British Standards

The BCSA has reminded its membership that next month (March) BSI will withdraw all British Standards that conflict with the Eurocodes.

A full list of superseded British Standards (more than 50) to be withdrawn is available from the BSI.

Members are also reminded that the Building Regulations in England, Scotland and Wales are expressed in functional terms and do not dictate the national design standard that should be used.

“Therefore withdrawn British Standards such as BS 5950 – structural use of steelwork in building – can continue to be used providing the designer can satisfy the checking authority that the approach satisfies the Building Regulations,” explained Dr David Moore, BCSA Director of Engineering. A BSI committee responsible for BS 5950 has confirmed that it is safe to use this standard until at least 2014/15.

Meanwhile, Scottish ministers are currently considering a proposal to amend the guidance given in the Technical Handbooks that support the Scottish Building Regulations. A similar amendment in England and Wales was postponed until 2013.

The Building Standards Advisory Committee is currently considering guidance following a public consultation which closed last October. In the meantime, members wishing to use British Standards in Scotland may do so.