EUROCODES

Building the Future

EUROCODES AND STANDARDIZATION FOR

Building the Future in the Euro-Mediterranean Area

STRUCTURAL DESIGN IN ALBANIA

Prepared by:

• Prof. Niko POJANI, Polytechnic University

• Arben DERVISHI, General Directorate of Standardization

Tirana, Albania

Workshop - 27-29 November 2006, Varese, Italy

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Workshop - 27-29 November 2006, Varese, Italy

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Building the Future

STANDARDIZATION BODY IN ALBANIA

Building the Future in the Euro-Mediterranean Area

• The General Directorate of Standardization (Drejtoria e

Përgjithshme e Standardizimit – DPS) is the Albanian
recognized National Standards Body, certified by
CSQ/IMQ-IQNET, according to ISO 9001:2000
• DPS is correspondent member in ISO & IEC and affiliate in
CEN & CENELEC
• There are 44 various Technical Committees in DPS. One of
them was recently established for dealing with adoption of
Structural Eurocodes

Workshop - 27-29 November 2006, Varese, Italy

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OVERVIEW ON EXISTING
TECHNICAL REGULATIONS AND ADOPTION
OF EUROCODES

Workshop - 27-29 November 2006, Varese, Italy

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Building the Future

Present situation
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• For the time being, the design requirements are based on

the national existing rules and standards. It is to underline that
most of them are actually rather old, as product of the last
code revision (end of ’80-ies): Codes on actions on structures,
R/C and steel structures, aseismic design, etc.
• Regarding the dwelling sector, the period before ’90-ies
has been characterized by the predominate typology of low-
rise masonry buildings, strengthened (or not) by reinforced
concrete columns put in their corners

Workshop - 27-29 November 2006, Varese, Italy

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Building the Future

Present situation
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• In Albania, the recent period after ’90-ies is characterized by

the rapid urbanization and the “boom” in the construction
field (high-rise buildings, new transport infrastructure, …)

• On the other hand, the “boom” in building constructions has

been accompanied, in some problematic extent, by negative
phenomena of a considerable number of abusive buildings.
At present, necessary measures are being undertaken for
these buildings to be identified and adequately controlled

Workshop - 27-29 November 2006, Varese, Italy

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Building the Future

Adoption of Eurocodes – an opportunity and actual

Building the Future in the Euro-Mediterranean Area

need for Albania

• The oldness of existing codes and the new situation as

described above have raised the urgent needs for Albania
to revise and update the Building Regulations.

• In this respect, it is widely considered and estimated that the

best way to realize this important task is the adoption of
Structural Eurocodes.

Workshop - 27-29 November 2006, Varese, Italy

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Building the Future

Adoption of Eurocodes – an opportunity and actual

Building the Future in the Euro-Mediterranean Area

need for Albania

• The aiming adoption of Eurocodes would be very useful for Albania
also in relation to the need for the foreign western investors in the
construction field, especially European ones, can find there
Technical Regulations, that are familiar for them

• The adoption of Eurocodes would normally create a better climate of

communication between interested parts, by improving as well the
real conditions for the control of structural design and execution of
construction works

Workshop - 27-29 November 2006, Varese, Italy

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Building the Future

Adoption of Eurocodes – an opportunity and actual

Building the Future in the Euro-Mediterranean Area

need for Albania

• The adoption of Eurocodes in Albania is conceived to be

realized in the framework of the cooperation between
General Directorate of Standardization in Tirana, the
respective departments of Ministry of Public Works, the
Polytechnic University, in particular the Faculty of Civil
Engineering and other public institutions, as well as various
Associations and stakeholders from private sector dealing
with construction fields

Workshop - 27-29 November 2006, Varese, Italy

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Building the Future

Adoption of Eurocodes – an opportunity and actual

need for Albania
Building the Future in the Euro-Mediterranean Area

• From the institutional point-of-view, it is conceived that the adoption

of Eurocodes to be managed and supervised by the above-
mentioned Technical Committee recently established in DPS –
Tirana. Actually, it is a mirror Committee of CEN/TC 250.
For the time being, in collaboration with Albanian Associations of
constructors and architects, the selection of members of this
National Committee and its technical sub-committees is being
proceeded.

• It can be said that a national project, aiming at adoption of

Eurocodes is already in its starting stage in Albania

Workshop - 27-29 November 2006, Varese, Italy

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Building the Future

Adoption of Eurocodes – an opportunity and actual

need for Albania
Building the Future in the Euro-Mediterranean Area

• In this stage, the assistance, transfer of knowledge and

European experience, first of all from the CEN/TC 250, is
considered as necessary for our country.
• It is particularly expected that, based on the possible
institutional agreements, the sending of relevant technical
publications, contacts and professional assistance by
European experts be effectively done in the future.
• Possible financial support by the European Union or/and
other international sources would be welcomed, as well.

Workshop - 27-29 November 2006, Varese, Italy

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Building the Future

Adoption of Eurocodes – an opportunity and actual

need for Albania
Building the Future in the Euro-Mediterranean Area

• The “spirit” of Eurocodes is already present in a

considerable extent in Albania. It may said that, although
not being officially obliged, number of structural designers of
companies that operate in our country try to and aim at
applying as widely as possible the basic principles and
requirements of Eurocodes
• A national seminar organized in Tirana by the Ministry of
Public Works some time ago, aimed at promoting the
process of adoption for Albania of the entire group of
Structural Eurocodes. Besides, number of published articles
and papers have dealt with this important issue
Workshop - 27-29 November 2006, Varese, Italy
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Adoption of Eurocodes – an opportunity and actual

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need for Albania

• The most important problem for the adoption of Eurocodes

consists in their preparation in a appropriate format, by
including there the National Annexes. This task has to be
continously accompanied by seminars and technical
publications, aiming at helping the application of Eurocodes
in the structural design practice
• The final scope is the superseding of the existing National
Regulations by Structural Eurocodes

Workshop - 27-29 November 2006, Varese, Italy

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SPECIFIC ISSUES

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In the context of adoption of Eurocodes, the

problem of preparation of National Annexes is
rather important. Of course, it is related to all
Eurocodes. But, taking into account the particular
importance the Eurocode 8 (EC-8) has for
Albania – as a known seismic-prone country - two
specific issues related to the National Annexes of
this Eurocode are briefly presented in the
following

Workshop - 27-29 November 2006, Varese, Italy

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1. It would be perhaps questionable whether EC-8

acceleration elastic response spectrum curves adequately
represent characteristics of future probable earthquakes
that would hit Albania. The response spectrum being a
keystone in the earthquake–resistant structural design, to
adopt with or without changes the EC-8 curves, this may be
one of the important problems of adoption of EC-8 in
Albania

Workshop - 27-29 November 2006, Varese, Italy

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2. The elaboration of the map of design ground accelerations,

corresponding to the EC-8 recommended reference return
period of 475 years – this is another problem. Actually, in
Albania is still in force a seismic intensity map (approved in
1980), compiled according to MSK–1964 scale. The
Seismological Institute in Tirana is engaged in realizing a
national project concerning the elaboration of a map of
accelerations, as required by EC-8. So, it can be said that
this problem is being resolved

Workshop - 27-29 November 2006, Varese, Italy

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Some conceptual and cost issues

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• The existing relevant differences between the procedures

and levels of design seismic forces as calculated according
to EC-8 and those of Albanian seismic code have to be
carefully considered
• In addition, the “Capacity Design” method, a known inherent
feature of EC-8, makes another main difference between
the EC-8 and Albanian code. The later does not formally
refer to that method, although some aseismic measures,
aiming to provide structural ductility through due detailing of
structural elements are present in the Albanian code, too
Workshop - 27-29 November 2006, Varese, Italy
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Some conceptual and cost issues

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• So, it is expected that, in Albania as well, the adoption and

use of EC8 would be accompanied by the increase of
structural costs, in order to cope with the main goals of a
safe aseismic design
• Of course, the cost increase would not be only related to the
EC8, but to the assembly of Structural Eurocodes, as the
EC8 requirements are complementary to other necessary
code provisions

Workshop - 27-29 November 2006, Varese, Italy

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Building the Future
Building the Future in the Euro-Mediterranean Area

CONCLUSIONS

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• The adoption of the entire group of Structural Eurocodes is

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considered nowadays in Albania as an opportunity and

actual need. It can be said that a national project for this
purpose is already in its starting stage in Albania
• It would be welcomed that the European technical
assistance on adoption of Euroodes to be more present in
Albania. In particular, it is hoped that the recent contacts of
Albanian experts with the Technical Committee on
Eurocodes, CEN/TC 250, will be followed by further
effective contacts and assistance

Workshop - 27-29 November 2006, Varese, Italy

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For further information:

General Directorate of Standardization

Mine Peza, str. No. 143/3, P.O.Box 98. Tirana – ALBANIA
Tel: +355 4 22 62 55
Fax: +355 4 24 71 77
E-mail: info@dps.gov.al
www.dps.gov.al

Workshop - 27-29 November 2006, Varese, Italy

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Faleminderit për vëmendjen tuaj!

Thank you for your attention!

Workshop - 27-29 November 2006, Varese, Italy