 6 in
February 2008. The manual – which was part-
funded by the Brick Development Association
(BDA), Concrete Block Association and Aircrete
Products Association – is in the style of the
previously published manual to BS 5628-1, making
it easier for existing users to make the transition to
Award-winning structural brickwork at the new School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University College London
The Concrete Centre
By Owen Brooker, The Concrete Centre
With the implementation of Eurocodes drawing
near, The Concrete Centre has noticed a
marked increased in demand for its in-house
presentations and courses. These courses have
been developed to assist with the transition from
British Standards to Eurocodes. They vary in
length and style and use a variety of presenters
to suit particular requirements.
Presenters include academics, members of the
technical committee which prepared Eurocode
2 and members of the technical team from The
Concrete Centre who have experience working
for consultants and are knowledgeable in the
application of Eurocode 2.
The increased uptake for in-house courses
shows that many practices are now getting
to grips with the implementation of the new
Eurocodes. We have designed a range of courses
to assist them train staff within the convenience
designing with Eurocode 6.
In addition, the International Masonry Society’s
(IMS) new guide to Eurocode 6 is in its final stages
of review and should be published later this year.
BDA continues to serve as a member of the
UK’s standing committee on implementation of
Eurocodes, representing the masonry sector.
The aim of the IStructE-facilitated committee
is to assess implementation strategies and
of their own office.
A half-day course provides a brief introduction
to Eurocode 2 for the structural engineer who
is already familiar with the design of concrete
buildings. It provides the main requirements of
the Eurocodes for the design of concrete beams,
slabs and columns through design procedures
and worked examples.
Two full-day courses are available. One
provides a comprehensive background to
Eurocode 2. It explains the main features and
changes contained in Eurocode 2 and the
accompanying national annex for UK-specific
conditions and covers the basis of design,
structural analysis, material properties, design
for beams with and without axial loads, shear
punching, shear torsion, anchorage and detailing.
The main approaches to structural fire design are
also explained.
www.eurocodes.co.uk
develop ways of making the transition from
national codes to Eurocodes smoother. BDA has
already presented lectures on design to BS 5628
and Eurocode 6 to undergraduates at Brighton
University and, through the committee network,
aims to extend the lectures to other universities.
Furthermore BDA has offered to talk to
practicing structural engineers at local IStructE
branches and has already done so in Canterbury.
The Eurocode 6 website www.eurocode6.org
continues to gain momentum and the number of
visits to the site is steadily increasing. Additional
design examples have been added to the site so
that there are now examples for vertical load,
concentrated load, lateral load and fire design.
 Interest in Eurocode 6 courses is building up
too – the last IStructE course on 11 March 2008
attracted around 20 participants. Further details of
up-coming courses and events can be found on
both the Eurocde 6 and Eurocodes Expert websites.
In the meantime, the IMS website at www.
masonry.org.uk has been improved and members
can now download published papers dealing with
various parts of the Eurocodes from the site.
 For more information please contact the
International Masonry Society on +44 20 8660
3633, email secretary@masonry.org.uk or visit
www.masonry.org.uk; or the Brick Develoment
Association on +44 1344 885651, email
brick@brick.org.uk or visit www.brick.org.uk H
The other full-day course is on Eurocode 2
with design workshops. In addition to examining
the main changes and features contained in the
new code, the course provides an opportunity
to design simple structural elements via worked
examples and workshops. Ideally course
delegates should have experience of current
design to current codes of practice.
A full two-day course is also available. This
comprehensive workshop covers all sections
of the new code and explores its practical
application, with worked examples and hands-on
workshop design and detailing of most structural
elements using the UK’s nationally determined
parameters.
For further information please contact The
Concrete Centre on +44 1276 606 800, email
enquiries@concretecentre.com or visit
www.concretecentre.com H
APRIL 2008 ISSUE 6 eurocodesnews 5
EUROCODE EXPERT CONTENT PARTNER UPDATES

The Steel Construction Institute

by John Moran, The Steel Construction Institute

Identifying user needs for BSI
BSI British Standards contracted The Steel
Construction Institute (SCI) in February 2008 to help
determine what UK designers need in making the
transition to Eurocodes.
A number of workshops have been organised
for practicing designers to provide a better
understanding of how standards are used, what
differences Eurocodes are likely to make and,
importantly, what tools BSI should provide to help
with the transition.
More information on this project is available at
www.steel-sci.org/News/SCI+working+with+BSI.htm.
Those wishing to take part should contact John
Moran at SCI (j.moran@steel-sci.com) or Clare
Price at BSI (clare.price@bsigroup.com).
engineering qualifications and training materials
across Europe.
Partnered by the Institution of Structural
Engineers, SCI is working on the project with the
Czech Technical University and the Romanian-
based Britt Engineering and Association of
Engineers. The objective is to deliver 12 e-training
modules by autumn 2009.
SCI and its partners are reviewing existing online
delivery tools, identifying end-user needs and
selecting Eurocode topics and multi-media tools to
include in the online training material. In addition to
addressing key Eurocode skills needs, the training
will complement traditional SCI courses and be
designed to encompass continuing professional
development requirements.
n an introduction to the steel Eurocodes
n concise guide for designing steel building
structures
n steel section properties and member
resistances – a Eurocode version of the Blue
Book, to be known as the Burgundy Book (also
available electronically)
n handbook on structural steelwork – a Eurocode
version of the Red Book
n guide to designing steel multi-storey braced
frames
n worked examples on open and hollow steel
sections
n student examples on Eurocode 3
n fire design guidance for steel structures
n three steel bridge design guides.

European e-training modules
SCI is heading up project partially funded by
the European Commission to develop a quality
online Eurocode training resource for steel
design and construction. The project will also
review frameworks in partner countries and
explore opportunities to standardise professional
Steel publications update For more information please contact SCI on
As indicated in issue 5, SCI continues to work +44 1344 636525, email advisory@steel-sci.org or
on a wide range of new publications to help visit www.steel-sci.org H
structural steel designers make the transition to
Eurocodes. As soon as relevant national annexes
are completed, publications on the following will be
available during the next 12 months

Timber Research and

Development Association
by Hugh Mansfield-Williams, TRADA Technology

Trada Technology, which provides research and existing British Standards, principally BS 5268, and For further information please contact
information services for the Timber Research the limit-state design embodied in Eurocode 5. The Trada Technology on +44 1494 569600,
and Development Association (Trada), plans to response of timber and wood-based products to email information@trada.co.uk or visit
invest almost £50,000 in supporting its members in structural loads is complex and varies with humidity www.trada.co.uk/bookshop H
the transition from BS 5268 to Eurocode 5 during and over time. The concise format of the guidance
2008. Full details will be released mid-year. document draws together information from a range
The most recent development is publication of of European standards to present the processes
a new engineering guidance document entitled and considerations that provide a consistent
GD 3 Timber materials – properties and associated basis for designing with timber and wood-based
design procedures with Eurocodes. This covers products, despite their complexity.
a range of issues, starting with the principles of The 34-page guide is available in pdf format from Curved structural timber roof at the Prien Spa municipal
swimming pool in Germany
limit-state design, common to all Eurocodes for the Trada bookshop, price £25 (£15 for members).
structural materials. These principles are placed
in the context of wood and wood-based materials
by examining the derivation of design values for
material properties.
Strength-graded timber is then considered in
detail, including modifications for finger-jointed
material. Design values for glulam and laminated
veneer lumber are also discussed, and there
is a brief presentation of values for structural
wood-based panels. The approach to combining
properties from different materials is also explained.
Design values may be modified by a number of
factors. The guidance document considers the
effects of geometry, load duration and service
class, and how to choose the right stiffness
properties. Finally there is a consideration of the
two principal methods of joining timber members
– adhesives and metal connectors. The guide
concludes with an extensive bibliography.
Engineers will find the new document invaluable
as it explains the differences in approach between

www.eurocodes.co.uk APRIL 2008 ISSUE 6 eurocodesnews 6

EUROCODES EXPERT NEWS

Eurocodes events
Listed below are all Eurocode-related training events listed on the Eurocodes Expert online database for the next six months. Further details are available on the
Eurocodes Expert website at www.eurocodes.co.uk/eventsandcourses.aspx.
Venue Cost
16 April 2008 The basis of structural design: Eurocode EN 1990 ICE / Thomas Telford London £275
17 April 2008 Geotechnical design to Eurocode 7 ICE / Thomas Telford Birmingham £275
17 April 2008 Actions on structures: Eurocode 1 ICE / Thomas Telford London £275
29 April 2008 Building design to Eurocode 2: theory and worked examples The Concrete Centre Southampton £150
13 May 2008 Geotechnical design of foundations to Eurocode 7 IStructE / Professional Solutions London £230
15 May 2008 Earthquake engineering analysis and design IStructE / Professional Solutions London £230
15 May 2008 Optimising concrete performance to Eurocode 2 The Concrete Centre London Free
20 May 2008 Preparation for Eurocode 3: steel design IStructE / Professional Solutions London £230
21 May 2008 Optimising concrete performance to Eurocode 2 The Concrete Centre Manchester Free
28 May 2008 Design of steel structures to Eurocode 3 ICE / Thomas Telford Bristol £275
29 May 2008 Building design to Eurocode 2: theory and background to the UK annex IStructE / Professional Solutions London £230
03 June 2008 Eurocode 4: composite design IStructE / Professional Solutions London £230
05 June 2008 Geotechnical design to Eurocode 7 ICE / Thomas Telford Stevenage £275
24 June 2008 Design of concrete structures to Eurocode 2 ICE / Thomas Telford Birmingham £275
15 July 2008 The basis of structural design: Eurocode EN 1990 ICE / Thomas Telford Birmingham £275
16 July 2008 Actions on structures: Eurocode 1 ICE / Thomas Telford Birmingham £275
11 September 2008 Design of steel structures to Eurocode 3 ICE / Thomas Telford Wilmslow £275
30 September 2008 Geotechnical design to Eurocode 7 ICE / Thomas Telford London £275
02 October 2008 Design of structural masonry To Eurocode 6 ICE / Thomas Telford Birmingham £275
07 October 2008 Design of concrete structures to Eurocode 2 ICE / Thomas Telford Ascot £275
14 October 2008 The basis of structural design: Eurocode EN 1990 ICE / Thomas Telford Ascot £275
15 October 2008 Building design to Eurocode 2: theory and hands-on workshop IStructE / Professional Solutions London £433
15 October 2008 Actions on structures: Eurocode 1 ICE / Thomas Telford Ascot £275

Eurocodes publications update

Eurocodes Expert aims to provide details of all significant publications relating to Eurocodes, including guide books, journal papers and articles. Several of the
documents are free to download via the Eurocodes Expert website at www.eurocodes.co.uk/publications.aspx, which also includes contact details for all other
publications. Listed below are new publications which have appeared since the last issue (no. 5) of Eurocodes News in December 2007.
Date Title Author Publisher Cost
Dec 2007 PD 6696-2:2007 Background paper to BS EN 1994-2 and the UK BSI BSI £58
national annex to BS EN 1994-2
Jan 2008 The Eurocodes: implementation and use (B1) Joint Research Centre European Commission Free
Jan 2008 The role of EN 1990: the key head Eurocode (B2) Joint Research Centre European Commission Free
Jan 2008 The Eurocodes: use outside EU (B5) Joint Research Centre European Commission Free
Jan 2008 The Eurocodes: what are they? (L1) Joint Research Centre European Commission Free
Jan 2008 The Eurocodes: getting prepared (L2) Joint Research Centre European Commission Free
Feb 2008 Manual for the design of plain masonry in building structures to IStructE IStructE £70
Eurocode 6
Mar 2008 Implications of the change to Eurocodes for bridge design Hendy, CR ICE £216

EUROCODES SOFTWARE
Constructive contributions to Eurocodes News are
always welcomed and should be emailed to Oriana
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This and previous issues of Eurocodes News are
In addition to events, publications, websites and frequently asked questions, the Eurocodes Expert website available online at the Eurocodes Expert website at
also includes a directory of Eurocodes design software at www.eurocodes.co.uk/software.aspx. With www.eurocodes.co.uk/newsletters.aspx.
UK national annexes rapidly nearing completion, Eurocode versions of all leading structural design and Published by Eurocodes Expert, Thomas Telford House,
analysis software packages are likely to be launched shortly, so watch this space! 1 Heron Quay, London, E14 4JD,
Please contact Eurocodes Expert manager Oriana Marcolongo if you wish to include your software on telephone +44 20 7665 2427,
the website. fax +44 20 7538 2847,
email eurocodes.expert@eurocodes.co.uk

www.eurocodes.co.uk APRIL 2008 ISSUE 6 eurocodesnews 7