EUROCODES AND STANDARDIZATION FOR STRUCTURAL DESIGN …elsa.jrc.ec.europa.eu/eurocodes2006/pdf/pres260.pdf · EUROCODES Workshop - 27-29 November 2006, Varese, Italy Building the

EUROCODES

Workshop - 27-29 November 2006, Varese, Italy

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EUROCODES AND STANDARDIZATION FOR STRUCTURAL DESIGN IN ALBANIA

Prepared by:

• Prof. Niko POJANI, Polytechnic University

• Arben DERVISHI, General Directorate of StandardizationTirana, Albania

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STANDARDIZATION BODY IN ALBANIA

• The General Directorate of Standardization (Drejtoria e Përgjithshme e Standardizimit – DPS) is the Albanian recognized National Standards Body, certified by CSQ/IMQ-IQNET, according to ISO 9001:2000

• DPS is correspondent member in ISO & IEC and affiliate in CEN & CENELEC

• There are 44 various Technical Committees in DPS. One of them was recently established for dealing with adoption of Structural Eurocodes

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OVERVIEW ON EXISTING TECHNICAL REGULATIONS AND ADOPTION

OF EUROCODES

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Present situation

• For the time being, the design requirements are based on the national existing rules and standards. It is to underline that most of them are actually rather old, as product of the last code revision (end of ’80-ies): Codes on actions on structures, R/C and steel structures, aseismic design, etc. • Regarding the dwelling sector, the period before ’90-ies has been characterized by the predominate typology of low-rise masonry buildings, strengthened (or not) by reinforced concrete columns put in their corners

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Present situation

• In Albania, the recent period after ’90-ies is characterized by the rapid urbanization and the “boom” in the construction field (high-rise buildings, new transport infrastructure, …)

• On the other hand, the “boom” in building constructions has been accompanied, in some problematic extent, by negative phenomena of a considerable number of abusive buildings. At present, necessary measures are being undertaken for these buildings to be identified and adequately controlled

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Adoption of Eurocodes – an opportunity and actual need for Albania

• The oldness of existing codes and the new situation as described above have raised the urgent needs for Albania to revise and update the Building Regulations.

• In this respect, it is widely considered and estimated that the best way to realize this important task is the adoption of Structural Eurocodes.

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• The aiming adoption of Eurocodes would be very useful for Albania also in relation to the need for the foreign western investors in the construction field, especially European ones, can find there Technical Regulations, that are familiar for them

• The adoption of Eurocodes would normally create a better climate of communication between interested parts, by improving as well thereal conditions for the control of structural design and execution of construction works

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• The adoption of Eurocodes in Albania is conceived to be realized in the framework of the cooperation between General Directorate of Standardization in Tirana, the respective departments of Ministry of Public Works, the Polytechnic University, in particular the Faculty of Civil Engineering and other public institutions, as well as various Associations and stakeholders from private sector dealing with construction fields

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• From the institutional point-of-view, it is conceived that the adoption of Eurocodes to be managed and supervised by the above-mentioned Technical Committee recently established in DPS –Tirana. Actually, it is a mirror Committee of CEN/TC 250. For the time being, in collaboration with Albanian Associations of constructors and architects, the selection of members of this National Committee and its technical sub-committees is being proceeded.

• It can be said that a national project, aiming at adoption of Eurocodes is already in its starting stage in Albania

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• In this stage, the assistance, transfer of knowledge and European experience, first of all from the CEN/TC 250, is considered as necessary for our country.

• It is particularly expected that, based on the possible institutional agreements, the sending of relevant technical publications, contacts and professional assistance by European experts be effectively done in the future.

• Possible financial support by the European Union or/and other international sources would be welcomed, as well.

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• The “spirit” of Eurocodes is already present in a considerable extent in Albania. It may said that, although not being officially obliged, number of structural designers of companies that operate in our country try to and aim at applying as widely as possible the basic principles and requirements of Eurocodes

• A national seminar organized in Tirana by the Ministry of Public Works some time ago, aimed at promoting the process of adoption for Albania of the entire group of Structural Eurocodes. Besides, number of published articles and papers have dealt with this important issue

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• The most important problem for the adoption of Eurocodes consists in their preparation in a appropriate format, by including there the National Annexes. This task has to be continously accompanied by seminars and technical publications, aiming at helping the application of Eurocodes in the structural design practice

• The final scope is the superseding of the existing National Regulations by Structural Eurocodes

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SPECIFIC ISSUES

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In the context of adoption of Eurocodes, the problem of preparation of National Annexes is rather important. Of course, it is related to all Eurocodes. But, taking into account the particular importance the Eurocode 8 (EC-8) has for Albania – as a known seismic-prone country - two specific issues related to the National Annexes of this Eurocode are briefly presented in the following

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1. It would be perhaps questionable whether EC-8 acceleration elastic response spectrum curves adequately represent characteristics of future probable earthquakes that would hit Albania. The response spectrum being a keystone in the earthquake–resistant structural design, to adopt with or without changes the EC-8 curves, this may be one of the important problems of adoption of EC-8 in Albania

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2. The elaboration of the map of design ground accelerations, corresponding to the EC-8 recommended reference return period of 475 years – this is another problem. Actually, in Albania is still in force a seismic intensity map (approved in 1980), compiled according to MSK–1964 scale. The Seismological Institute in Tirana is engaged in realizing a national project concerning the elaboration of a map of accelerations, as required by EC-8. So, it can be said that this problem is being resolved

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Some conceptual and cost issues

• The existing relevant differences between the procedures and levels of design seismic forces as calculated according to EC-8 and those of Albanian seismic code have to be carefully considered

• In addition, the “Capacity Design” method, a known inherent feature of EC-8, makes another main difference between the EC-8 and Albanian code. The later does not formally refer to that method, although some aseismic measures, aiming to provide structural ductility through due detailing of structural elements are present in the Albanian code, too

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Some conceptual and cost issues

• So, it is expected that, in Albania as well, the adoption and use of EC8 would be accompanied by the increase of structural costs, in order to cope with the main goals of a safe aseismic design

• Of course, the cost increase would not be only related to the EC8, but to the assembly of Structural Eurocodes, as the EC8 requirements are complementary to other necessary code provisions

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CONCLUSIONS

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• The adoption of the entire group of Structural EurocodesEurocodes is is considered nowadays in Albania as an opportunity and considered nowadays in Albania as an opportunity and actual need. It can be said that a national project for this actual need. It can be said that a national project for this purpose is already in its starting stage in Albaniapurpose is already in its starting stage in Albania

•• It would be welcomed that the European technical It would be welcomed that the European technical assistanceassistance on adoption of Euroodes to be more present in Albania. In particular, it is hoped that the recent contacts of Albanian experts with the Technical Committee on Eurocodes, CEN/TC 250, will be followed by further effective contacts and assistance

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For further information:

General Directorate of Standardization Mine Peza, str. No. 143/3, P.O.Box 98. Tirana – ALBANIA

Tel: +355 4 22 62 55Fax: +355 4 24 71 77

E-mail: [email protected]

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Faleminderit për vëmendjen tuaj!

Thank you for your attention!

Documents

EUROCODES AND STANDARDIZATION FOR STRUCTURAL DESIGN …elsa.jrc.ec.europa.eu/eurocodes2006/pdf/pres260.pdf · EUROCODES Workshop - 27-29 November 2006, Varese, Italy Building the