Adopt Eurocodes, win more business

In development for over the past 20 years or so, this set of pan-European model building codes developed by the European Committee for Standardisation has progressed slowly. As a result, their implementation has been met with scepticism.

Like it or not though, the introduction of the Eurocodes is going to happen. Businesses should accept this inevitability and concentrate on the pluses and the opportunities that lie within. Acknowledging this and making the change as easy as possible is the only way forward.

Don’t be fooled – the Eurocodes will sneak up and bite any UK construction company or professional services business that does not recognise their importance. Many in the industry trust the British Standards, that are currently in use will run side-by-side with the new codes until they eventually become obsolete.

The EU directive states that national codes are to be withdrawn on 31 March 2010, and the BSI has confirmed they are complying with that directive and will not be supporting changes to British Standards beyond March.

The updating of Building Regulations to reflect this directive will not take place until 2013. Many engineers see this as the point of no return when they must use the Eurocodes. The fact is that the contracts that will decide when we must change, particularly public contracts, will undoubtedly require the change to take place immediately.

Engineers can view this change as a hindrance or an opportunity. Those who do not buy into the adoption of the Codes in April will have their work opportunities restricted. Beyond 2013, these may dry up completely.
 
Eurocodes give us exciting opportunities, opening up new markets for consultancy practices within the Eurozone.  Conversely, delaying the implementation of the Eurocodes will diminish the ability of engineers and designers in the UK to work in Europe while giving the competition on the continent the opportunity to win
contracts in the UK.

Implementation of the new codes will require cooperation with the client, design team, local authorities, contractors and designers of sub-contracted works to ensure full compliance. It is up to engineers to understand and explain the changes the new codes bring to the industry, so early familiarisation of the Eurocodes is of utmost importance.  

The barrier of national codes has prevented businesses like McBains Cooper from exporting its complete inter-discipline design approach to the European community.

The dissolving of this barrier and implementation of normative procedures throughout Europe allows us to introduce our way of working to new markets.

Furthermore, despite the initial costs of the change to the new codes, there will be long term economic benefits to be reaped from their use. Factor in the favourable exchange rate and the opportunities available for British engineers are there for the taking.

As with all markets, those who follow trends will be left in the wake. This is an opportunity for British construction design consultants to set the pace for the rest of Europe to follow.  Those who are slow on the uptake may come to rue
their reluctance.

Gordon Lane is associate director of civil and structural engineering at property and construction consultancy McBains Cooper.
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