Eurokoode

Eurokoode is a term sometimes used to describe European coding standards, but it is not an official designation in most contexts. The more widely recognized term is Eurocode, the family of European standards for structural design developed by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN).

Eurocodes cover the design of buildings and civil engineering works and aim to harmonize technical requirements across Europe. The standard suite is organized as EN 1990 through EN 1999, including EN 1990 Basis of structural design; EN 1991 Actions on structures; EN 1992 Concrete; EN 1993 Steel; EN 1994 Composite steel and concrete; EN 1995 Timber; EN 1996 Masonry; EN 1997 Geotechnical design; EN 1998 Design of structures for earthquake resistance; EN 1999 Aluminum structures. Each member country adopts these standards and publishes a National Annex with country-specific parameters, such as design values, safety factors, and other choices.

Role and adoption: Eurocodes are intended to serve as the basis for the design and assessment of structural works across Europe. They are widely used in public procurement and professional practice within the European Union and European Free Trade Association countries, often replacing or augmenting national codes. The degree of legal requirement varies by country; some jurisdictions mandate compliance for public projects, while others promote or endorse it.

History: The Eurocodes were developed by CEN to replace disparate national codes and improve cross-border consistency. Progressively published from the early 2000s with updates and national annexes, they have been adopted or harmonized with national regulations by most European countries, forming the backbone of current structural design practice in Europe.