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CHAPTER 1

Introduction

1.1. Scope of Eurocode 8

Eurocode 8, Design of Structures for Earthquake Resistance, covers, as its title suggests, the EN 1998-1:
earthquake-resistant design and construction of buildings and other civil engineering works clauses 1.1.1(1),
in seismic regions. Its stated purpose is to protect human life and property in the event of 1.1.1(2),
earthquakes and to ensure that structures which are important for civil protection remain 1.1.1(4),
operational. 1.1.3(1)
Eurocode 8 has six parts, listed in Table 1.1. Among them, only Parts 1 (EN 1998-1,
General Rules, Seismic Actions and Rules for Buildings)1 and 5 (EN 1998-1, Foundations,
Retaining Structures and Geotechnical Aspects)2 are covered in this Designers’ Guide.
The scope of Eurocode 8 does not (fully) cover special edifices, notably nuclear power
plants, offshore structures and large dams.

1.2. Scope of Eurocode 8 – Part 1

Although its main object is buildings, EN 1998-1 also includes the general provisions for the EN 1998-1:
other parts of Eurocode 8 to build on: clause 1.1.2
• performance requirements
• seismic action
• analysis procedures and general concepts and rules applicable to all structures beyond
buildings.

Table 1.1. Eurocode 8 parts and key dates (achievement or expectation, as of January 2005)

Availability from CEN

of approved EN in
English, French, and
Approval by SC8 German to CEN
Eurocode 8 part Title for formal voting members

EN 1998-1 General Rules, Seismic Actions, July 02 Dec. 04

Rules for Buildings
EN 1998-2 Bridges Sept. 03 Oct. 05
EN 1998-3 Assessment and Retrofitting of Sept. 03 June 05
Buildings
EN 1998-4 Silos, Tanks, Pipelines March 05 June 06
EN 1998-5 Foundations, Retaining Structures, July 02 Nov. 04
Geotechnical aspects
EN 1998-6 Towers, Masts, Chimneys July 04 June 05

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DESIGNERS’ GUIDE TO EN 1998-1 AND EN 1998-5

Table 1.2. Eurocode 8 parts in Eurocode packages – estimated dates of withdrawal of conflicting
national standards

Expected withdrawal Eurocode 8 part

of conflicting national
Package No. and subject standards 1 2 3 4 5 6

2/1 Concrete buildings March 2010 O O O

3/1 Steel buildings March 2010 O O O
4/1 Composite (steel–concrete) buildings March 2010 O O O
5/1 Timber buildings March 2010 O O O
6 Masonry buildings March 2010 O O O
7 Aluminium structures March 2010 O O
2/2 Concrete bridges March 2010 O O O
3/2 Steel bridges March 2010 O O O
4/2 Composite bridges March 2010 O O O
5/2 Timber bridges March 2010 O O O
2/3 Concrete liquid retaining and containment March 2010 O O O
structures
3/3 Steel silos, tanks and pipelines March 2010 O O O
3/4 Steel piling March 2010 O O
3/5 Steel cranes March 2010 O O
3/6 Steel towers and masts March 2010 O O O

EN 1998-1 covers in separate sections the design and detailing rules for buildings constructed
with the main structural materials:
• concrete
• steel
• composite (steel–concrete)
• timber
• masonry.
It also covers seismic design of buildings using base isolation.

1.3. Scope of Eurocode 8 – Part 5

EN 1998-5: EN 1998-5 establishes the requirements, criteria and rules for the siting and foundation soil
clauses 1.1(1), of structures for earthquake resistance. It covers the design of different foundation systems
1.1(2) and earth-retaining structures under seismic actions, as well as the special issue of soil–
structure interaction. It applies to all types of earthquake-resistant structures, beyond
buildings. In that sense, along with Sections 2 and 3 of EN 1998-1 that define the performance
requirements and the seismic action, EN 1998-5 provides the ‘foundation’ for the rest of
Eurocode 8 (the other five parts).

1.4. Use of Eurocode 8 – Parts 1 and 5 with the other

Eurocodes
EN 1998-1: Eurocode 8 is not a standalone code. It will be applied along with the other relevant
clauses 1.1.1(3), Eurocodes, as part of Eurocode packages. Each package will refer to a specific type of civil
1.2.1, 1.2.2(1) engineering structure and construction material. The first column of Table 1.2 lists all
Eurocode packages. To be self-sufficient for design, each package will also include the
necessary parts of EN 1990, Eurocode: Basis of Structural Design, of EN 1991, Eurocode 1:
Actions on Structures, and EN 1997, Eurocode 7: Geotechnical Design. Packages will contain
the appropriate parts of Eurocode 8 as shown in Table 1.2.

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CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION

1.5. Assumptions – distinction between Principles and

Application Rules
Eurocode 8 refers to EN 19903 for assumptions and for the distinction between Principles EN 1998-1:
and Application Rules. Accordingly, reference is also made here to the Designers’ Guides on clauses 1.3, 1.4
other Eurocodes for elaboration.

1.6. Terms and definitions – symbols

Terms and symbols are defined in the chapter of this guide in which they first occur. EN 1998-1:
clauses 1.5, 1.6

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