It’s a challenging time for everyone in business at the moment, but new Eurocodes have posed a further test for professionals like us.
With far-reaching implications for the industry, the codes present cost and time issues. And here at HBPW Consulting Ltd, the introduction of the legislation, replacing British Standards, has proved particularly testing.
We recently instructed in the refurbishment of the Belgrave Terrace road over rail bridge in Scarborough – with pretty good results!
Using Eurocodes for cross girders – compared with BS5400, BD37/01 and assessment code BD21/01 – our involvement resulted in a 48% increase in loading compared to the highway loading previously specified by British standards.
HBPW Consulting Director Paul Withers said that the new rules were proving a big learning curve.
Paul had this to say: “When we are designing a bridge, equilibrium and gravity haven’t changed, but the regulations have.”
“The increase in weight of material has considerable implications for the cost of the construction of cross girder road bridges for the future and is being hotly debated in the corridors of Network Rail.
“As a company, we are making an enormous investment to make sure our people are trained in how to use the new standards.” Keep your eyes peeled for future developments here at HBPW!
Client: Network Rail
Contractor: Amalgamated Construction
Contract Value:£700k