Category Archives: Structures

NEWS ON NEW STANDARDS

The following changes to British Standards commonly used by geotechnical and structural engineers have been published:

  • Amendment to BS EN 1991-1-1: 2003 + A1: 2015. Eurocode 1. Actions on structures. General actions. Snow loads.
  • Amendment to BS EN 1993-1-4: 2006 + A1: 2015. Eurocode 3. Design of steel structures. General rules. Supplementary rules for stainless steels.
  • PD 6688-1-4: 2015. Background information to the National Annex to BS EN 1991-1-4 and additional guidance (supersedes PD 6688-1-4: 2009)

In addition the following standards have been confirmed as being of continued currency:

  • BS EN ISO 12236:2006. Geosynthetics. Static puncture test (CBR test).
  • BS EN ISO 13431:1999. Geotextiles and geotextiles related products. Determination of tensile creep and creep rupture behaviour.
  • BS EN ISO 13433:2006. Geosynthetics. Dynamic perforation test (cone drop test).

Finally, you may be interested to know that the following BS implementation of ISO text has been made without any change to the international standard:

  • BS ISO 18325:2015. Geosynthetics. Test method for the determination of water discharge capacity for prefabricated vertical drains.

Readers are referred to the BSI for further details about the standards.

GI DESIGN TO EC7…… AND THE NEW BS5930 & BS 8004!

EC7 has already impacted general design practice but its impact on ground investigation design has been less evident despite Eurocodes having been brought into Building Regulations in 2013. However the revisions in late 2015 of BS5930:2015 and BS8004:2015 means that changes in current practice may now be required sooner rather than later.

A new half day course  by Surepath Training, Ground Investigation Design to EC7 – The Essentials, aims to address the likely impacts of these codes on ground investigation design. Taught against a background introduction to EC7, the key focus of the course will be on EC7 design requirements for GI’s, including a design exercise to examine the scale of changes that could be required. The course will introduce also changes to logging and reporting requirements to suit EC7.

The course is running in Chesterfield on 18 January 2016 and costs only £125 + VAT per delegate. Discounts are available for group bookings or delegates attending more than one course. Please call or email us to reserve your place on a course.

 

VISION DESIGN ALLIANCE UPDATE

As one of the founder members of the Vision Design Alliance, a group of small to medium sized companies in the East Midlands region that have come together to offer a one-stop shop of civil engineering, building and construction related consultancy services, Surepath Consulting are pleased to re-cap some of the VDA news also available through the VDA web site.

  • Ecotech recently successfully completed a project on a site development in a floodplain in Bottesford, near Grantham.
  • Groundsmiths (UK) Ltd were recently appointed by GK Group Ltd, Chesterfield, to carry out a Phase I/II geo-environmental appraisal and intrusive ground investigation of land located at their workshop site in Chesterfield.
  • Ecotech were appointed to design and specify earthworks to widen an existing highway embankment under a Section 278 agreement for a site in Papplewick, near Nottingham.
  • Groundsmiths (UK) Ltd recently carried out an appraisal of land located within the Pearson Industrial Estate, Old Whittington, Chesterfield.

The collective goal of the VDA is to provide Clients with access to a network of specialists who are used to working together collaboratively to provide an integrated service based on expertise, innovation and enthusiasm. Further news on the launch of the VDA and its web site will follow soon.

NEW STANDARDS FOR GEOTECHNICAL AND STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS

Important updates to British Standards commonly used by geotechnical and structural engineers have been published:

  • BS 8002: 2015 Code of practice for earth retaining structures. This revised and updated standard conforms to the latest EN and EN ISO standards and provides recommendations for the design, construction, monitoring, and maintenance of earth retaining structures. It provides additional information to the recommendations in EC7 for surcharges, unplanned excavations and prop loads, and provides detailed recommendations for the content of Geotechnical Feedback Reports in accordance with EC7.
  • BS 8004: Code of practice for foundations. Providing recommendations for the design of both shallow and deep foundations to meet the latest EN and EN ISO standards, the new standard provides additional information to EC7 recommendations for spread foundations, provides recommendations for the design of piles that reflect modern practice, and and provides detailed recommendations for the content of Geotechnical Feedback Reports.

All related courses offered in 2016 by our sister company Surepath Training will make reference to the new standards and provide guidance on their use in practice. Please contact us for the details of the revised course details.