Nordic collaboration on harmonisation and a green optimisation of the national annexes to the Eurocodes

The Nordic Steering Group for Harmonisation, which consists of representatives from all the Nordic construction authorities, has identified the update of the national annexes to the Eurocodes as a significant window of opportunity to reduce the negative climate- and resource impact from construction and at the same time, where feasible, seek Nordic harmonisation.

To motivate such a transition, Nordic Sustainable Construction has taken the initiative to gather Nordic authorities and Eurocode experts in order to define what to focus on in such a green check of the national annexes to the Eurocodes and further strengthen the cross country collaboration in this field. This has resulted in a Nordic priority paper identifying where to focus the efforts.

Read the Nordic priority paper here.

This paper was shared with the existing groups working hard to update the national annexes and in November 2024, indicative results was pointing to how much potential there is both for decreasing the negative impact and also to harmonise. It is now further investigated if it will be possible to find funding to harvest some of the identified potentials through close cross boarder collaboration.

What are Eurocodes?

Eurocodes are a series of European standards which, together with the associated national annexes containing technical requirements, determine the safety level for load-bearing structures. Eurocodes are used for the design of construction, roads and bridges.

The use of Eurocodes also contributes to strengthening the single market in the field of construction in Europe.

The national annexes to Eurocodes are a series of supplements in which each country can determine the safety level or values ​​and methods that take into account building practices or special national geological and climatic conditions.

Revision of Eurocodes and national annexes

Eurocodes are being revised at European level. The European work is expected to be completed in approx. 2025, and the result is expected to be implemented in the national building regulations in 2026/2027.

In connection with the revision of Eurocodes, the various parts of the national annexes must be revised. The work also includes an evaluation and adjustment of the total safety level, as well as a review of the individual rules in Eurocodes and associated national annexes. The Nordic collaboration motivate that this is done with the aim that the rules do not unnecessarily prevent measures to reduce the climate- and resource impact or unnecessarily increase the cost of construction.