Eurocodes made simple with the launch of Eurocodes PLUS

Press release: 29 November 2011

A revolutionary product that digitises all 15,000 pages of the Eurocodes has been launched by the British Standards Institution (BSI). Eurocodes PLUS will help organisations reduce the cost of implementing the Eurocodes by making them easier to understand and more accessible for civil and structural engineers.

The Eurocodes are Europe’s first set of unified standards for the design of buildings and structures across the continent. Introduced in the UK in March 2010, Eurocodes became the adopted norm for all public procurement contracts. From 2013 they will be cited in the Building Regulations approved documents.

What is Eurocodes PLUS?

BSI’s Eurocodes PLUS is an online interactive workflow tool that allows civil and structural engineers to quickly find specific Eurocodes at the click of a button. By helping engineers save time, Eurocodes PLUS will assist in reducing the cost of implementing Eurocodes which is estimated at approximately £16,000 per engineer1.

Eurocodes PLUS has been in development for 18 months, during which time BSI has worked with influential companies and professional trade bodies to address some of the issues and complexities of implementing the codes. The product has been developed in conjunction with practicing engineers, and has been trialled by 30 major engineering companies across the UK including Network Rail, the Highways Agency, Atkins, Arup and Mott MacDonald amongst others.

Eurocodes PLUS has other benefits that make it a truly transformational product. The ability for industry experts to share interpretations and provide practical advice next to specific clauses, tables, figures and equations makes it easier for engineers to understand and implement the codes. This is a particularly compelling feature of BSI’s new tool, especially at a time when many companies are still switching over to Eurocodes.

Eurocodes PLUS will make the Eurocodes more accessible

Mike Low, Director of Standards at BSI said: “Eurocodes PLUS is the first product of its kind in the sector and will play an important role in helping companies implement the Eurocodes quickly and efficiently. The Eurocodes play an integral role in harmonizing construction standards across Europe. We believe this product will help make them more accessible while helping companies share knowledge, save money and remain competitive.”

Brian Simpson from Arup, said: “Eurocodes and related Euronorms cover a wide scope and replace a lot of British Standards, so it is easy to get lost in the new system, searching through piles of paper. Having had a long term involvement in the development of Eurocode 7, I am convinced that a web-based system, providing easy links between the related clauses and documents, will be a huge benefit to users. The facilities of Eurocodes PLUS are very impressive, allowing individuals and companies to build their own system with references and comments.”

“Eurocodes no longer need to be difficult,” said Mike Chrimes, Director, Engineering Policy & Innovation at the Institution of Civil Engineers. “With Eurocodes PLUS, the whole process is simplified because you get digital access to all relevant codes to help you to implement them. You can also read expert comments and create your own notes, making it easy to capture and share best practice.”

1. National Strategy for implementation of structural Eurocodes: design guidance. Report prepared for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister by the Institution of Structural Engineers. April 2004