EUROCODE 2: DESIGN OF CONCRETE BUILDINGS.
The construction sector is of strategic importance to the EU as it delivers the buildings and
infrastructure needed by the rest of the economy and society.
It represents more than 10% of EU GDP and more than 50% of fixed capital formation. It is the largest single economic activity and it is the biggest industrial employer in Europe. The sector employs directly almost 20 million people.
Construction is a key element not only for the implementation of the Single Market, but also for other
construction relevant EU Policies, e.g. Sustainability, Environment and Energy, since 40-45% of
Europe’s energy consumption stems from buildings with a further 5-10% being used in processing
and transport of construction products and components.
The EN Eurocodes are a set of European standards which provide common rules for the design of
construction works, to check their strength and stability against live extreme loads such as fire and
earthquakes.
In line with the EU’s strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth (EU2020),
standardization plays an important part in supporting the industrial policy for the globalization era. The
improvement of the competition in EU markets through the adoption of the Eurocodes is recognized in
the “Strategy for the sustainable competitiveness of the construction sector and its enterprises” –
COM (2012)433, and they are distinguished as a tool for accelerating the process of convergence of
different national and regional regulatory approaches