INTRODUCTION TO EUROCODE

After year 2010, all EU Countries will be using Structural Eurocodes, which is a Unified Code
for the design of all Civil and Structural Engineering works in those countries, similar to the
Euro Dollar concept. These codes comprise an extensive suite of 58 parts and sub-parts. These
are most comprehensive and advanced sets of Codes and Standard ever compiled and in
existence today.
The UK is phasing out the use of British Standards and Codes of practice and will thus
implement the Eurocodes by year 2010. Despite the technical and cultural differences between
countries, systems and peoples, it was found that engineers could adapt easily to the new
standards and should have no problem in their use.
For many Civil and Structural Engineers outside the EU Countries, and particularly those
graduated beore year 2010 for Malaysian Universities, they need to change and adopt to
Eurocode depends very much on personal, company and government regulatory bodies.
Many Malaysian Experienced Engineers had been using BS 449, BS 5950 for steelworks and CP
110, BS 8110 for Reinforced and Prestressed Concrete, successfully over the years. These would
include the use of software based on these older codes.
Using of Eurocodes will need to invest more time and effort to read and understand the codes
and then apply them correctly with modifications to suit Malaysian climate and condition. We
also will need to upgrade our software and any calculation methods and procedures that we had
developed over the years.
On the other hand, there is perfect sense to continue your use of the Standards and Codes which
you are most familiar with as in a commercial environment, familiarity for speed of works is
critical and that itself is economy. Furthermore, Malaysian Government will not change the
building codes and bylaws. A most probably situation will be the acceptance of all codes, British
Standards from BS 449 to BS 5950 and CP 110 to BS 8110 and also all relevant Eurocodes such
as EN 1992 Eurocode 2 Concrete Design. Unfortunately Malaysians do not have a Malaysian
Standards and Codes for Civil and Structural Works and even if we have these, they are modeled
based on the older British Standards and Codes.
There is an argument that the Structural Eurocodes has greater economy in design, however,
conditions in Malaysia and similar tropical climate would not necessarily provide better
economy compared to the use of older BS Standards and Codes of Practices.



However, there is no question that Malaysia or other Commonwealth Countries such as
Singapore, India, Philippines, Australia, etc, in the near future will adopt the Eurocode Standards
with some modifications to suit the local conditions, such as climate, earthquakes, etc. This will
be particularly true as younger engineering graduates are being schooled in Eurocodes standards
in United Kingdom and Local Universities. With the mobility of todays employment market,
younger engineers will have to find work anywhere and being conversant with the new
Eurocodes will put them in better positions around the world.
In conclusion, for younger graduates however, the Eurocodes are the way for the future. Having
said that, should you have the time, keeping updated, on practices in the Eurocodes would
enhance your technical capabilities all the same, to be on par with your associates and the
international professionals.

These are the list of Structural Eurocode programme comprises the following standards generally
consisting of a number of parts :
EN 1990 Eurocode : Basis of Structural Design
EN 1991 Eurocode : Actions of Structures
EN 1992 Eurocode : Design of Concrete Structures
EN 1993 Eurocode : Design of Steel Structures
EN 1994 Eurocode : Design of Composite Steel and Concrete Structures
EN 1995 Eurocode : Design of Timber Structures
EN 1996 Eurocode : Design of Masonry Structures
EN 1997 Eurocode : Geotechnical Design
EN 1998 Eurocode : Design of Structures for Earthquake Resistance
EN 1999 Eurocode : Design of Aluminium Structures








LINK BETWEEN THE EUROCODES.

EN 1990 - Structural safety, serviceability and durability, combination of actions.

EN 1991 - Actions on Structures


EN 1992, EN 1993, EN 1994, EN 1995, EN 1996, EN 1999 - Design and Detailing


EN 1997, EN 1998 - Geotechnical and Seismic Design