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eurocodes: briefing
why?
what?when?
The
eurocodes
This special issue on railway bridges has been
prepared by the Rail Safety and Standards Board.
Q: What are the relevant Eurocode parts?
A: The key documents for the design of railway bridges
includes:
Actions on Bridges
BS EN 1990 Annex A2 – Basis of Structural Design – Bridges,
main part published
BS EN 1991-1-1 – Densities, self-weight and imposed loads,
published with National Annex
BS EN 1991-1-3 – Snow Loads, published with National Annex
BS EN 1991-1-4 – Wind actions, main part published, National
Annex due 31/12/07
BS EN 1991-1-5 – Thermal actions, published with National
Annex
BS EN 1991-1-6 – Actions during execution, main part pub-
lished, National Annex due 30/11/07
BS EN 1991-1-7 – Accidental actions, main part published,
National Annex due 31/12/07
BS EN 1991-2 – Traffic loads on bridges, main part published,
National Annex due 30/11/07
Steel Bridges
BS EN 1992-1-1 – General – common rules for building and
civil engineering structures, published with National Annex
BS EN 1992-2 – Bridges, main part published, National Annex
was due 31/10/07
BS EN 1993-1-1 – General rules and rules for buildings, main
part published, National Annex due 31/12/07
BS EN 1993-1-5 – Strength and stability of planar plated
structures without transverse loading, main part published,
National Annex due 31/12/07
BS EN 1993-1-7 – Design values for plated structures subjected
to out of plane loading, main part published, National Annex
due 31/12/07
BS EN 1993-1-8 – Design of joints, main part published,
National Annex due 31/12/07
BS EN 1993-1-9 – Fatigue strength, main part published,
National Annex due March 2008
BS EN 1993-1-10 – Material toughness and through thickness
assessment, main part published, National Annex due March
2008
BS EN 1993-1-11 – Design of structures with tension compo-
nents, main part published, National Annex due April 2008
BS EN 1993-2 – Bridges, main part published, National Annex
due March 2008
Composite Concrete and Steel Bridges
BS EN 1994-2 – Bridges, main part published,
National Annex was due 31/10/07
Geotechnical Design
BS EN 1997-1 – General rules, main part published, National
Annex was due 31/10/07
BS EN 1997-2 – Ground investigation and testing, main part
18|The Structural Engineer – 4 December 2007
published, National Annex due June 2008
Design for Earthquake Resistance
BS EN 1998-2 – Bridges, main part published, National Annex
due Dec 2008
Q: How will the Eurocodes relate to existing standards
used for bridge design?
A: Railway structures are designed in accordance with Rail-
way Group Standards, Network Rail Standards, European and
British Standards, relevant industry standards and industry
good practice. Where design requirements are common to
highway bridges, highway standards (for example DMRB) are
adopted. Relevant railway standards are being revised to ac-
commodate the requirements of the Eurocodes.
Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) and Network Rail
are working with the BSI bridge committee to prepare Non
Contradictory Complementary Information for the design of
railway structures as Published Documents and Other Publi-
cations.
Q: When will the Eurocodes be used for bridge design?
A: Railway Group Standard GC/RT 5112 Traffic Loading Re-
quirements for the Design of Railway Structures is expected to
come into force by August 2008. It will permit the use of the
Eurocode for loading, BS EN 1991-2:2003 Traffic Loads on
Bridges, for the design of railway structures.
The Eurocodes, National Annexes and supporting documents,
covering the design of steel, concrete and steel/concrete com-
posite bridges, are also expected to become available in 2008.
It is anticipated that Network Rail will consider proposals for
designs using the Eurocodes once they are available. When the
existing national standards are withdrawn by BSI in 2010, de-
sign using the Eurocodes will be mandatory in accordance with
the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2006 and the Utilities Con-
tracts (Scotland) Regulations 2006.
Q: How will the Eurocodes affect Technical Approval
Procedures?
A: The design, construction and maintenance of railway struc-
tures, will continue to be subject to Technical Approval to con-
trol the risks that may arise to Network Rail’s infrastructure
from structures works.
Changes to the Technical Approval Procedures are not going to
be greatly affected as a result of the introduction of the Eu-
rocodes. The choices specified in the Eurocodes would need to
be recorded and there will be changes to the list of the design
standards.
Q: How will the Eurocodes affect specifications for rail-
way works?
A: European product and execution standards need to be in-
corporated into Network Rail Product and Structures Works
Specifications. Network Rail is reviewing the relevant docu-
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notices & proceedings

why?
what?when?
The
eurocodes At a meeting of the Executive Board on 23 October 2007, the
following were elected in accordance with the Institution’s
Regulations:

ments to determine how they will be affected and to identify Elections Notice
the changes that may be required. Fellows (1) Resignations
ROY, Bidhan Chandra The Executive Board has accepted with
Q: How is railway loading affected by the Eurocodes?
regret, the following resignations:
Members (1) Fellows (2 )
A: Eurocode 1 Part 2 covers loading from railway traffic of
nominal 1435mm track gauge operating at speeds up to and VAN BOCKHOVEN, Mark Johannes BARKER, Derek Norman
including 200km/h (LM 71). LM 71 represents normal rail traf- BARLOW, Paul Alan
fic and has the same scope as that of Type RU loading in BS Associates (2)
5400-2:2006. Additional loading requirements have been in- FORBES, Derek John Members (5 )
cluded for the design of railway bridges carrying railway traffic WHEELER, Scott Christian BROOKE, Jack
operating at speeds in excess of 200km/h and for ensuring a CLARK, George Howard
satisfactory dynamic performance. Graduates (283) GUNNING, Colin John
Students Paid (11) HASTINGS, Philip Guy
Q: Will example bridge designs be carried out?
Students Free (278) SAVAGE, Toby Duncan

A: RSSB and Network Rail have commissioned a design study,

Design of Railway Structures to the Structural Eurocodes, the
Transfers Graduates (5 )
results of which will be made available to assist the industry Members / Associates to Fellows (16) Students (4 )
with familiarisation of the design process using the Eurocodes. ADAMS, Derek Albert
AIMER, Anthony David Deaths
Q: Will the existing BS 5400 bridge design standards be BROWNE, Gavin Christopher The deaths of the following are reported
maintained following withdrawal by BSI? GROVE, David Lindsey with regret:
HEALY, Paul
A: No but the use of assessment standards based on BS 5400 HITCHENS, Michael James Fellows (12)
will continue. IBELL, Timothy James BLAKE, Leslie Spencer
JOHNSON, Michael Russell COATES, Harold
Q: Where can I get advice? KARA, Hanif Mohammed COWAN, Henry Jacob
KHABBAZAN, Mehdi Mohammadi DICK, Abe
A: For railway loading issues, contact Eurocodes Expert. Eu- KIDD, Steven Philip DURKEE, Jackson Leland
rocodes Expert can also assist with directing enquiries on the
MCMURRAY, Paul HARRIS, Colin Frederick
design of structures in concrete, steel and steel/concrete com-
MOTTRAM, James Toby HOUGH, Norman Edward
posite (for example The Concrete Centre and Steel Construc-
tion Institute). PHILLIPS, David Hamilton LETHBRIDGE, John Anthony
TAIYAB, Abdul PEACOCK, John Desmond
Issue No: 9 TOPLIS, Paul Thomas PHILLIPS, Sidney Frank
ROBINSON, Derek Hugh
Graduates to Members (2) WRIGHT, Frank
CHOY, Hon Kee
MATZKE, Dan Members (12)
BAIN, G Thomas
Students to Technicians (2) COE, James William Joseph
MORRIS, James Philip EVANS, Ronald John
TRUSCOTT, Shaun Marc JENKINS, John Edgar
MCSHERRY, Michael Francis
Students to Graduates (23) MEIKLE, David Welsh
PURVEY, Peter Anthony Raymond
Reinstatements SCOTHERN, Lancelot Clifford
Further Information
Members (3) SCOTT, Charles Robin
. This briefing is prepared by the Standing Committee on FOK, Kin Chuen Francis SUMMERFIELD, Kenneth
Implementation of Eurocodes (see www.istructe.org/ MANEY, Bruce William TAM, Kam Yiu
technical/db/705.asp for details). Please email suggestions for WARD, Iain Colin WIGLEY, Alan John
questions to be answered through this column to Berenice
Chan (E:berenice.chan@istructe.org) Graduates (11) Associate-Member (1)
. Eurocodes Expert website - the first port of call for information Students (22) CHEUNG, He-Choi
on Eurocodes - www.eurocodes.co.uk

4 December 2007 – The Structural Engineer|19