Incorporation of scientific developments
Extension of existing rules
The standardisation work covers the extension of existing rules for the assessment of existing buildings and structures and their strengthening, together with the extension of existing rules for robustness.
Recent results of international studies and research programmes and practical experience from scientific and technical associations relevant to innovation, e.g. performance-based design, sustainability concepts and traffic loads, are incorporated in the Eurocodes second generation drafts.
Other topics for which information has been developed isthe determination of material and resistance factors, serviceability for buildings and bridges; fatigue verification; improving the fire safety engineering approach.
Where relevant, ISO standards are expected to be adopted to supplement the Eurocodes family, for example atmospheric icing of structures and actions from waves and currents.
Climate change
The 2013 EU Adaptation Strategy had already identified standards as potentially important to guarantee the resilience of infrastructures to climate change, in particular regarding the following: transport infrastructure, energy infrastructure and constructions/buildings. In this context, it was relevant to identify which standards needed to be promoted and/or amended to take better account of current and future impacts of climate change in infrastructure investment decisions.
A technical report has been developped analysing and providing guidance for potential amendments for Eurocodes with regard to structural design addressing relevant impacts of future climate change, both general and material-specific.
Facilitating practical implementation
In the context of the Eurocodes second generation standardisation work, auxiliary guidance and background documents is being developed to facilitate feedback from stakeholders and the practical local implementation wherever necessary.
An essential activity taking place is the assessment of the links to harmonised product standards developed under the framework of the Construction Products Regulation or other European standards, in particular with regard to any discrepancies between the calculation methods of the Eurocodes and the declaration of performance for products that bear the CE mark.
Ease of use and reduction of NDPs
The introduction of a more user-friendly approach and the potential reduction of NDPs are horizontal issues across existing standards.
Enhanced ease of use
The use of clear language and structure will aid the ease of use of Eurocodes by practical users. To the extent that it can be technically justified whilst safeguarding the core of essential technical requirements and taking into account feedback from users, enhanced ease of use in the Eurocodes second generation is expected to be achieved by:
- improving clarity;
- simplifying routes through the Eurocode;
- avoiding or removing rules of little practical use in design;
- avoiding additional and/or empirical rules for particular structure or structural-element types.
Reduction in number of NDPs
All existing Eurocodes are assessed concerning the potential to significantly reduce the number of Nationally Determined Parameters (NDPs). This work is done in close collaboration with the JRC and is based on the NDPs as defined on national level and uploaded in the specific NDP database.
The following steps are undertaken:
- review of the contents of all countries National Annexes and supporting documents;
- comparison of the values or choices made, using where possible the JRC database;
- elimination of the NDPs where little or no variation exists;
- seeking unanimity, where there is good consensus;
- in cases of wide variation, seeking the reasons and try to eliminate them.