Steel sector lobbyists get no delay for Euro codes

Despite sustained lobbying by the steel sector for a longer transition period between national and European structural design codes, the government has confirmed that the timetable will not be deferred.

In a letter seen by CJ that was sent to Norman Brown, head of engineering at British Precast, the Communities and Local Government parliamentary under secretary of state Ian Wright said the government's position remains unchanged.

He added: "We are not clear why the British Constructional Steelwork Association (BCSA) has concluded that a different timescale is being considered and we will be following this up at an appropriate opportunity."

The new Eurocodes are to be introduced in 2008, with a two-year transition period where both Eurocodes and British Standards will be accepted before full implementation.

But last month, outgoing BCSA president Donal McCormack said he was confident that national standards will be retained up to 2015.

This seems unlikely following the clarification requested by the five main cement and concrete bodies working through the UK Concrete Platform.

Reacting to the letter, Brown said: "The concrete and cement industry has invested a large amount of time and money into developing Eurocode documentation. After a 20-year evolution, it's time to move on and implement EC2 and EC6 across Britain and Europe."

Derek Tordoff, director general of the BCSA, said: "It is too early to withdraw British Standards as all the national annexes haven't been published.

"But 2010 will not be a drop off date. There will be a review in late 2009 and that gives the British Standard another five years of life even if it's withdrawn - it just won't be maintained after 2010."