Our built environment is shaped by standards: standards for design, for products, for testing, for construction. To the industry, standards are a catalyst for every successful project. To most people, standards are invisible.

Yet since the introduction of Eurocodes in 2010, buildings we enter, bridges we cross and  infrastructure we rely on are likely to have been influenced by a silent, but especially powerful framework of standards, the Eurocodes.

They have become so embedded in professional practice that it’s easy to forget what they represent - and how much work it took to get here.

Now, as a second generation of Eurocodes emerges, the standards are once again in the spotlight. Not as a routine update, but as a moment of reflection on how we design, regulate and future‑proof the built environment.

From national standards to a harmonized system

The origins of Eurocodes lie in the drive to remove technical barriers to construction across Europe.

Prior to their adoption, in the UK national British Standards governed structural design and construction. Eurocodes were conceived as a harmonized, performance-based system that could be applied across Europe while allowing countries to decide on safety levels, and to give national geographic and climatic data through Nationally Determined Parameters (NDPs) in National Annexes.

Developed under technical committee CEN/TC 250 Structural Eurocodes, the first generation Eurocodes consisted of a series of ten European (EN) standards, EN 1990-EN 1999, providing a common approach for the design of buildings and other civil engineering works and construction products and covered structural actions, geotechnical design, design of structures in concrete, steel, composite construction, timber, masonry and aluminium.

In the UK, the date of withdrawal for conflicting national standards was set as 31 March 2010, when conflicting British Standards were withdrawn and Eurocodes became the principal design standards for buildings and civil engineering works.

Since then, Eurocodes have been in widespread use across Europe and worldwide, seeing general market acceptance and being embedded into professional training, software tools, procurement processes and regulatory guidance. Their widespread use has created a shared technical language across the built environment community - one that extends well beyond national borders.

Eurocodes and the UK regulatory framework

Although Eurocodes themselves are not law, they play a critical role in meeting regulatory requirements.

In the UK, Eurocodes are referenced  in Approved Document A - Structure, as a recognised means of demonstrating compliance with the functional requirements of the Building Regulations

Eurocodes are written to be flexible and performance‑based, allowing designers to meet regulatory outcomes without prescribing specific construction solutions. This flexibility supports innovation while maintaining confidence in safety and reliability.

A key feature of the system is the use of National Annexes (NAs) whereby national choice is allowed where explicitly stated within notes in the Eurocodes. National choice includes the selection of values for Nationally Determined Parameters (NDPs) which allow countries to decide on safety levels, and to give national geographic and climatic data, in National Annexes. National choice is also allowed on the application of informative annexes.

Why a second generation of Eurocodes was needed

Eurocodes were always intended to evolve.

Since the first generation was published, the construction sector has changed significantly. Expectations around safety, sustainability and resilience have increased, while advances in research, digital design tools and materials science have reshaped engineering practice.

Recognizing this, under mandate M/515, CEN/TC 250 launched a major programme to review and update  all existing parts of the Eurocodes and identify gaps.  A new Eurocode EN 19100 on structural glass has been introduced as part of the second generation update.

Led by BSI and involving many thousands of experts across Europe, this work was the largest standardization programme of its kind, with publication of all ENs and national documents taking place between 2023 and 2027.

The aim of the second generation is not to overturn the system, but to strengthen it. Key drivers include:

• improving clarity and usability;

• incorporating up‑to‑date scientific knowledge;

• addressing known ambiguities and inconsistencies;

• supporting modern methods of construction and digital design; and

• responding to wider policy priorities such as safety, climate resilience and sustainability.

Managing the Eurocodes transition: Coexistence and key dates

Recognising the scale of change, a defined transition (coexistence) period has been put in place.

From 2023 to 2028, both first and second generation Eurocodes are available. This allows organisations time to understand the changes, update internal processes, train and plan projects accordingly.

In the UK, a critical milestone is 30 March 2028, when UK adoptions of the first generation Eurocodes will be withdrawn.

After this date, the second generation will form the recommended basis for  Eurocode‑based design. The same transition principles apply to UK National Annexes and associated supporting documents.

This phased approach is intended to reduce risk and disruption, but it also places responsibility on industry to engage early. Designers, clients, and manufacturers all need to be aware of which generation of standards is being used, how National Annexes apply, and what this means for compliance and liability.

Looking ahead

Eurocodes have always been more than a series of technical documents. They represent a shared commitment to safety, consistency and quality across the built environment. The move to a second generation reinforces that commitment, ensuring that standards remain relevant in a changing world.

As the second generation of Eurocodes and corresponding national documents become available, the focus will increasingly shift from awareness to application. By 2028, second generation Eurocodes will be the norm, not the exception. Organizations that engage early will be best placed to manage risk, maintain compliance and take advantage of the improvements the new standards offer.

In that sense, the second generation of Eurocodes is not simply an update. It is a statement about the future of construction: one that recognizes the need for robust standards, informed regulation and continuous improvement in the way we design and build.

Browse our library of Eurocodes and National Annexes here.