European construction standards (Eurocodes) for construction works

Swedish Transport Agency regulations and general advice on the application of Eurocodes

European construction standards (Eurocodes) are common structural design rules for construction works that are used to verify load-bearing capacity, stability and durability. National choices may be made for the application of Eurocodes on the basis of the different circumstances of the Member States as regards geology, climate, etc.

The Swedish Transport Agency proposes common requirements when it comes to the application of Eurocodes for roads, streets, railways, tramways and underground railways. The proposal includes the nationally determined parameters that shall be used in the application of the Eurocodes in Sweden. The regulation makes application of the Eurocodes a requirement in order to ensure load-bearing capacity, stability and durability, as well as the fire resistance of construction works. However, the proposed regulation includes an option to use alternative calculation methods. New parts and appendices have also been added to the Eurocodes in recent years concerning, inter alia, geotechnics, towers and masts. The application of these new parts and appendices, with proposals for new national choices, is included in the regulatory proposal. Until now, there have not been any adapted Swedish national choices for tramways and underground railways.

The draft means that the Eurocodes, including the national choices for railways, shall, as a general rule, also be applied to underground railways and tramways. However, the draft also introduces specific, adapted choices for underground railways and tramways.