What are the Eurocodes?

Eurocodes - List of the standards

These are the European standards applicable to structural_calculations of buildings.

Learn more on structural calculations

List of Eurocodes standards

Eurocode 0 - Basis of structural design

Eurocode 1 - Actions on structures

Part 1-1: Densities, self-weight, imposed loads for buildings

Part 1-2: Actions on structures exposed to fire

Part 1-3: Snow loads

Part 1-4: Wind actions

Part 1-5: Thermal actions

Part 1-6: Actions during execution

Part 1-7: Accidental actions

Part 2: Traffic loads on bridges

Part 3: Actions induced by cranes and machinery

Part 4: Silos and tanks

Eurocode 2 - Concrete structures

Part 1-1: General rules and rules for buildings

Part 1-2: Structural fire design

Part 2: Concrete bridges - Design and detailing rules

Part 3: Liquid retaining and containment structures

Part 4: Design of fastenings for use in concrete

Eurocode 3 - Steel structures

Part 1-1: General rules and rules for buildings

Part 1-1 Section 6: Ultimates Limit States

Part 1-1 Section 7: Serviceability Limit States

Part 1-2: Structural fire design

Part 1-3: Supplementary rules for cold-formed members and sheeting

Part 1-4: Supplementary rules for stainless steels

Part 1-5: Plated structural elements

Part 1-6: Strength and stability of shell structures

Part 1-7: Strength and stability of planar plated structures subject to out of plane loading

Part 1-8: Design of joints

Part 1-9: Fatigue

Part 1-10: Material toughness and through-thickness properties

Part 1-11: Design of structures with tension components

Part 1-12: High strength steels

Part 2: Steel bridges

Part 3-1: Towers, masts and chimneys – Towers and masts

Part 3-2: Towers, masts and chimneys – Chimneys

Part 4-1: Silos

Part 4-2: Tanks

Part 4-3: Pipelines

Part 5: Piling

Eurocode 4 - Composite steel and concrete structures

Part 1-1: General rules and rules for buildings

Part 1-2: Structural fire design

Part 2: General rules and rules for bridges

Eurocode 5 - Timber structures

Part 1-1: Common rules and rules for buildings

Part 1-1 Section 6: Ultimates Limit States

Part 1-1 Section 7: Serviceability Limit States

Part 1-1 Section 8: Connections with metal fasteners

Part 1-2: Structural fire design

Part 2: Bridges

Eurocode 6 - Masonry structures

Part 1-1: General rules for reinforced and unreinforced masonry structures

Part 1-2: Structural fire design

Part 3: Simplified calculation methods for unreinforced masonry structures

Eurocode 7 - Geotechnical design

Part 1: General rules

Part 2: Ground investigation and testing

Eurocode 8 - Earthquake resistance

Part 1: General rules, seismic actions and rules for buildings

Part 2: Bridges

Eurocode 9 - Aluminium structures

Part 1-1: General structural rules

Part 1-2: Structural fire design

Part 1-3: Structures susceptible to fatigue

Part 1-4: Cold-formed structural sheeting

Part 1-5: Shell structures

They contribute to the development of the construction sector in Europe and some countries of Africa.

From 2010, National Standards have been withdrawn and are no longer maintained.

Eurocodes became mandatory for the specification of European public works.

In the private sector, it is also the reference standard for claims expertise by insurance companies.

There are ten codes in 60 parts (you can find the whole list a bit further below).

Each of them is accompanied by National Annexes for the 28 user countries (Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom).

Information on structural calculations

What are structural calculations ?

The structural calculations according to the eurocodes are the verifications of the resistance, equilibrium and deformation of a building by a mathematical calculation based on the basis of indications from European construction standards.

The calculations take into account the actions applied to the building (arising from occupancy, climatic, seismic, fire, ...), the characteristics of the foundation soil, the materials used to make the structure (concrete, steel, wood, aluminum, ...) and the reliability objectives to be achieved (which is not the same for a hospital as for a warehouse).

Is it essential ?

Any new building, extension or rehabilitation will require structural checks by calculation. These calculations make it possible to choose the right construction components and the appropriate size to ensure the stability, solidity and sufficient rigidity of the structure.

If the project is located at altitude, the snow load can be high. By the seaside, on a hill or in open terrain, the wind can be more powerful. In some areas, the structure of the building could also be subject to seismic effects. It is also often necessary to ensure that the structure is able to resist a fire for a sufficient time to evacuate and that the firefighters can intervene.

It is therefore important to carry out structural calculations to anticipate exceptional phenomena and prove the design of the building in the event of a disaster.

How much is it ?

It is difficult to give a generic price, the costs vary according to the size of the project and its complexity. The price is based on the time the engineer estimates or the number of elements to calculate.

In general, the cost of a structural engineer is largely paid for by the savings made by optimizing the volume of materials and the design so that it is easier to manufacture and assemble. In addition, his insurance covers damage in the event of a claim due to a design error and serenity is priceless.