Current standards on construction and infrastructure
Austria stays in the lead
In Austria, infrastructure and construction are embedded into the framework provided by European and, in part, International Standards. The free movement of goods is given more and more priority. Several national standards, however, go beyond the general requirements with regard to safety and environmental protection.
The foundation for standards is provided by the European Construction Products Directive. Almost all the 1,500 standards of the infrastructure and construction field are firmly anchored in European and Austrian legislation. The CE marking evidences that a product meets the essential requirements.
Products only be used with CE marking
- Credit: ASI prm
Every six months, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour publishes a list of all the products that may only be used with CE marking in Austria. This list started with cement as the first product in 2001.
Today, 304 construction products are already listed. This European mark signals compliance with the Directive and is monitored in a four-level system of internal and external controls.
Four-level quality control (examples):
Level 1 +: Strict external control: cement - ÖNORM EN 197-1
Level 1: Samples, tests, certificate: structural bearings - ÖNORM EN 1337-3
Level 2 +: External inspection: aggregates, asphalt
Level 2: Certification of factory control: building lime - ÖNORM EN 459-1
Level 3: Production control: road traffic noise reducing devices - EN 14388
Level 4: Manufacturer’s controls: geotextiles
Eurocodes
- Credit: ASI prm
The national list of construction products is only the starting point: The nine Federal Laender implement it in their legislation, and the Austrian Institute of Construction Engineering (OIB) plays a co-ordinating role in this process.
From June 2009 on, the Eurocodes - a European standards series made up of 58 parts - forms the backbone of calculations in the field of construction. They are the starting point for concrete, timber, steel or composite structures.
Specific national requirements - because of weather conditions, wind speeds, snow loads, mountains - are laid down in national annexes to the Eurocodes. They can be easily identified: The European EN standard - Eurocode - is complemented by a national ÖNORM standard with the same number as the EN standard but preceded by the letter B.
For an overview, see the Website www.eurocode.at.
Eurocodes and national annexes (examples):
Concrete structures: ÖNORM EN 1992-1-1 and the national ÖNORM B 1992-1-1
Steel structures: ÖNORM EN 1993-1-1 and ÖNORM B 1993-1-1
Timber structures: ÖNORM EN 1995-1-1 and ÖNORM B 1995-1-1
Always up to date
- Credit: ASI prm
More than 1,400 experts draw up standards. At regular intervals, the specifications are reviewed and, if necessary, revised to ensure that they stay up to date.
Thus, the requirements, test methods and calculations always keep abreast of the state of the art. After all, one thing is certain: The construction sector needs results that are durable, safe and of good quality.
