Design codes compared
The following examples compare the load carrying capacities of various members when checked using SuperBeam (BS449/BS5268), ProSteel (BS5950) and EuroBeam (EC3/EC5). In each case member capacities are stated as dead+live, kN/m for beams and kN for columns. They have been calculated using equation 6.10b, i.e. factors of 1.25 (dead) and 1.5 (live), as against 1.4/1.6 in BS5950. With unrestrained steel beams, a C1 factor of 1.12 has been used.
In each case the highest member capacity is arrived at when using Eurocodes. Remember though - as David Brown of SCI has noted many a time - that changing the code used does not make a member any stronger: what these figures show is that using Eurocodes allows higher loadings by reducing what was presumably judged to be an unnecessary factor of safety.
| SuperBeam | ProSteel | EuroBeam | |
| 4m span restrained steel beam, 254x146x31 UB S275 | 15.8+15.8 | 18.0+18.0 | 19.6+19.6 |
| Required S275 UB for load of 15.8+15.8 | 254x146x31 | 305x102x28 | 305x102x28 |
| 4m span unrestrained steel beam, 254x146x31 UB S275 | 9.4+9.4 | 10.1+10.1 | 14.4+14.4 |
| 4m span, lightest S275 UB for load of 9.4+9.4 | 254x146x31 | 254x146x31 | 203x133x30 |
| 5m span, lightest S275 UB for load of 20.0+20.0 | 457x191x67 | 356x171x67 | 406x178x54 |
| Axially loaded steel column, 3m long, 152x152x23UC S275 | 157.5+157.5 | 154.9+154.9 | 169.1+169.1 |
| Cap connection column 5m long, bending about major axis, 203x133x25UB S275 | 38.4+38.4 | 46.5+46.5 | 48.7+48.7 |
E&OE: more examples to follow
