Codes & Standards

In the UK structural safety is controlled through a range of European and national regulations. Most of these regulations contain no information on structural design and instead reference is made to codes and standards, most of which are published by the British Standards Institute.

British standards for structural design (e.g. BS 5950-1) will be withdrawn in March 2010, and European Standards called Eurocodes (eg BS EN 1993-1-1) will begin to be introduced. However, British Standards can continue to be used after March 2010.

Information Sources:

• Approved Document A – Structure, (2004 edition), The Office of the Deputy Prime Minster (now the DCLG).
• BS 5950: Structural use of steelwork in building,
  • Part 1: Code of practice for design. Rolled and welded sections, 2000.
  • Part 3: Design in composite construction. Section 3.1: Code of practice for design of simple and continuous composite beams, 1990.
• BS EN 1993: 2005 Eurocode 3 Design of steel structures,
  • Part 1.1 General rules and rules for buildings.
  • Part 1.2 General rules. Structural fire design.
  • Part 1.8 Design of joints.
• www.eurocodes.co.uk
• www.access-steel.com
• www.steel-ncci.co.uk