News in Brief – November/December 2010

The last two Steel Essentials seminars – a series of events aimed at keeping construction professionals aware of the latest developments in steel construction – will be held in Edinburgh on 23 November, and Leeds on 8 December. For more information or to register email: Stephanie.hughes@steelconstruction.org

SCI has commenced work on the Eurocode version of the Moment Connections Green Book. The new publication will be an updated version of P207 – Joints in Steel Construction: Moment Connections and will include design rules, worked examples as well as approximate resistances that can be achieved with typical moment connection details. In addition, the Eurocode approach will be followed for moment resisting column bases. This design guide is expected to be available in 2012.

SCI has commenced work on a design guide for portal frames to the Eurocodes. The guide will provide designers with simple rules for preliminary design and will explain the detailed code checks carried out by software. The Eurocode is not as comprehensive as BS 5950 in its coverage of portal frames, so it is anticipated that some current practice will become Non-Contradictory Complementary Information (NCCI) for use in Eurocode design. The guide is expected in 2012.

Joe Locke, Caunton Engineering Non-Executive Director and SSDA judge has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Bolton. Mr Locke is the former CEO of Bolton-based Watson Steel Structures and the Institution of Structural Engineers awarded him with a Gold Medal in 2007.

SCI’s On-line courses are prov-ing to be a popular alternative to full one-day public courses. The on-line courses are split into three sessions, these are interactive and completion of worked examples during the course is expected. The next step for the development of the on-line courses will be to record them for download. Providing you have a computer with sound and good internet access, why not undertake training from the office or from home and save time and money on travelling to a course.