Eurocode 5 - Future Developments towards a More Comprehensive Code on Timber Structures.

The Eurocodes, including Eurocode 5, are of high technical quality. They include state of the art design methods which encompass expertise from all European countries. Feedback from practice nevertheless allows the conclusion that Eurocode 5 in the present form might not find a satisfactory acceptance in the timber construction community. There are indications that practice deems EN 1 995-1-1 too complicated and time intensive for standard timber constructions and partly incomplete when designing more elaborate timber engineering structures. This divergency can be traced back to the widespread types of users and their heterogeneous knowledge in timber structures as well as the wide scope of possible structures for which Eurocode 5 should be applicable. Against this background, the European confederation of woodworking industries initiated a research project with the objective to ameliorate Eurocode 5 in terms of applicability and navigation within the code. The results of this project are presented in this paper. This includes recommendations on how to simplify verification of standard applications as well as possible amendments to better reflect current applications in the timber construction sector. The contribution is finalised by a discussion of different possibilities for size and compositio n of Eurocode 5, based on legal and practical aspects.     «

The Eurocodes, including Eurocode 5, are of high technical quality. They include state of the art design methods which encompass expertise from all European countries. Feedback from practice nevertheless allows the conclusion that Eurocode 5 in the present form might not find a satisfactory acceptance in the timber construction community. There are indications that practice deems EN 1 995-1-1 too complicated and time intensive for standard timber constructions and partly incomplete when design...     »