Decoding the Eurocodes

AGS loss preventation alert on potential legal implications of Eurocodes

The Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists (AGS) has just published a Loss Prevention Alert No 52 on 'Eurocodes – Potential Legal Implications'

In it, the AGS warns:

... from the geotechnical practitioner’s point of view working to Eurocodes, at least at present, does not represent a clean break from British Standards. Furthermore the introduction of Eurocodes has resulted in a proliferation of new documents rather than a like for like replacement of the British Standards

You can view the text of the full document here.

Write for free, review for free ... pay to re-use!

An extract from the latest Progress Report from the President of the International Society of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering (ISSMGE), Prof. Jean-Louis Briaud:

"I am very bothered by the fact that geotechnical authors write articles for free, these articles are reviewed for free, then we turn over all copyrights to publishers who make money on our free labor, not only that but we have to ask them for permission and sometimes even pay money to reuse some of our own figures afterwards. Something is not right and I would like for ISSMGE to take a stand and have a clear position on this issue with possible action there from."

Hooray! This has been a long-term pet peeve of mine. I'm glad others feel the same and moves are afoot to do something about it.

Basic requirements for construction works

From EN 4.4.2011 Official Journal of the European Union L 88/33 available here

Construction works as a whole and in their separate parts must be fit for their intended use, taking into account in particular the health and safety of persons involved throughout the life cycle of the works. Subject to normal maintenance, construction works must satisfy these basic requirements for construction works for an economically reasonable working life.

1. Mechanical resistance and stability

The construction works must be designed and built in such a way that the loadings that are liable to act on them during their constructions and use will not lead to any of the following:

1. collapse of the whole or part of the work
2. major deformations to an inadmissible degree
3. damage to other parts of the construction works or to fittings or installed equipment as a result of major deformation of the load-bearing construction
4. damage by an event to an extent disproportionate to the original cause.

2. Safety in case of fire

The construction works must be designed and built in such a way that in the event of an outbreak of fire:

1. the load-bearing capacity of the construction can be assumed for a specific period of time
2. the generation and spread of fire and smoke within the construction works are limited
3. the spread of fire to neighbouring construction works is limited
4. occupants can leave the construction works or be rescued by other means
5. the safety of rescue teams is taken into consideration. 

3. Hygiene, health and the environment

The construction works must be designed and built in such a way that they will, throughout their life cycle, not be a threat to the hygiene or health and safety of workers, occupants or neighbours, nor have an exceedingly high impact, over their entire life cycle, on the environmental quality or on the climate during their construction, use and demolition, in particular as a result of any of the following:

1. the giving-off of toxic gas
2. the emissions of dangerous substances, volatile organic compounds (VOC), greenhouse gases or dangerous particles into indoor or outdoor air
3. the emission of dangerous radiation
4. the release of dangerous substances into ground water, marine waters, surface waters or soil
5. the release of dangerous substances into drinking water or substances which have an otherwise negative impact on drinking water
6. faulty discharge of waste water, emission of flue gases or faulty disposal of solid or liquid waste
7. dampness in parts of the construction works or on surfaces within the construction works.

4. Safety and accessibility in use

The construction works must be designed and built in such a way that they do not present unacceptable risks of accidents or damage in service or in operation such as slipping, falling, collision, burns, electrocution, injury from explosion and burglaries. In particular, construction works must be designed and built taking into consideration accessibility and use for disabled persons.

5. Protection against noise

The construction works must be designed and built in such a way that noise perceived by the occupants or people nearby is kept to a level that will not threaten their health and will allow them to sleep, rest and work in satisfactory conditions.

6. Energy economy and heat retention

The construction works and their heating, cooling, lighting and ventilation installations must be designed and built in such a way that the amount of energy they require in use shall be low, when account is taken of the occupants and of the climatic conditions of the location. Construction works must also be energy-efficient, using as little energy as possible during their construction and dismantling.

7. Sustainable use of natural resources

The construction works must be designed, built and demolished in such a way that the use of natural resources is sustainable and in particular ensure the following:

1. reuse or recyclability of the construction works, their materials and parts after demolition
2. durability of the construction works
3. use of environmentally compatible raw and secondary materials in the construction works.

TC250 meeting in Berlin

I am currently attending the 41st meeting of TC250 (the committee responsible for the entire Eurocode suite) in Berlin. We should, later today, be discussing the European Commission's response to the Programming Mandate M/466, covering the evolution of the Eurocodes.

For those who are not already aware, plans are being prepared to develop the 2nd generation Eurocodes for publication perhaps in 2018. I say 'perhaps' becasue these things usually take a lot longer than planned!

More later...

SC7 meeting in The Hague

We have just finished the 27th meeting of TC250/SC7 in the Hague, Netherlands. Our hosts, Fugro, provided a splendid venue for our 2 days of discussion - plus an excellent meal for all delegates at a restaurant in the ton last night.

This meeting was the last that Leendert Buth of NEN, the Dutch standards body, would be serving as Secretary of SC7. Leendert has been an important mainstay of the committee's work ever since I have know him (for 15 years, at least). On behalf of SC7, I presented Leendert with a leaving present - a framed and signed copy of the cartoon 'The Perfect European'.

Next SC7 meeting scheduled for 22-23 March 2012

The 26th meeting of TC250/SC7 will be held at The Hague, Netherlands on 22-23 March 2012. Discussion will focus on the work of SC7's 'Evolution Groups', which are already looking into what improvements can be made to EN 1997 in its next major revision, scheduled for 2018.

Limit state design under Eurocode 7: don't get left behind

Next Tuesday, I will delivering a half-day course on 'Geotechnical Engineering Design' to IStructE's Scottish Branch as part of their series of CPD courses at Stirling Management Centre.Here is the promotional blurb:

"If you design foundations or are involved in any form of Geotechnical Engineering, Certification or design review you will want to attend this highly informative seminar. Presented by Dr Andrew Bond, of Geocentrix, this seminar will introduce you to Eurocode 7: Geotechnical Engineering and provide a valuable insight into Eurocodes and the future of Building Design in the UK – not to be missed. Geotechnical engineering moves from an empirical based serviceability design to a limit state design under Eurocode 7: Don’t get left behind."

Event Date
06/03/2012

Time
Registration, tea & coffee from 2.30pm, then 2:55pm to 7:pm

Price
£50 IStructE Graduates, £60 IStructE other grades, £70 non-members

Location
Stirling Management Centre, University of Stirling

Details of the course and a booking form can be downloaded from the following link:

Course outline and booking form

Current experience and future development of UK pile design to Eurocode 7

Chris Raison (Director, Raison Foster Associates) and I will be co-presenting a 'Master Class on EC7' at the upcoming Piling and Foundations UK Conference, organized by Emap/Ground Engineering magazine, on 9th May 2012.

Chris is the UK representative on Evolution Group 7 for Pile Design and I am the current Chairman of Eurocode 7 committee TC250/SC7.

The talk will cover:

• Principles of pile design to Eurocode 7
• Pile design to the UK National Annex
• Experience of applying Eurocode 7 + UK NA to real piling projects
• Plans for the evolution of Eurocode 7
• Evolution Group 7 for pile design – its aims and progress to date
• Towards better pile design with Eurocode 7 ‘Version 2’

Further details are available here

Eurocodes: where they are and where they're going

This evening I will be delivering a lecture entitled 'Eurocodes: where they are and where they're going' on behalf of the South Branch - Geotechnical Group of ICE South East England. The venue is Room 1101 (L/T), Building 29, University of Southampton and the lecture starts at 18:00 hours (refreshments from 17:30 h).

The lecture will be a repeat of the 3rd ISSMGE webinar entitled 'Eurocode 7 - past, present, and future' that I delivered in December to an international audience of over 70 attendees.

Notes of the lecture/webinar can be downloaded from here.

Information about the book 'Decoding Eurocode 7' by Bond and Harris (2008), which provides a lot more detail about the 'present' of Eurocode 7, can be obtained from the book's dedicated website.

And if you are looking for training courses on the subject (online or classroom-based), please visit the training pages on the Geocentrix website (the next online 'Decoding Eurocode 7' course starts 9th February - here is a link to the booking form).

If you attended the lecture and would like to comment, please click the 'Comments' link below and tell me what you think. Feedback will be gratefully received!

Turkey joins CEN from 1st January 2012

The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) have granted full membership to the Turkish Standards Institution (TSE), as from 1st January 2012. TSE has been an affiliate of CEN and CENELEC since January 2008.

CEN and CENELEC now has national members in 32 European countries, covering more than 590 million consumers in total. These include all 27 countries of the European Union and three countries of the European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Norway and Switzerland) plus two EU candidate countries (Croatia and Turkey).

This is an important step towards the full participation of Turkey in the European Single Market.