Using 2nd generation Eurocode 2

The National Foreword to the 2nd generation Eurocode 2, notes that:

UK adoptions of the first generation of EN Eurocodes will be withdrawn by BSI on 30 March 2028. Until that date, the first generation documents should be considered as the applicable standards for buildings and civil engineering works constructed in the UK unless otherwise specified by the relevant authority or in the specification for a particular project.

Until 30 March 2028 first and second generations of Eurocode 2 will co-exist. Therefore when project specifications stipulate “current” Standards, it is necessary to clarify which generation Standard is being referred to. This will avoid confusion and potential disputes.  To reflect this BSI have given the status of the 1st generation Eurocodes as “current, superseded” as opposed to “withdrawn, superseded”. The 2nd generation Eurocodes are also given the status of “current” so some care is required to ensure that the appropriate generation document is being used.

The Foreword further notes that the Standard  is intended to be used with its National Annex.  The UK National Annex for EC2 is expected to be published in mid-2024. It is recommended that the 2nd Generation Eurocode is not used until this is available. 

The Eurocodes are a suite of documents. As a generality mixing first and second generation Eurocodes is not desirable; however it will be permissible if done with care. Eurocode 2, in the main, only relies on the other Eurocodes for loading (BS EN 1991 series of Standards). The recently published 2nd generation BS EN 1990 (Basis of structural and geotechnical design) does not change the relationship between the safety level of the loading and the safety level of the resistance from that in the 1st generation. Therefore, in principle, it should not be problematic to use first generation BS EN 1991 and their National Annexes with 2nd Generation BS EN1992. Whilst this is a general observation the specifics of each project should be considered.

The above is covered in the National Foreword by the statement:

While the use of provisions in this standard in conjunction with first generation Eurocodes is not precluded, it should be undertaken with care and should only be done when users are satisfied that it will not result in a lower level of reliability than the minimum level set in the first generation Eurocodes and associated UK National Annexes.

The 2nd generation Eurocode 2 along with the UK National Annex will aim for the same level of reliability as the 1st generation. This default position will allow routine designs to be carried out using the second generation Eurocode 2 and first generation Eurocode 1 loading codes.