FEATURE

Eurocode design factors and limits

National Annex to BS EN 1990 – Draft for Public Comment
Charles King
BSI has published the draft National Annex to BS EN 1990, Eurocode - (Dead Load + 10% Imposed Load) would be approximately 0.5
Basis of Structural Design. BS EN 1990 gives information required for (10,000/300) = 16.7mm. Therefore, the natural frequency, f, of the beam
design in all materials covered by the Eurocodes. is f = 18/√δ = 18/√16.7 = 4.4Hz. If the beam were part of an internal
The National Annex floor bay of 10m x 10m with both primary and secondary beams, the
• defines which load combinations should be used for Ultimate Limit mode shape would be similar to Mode B of Design Example 2 in SCI P-
State and Serviceability Limit State, 076. Allowing for the combined affects of the flexibility of the primary
• gives values for partial factors for loads, beams, secondary beams and the slab, the resulting frequency of the
• gives values for load combination factors ψ (“psi”), entire floor would be 4.0Hz, which is the design value commonly used in
• gives “guidance” for deflections. practice for the design of a composite floor. Therefore, a limit of L/300
Steel designers may find the biggest surprises in Table NA1, “Examples would not have affected the design of this floor. For a bay in which
of limiting values of vertical deflections”, and in Table NA2, “Examples Mode B could not be assumed, the span at which the limit of L/300
of limiting values of vertical and horizontal deflections”. The National affects the design would be even less.
Annex states that “the serviceability criteria should be specified for
each project and agreed with the client. Tables NA1 and NA2 are given Horizontal deflections
below for guidance.” Although only given for guidance, such values Horizontal deflection limits are given in Table NA2, Examples of
tend to become the limits used in almost all specifications. limiting values of horizontal deflections. This contains no explicit
exclusion of portal frames as in Table 8 of BS 5950-1: 2000. However, the
Vertical deflections condition of “no cracking in bearing walls without reinforcement” and
Vertical deflection limits are given in Table NA1, Examples of limiting “no cracking in partitions” are not relevant to normal portal
values of vertical deflections. The values from a few categories in Table construction or detailing.
NA1 are given in Table 1. The values in this table are for the total
deflection from dead plus live loads (“permanent plus variable loads” in Conclusions
Eurocode terminology). They are clearly more onerous than the The differences between the National Annex to BS EN 1990 and
“suggested limits” given in Table 8 of BS 5950-1: 2000 which are BS 5950-1 are a cause for concern because they could result in increased
calculated for imposed load only, three of which are given in Table 2. cost of structures without good reason. Therefore, the SCI encourages
member companies to study the Draft for Public Comment and respond
Vertical deflections in longer span floors to BSI. (The SCI would also be glad to receive feedback either positive
For longer span structures, the proposed Table NA1 might cause less or negative feedback from members on this topic.)
concern because the dynamic response of a floor is often the governing The document is: Draft BS EN 1990 National Annex to BS EN 1990:
design criterion. Although minimum natural frequency alone cannot Basis of Structural design. DPC: 03/700353 DC
guarantee acceptable dynamic response, it has been common practice to It is obtainable from:
design composite floors to a minimum natural frequency of 4Hz. BSI, 389 Chiswick High Road, London W4 4AL
Natural frequency is often calculated using SCI P-076, Design Guide on Telephone +44(0)20 8996 9000 Fax +44(0)20 8996 7001
the Vibration of Floors, which recommends that the loading considered The latest date for comments is 31 August 2003. The responsible
for calculation of floor frequency is (Dead Load + 10% Imposed Load). committee secretary is given as Mr M.K. Greenley. The document
In many floors, (Dead Load + 10% Imposed Load) is approximately contains guidance on the acceptable format for the submission of
equal to 0.5 (Dead Load + Imposed Load). comments on the second page.
If an individual beam with a span of 10m were designed for a deflection Charles King, is Senior Manager – Standards, at The Steel Construction
of L/300 under (Dead Load + Imposed Load), then the deflection under Institute.
Table 1. Vertical deflections: Values from Table NA1 of the Draft for Public Comment of the National Annex to BS EN 1990
Vertical total deflection Calculated from
dead + imposed loads
Member supporting partition walls
• Brittle (not reinforced) ≤ L/500
• Reinforced ≤ L/300
• Removable ≤ L/300
Ceilings
• Plastered ≤ L/300
• Suspended ≤ L/200
Roofing and Flooring
• Rigid (e.g. ceramic tiles) ≤ L/500
• Flexible (e.g. flexible floor covering) ≤ L/250
Table 2. Vertical deflections: Values from Table 8 of BS 5950-1: 2000
Vertical imposed load deflection
Cantilevers ≤ L/180
Beams carrying plaster or other brittle finish ≤ L/360
Other beams (except purlins and sheeting rails) ≤ L/200