Business sectors

Structural Eurocodes are a comprehensive set of standards dedicated to the design of building and civil engineering works. The 59 parts on Structural Eurocodes produced by CEN/TC 250 ‘Structural Eurocodes’ provide rules on principles of design, actions on structures, geotechnical design and structural design rules for the use of all major materials, such as concrete, steel, composite steel and concrete, timber, masonry, and aluminium.

Structural Eurocodes are equally applicable to both whole structures and individual elements (products). They are widely used in the construction and civil engineering industry across Europe and beyond. Eurocodes are being revised to incorporate improvements to the existing suite to reflect the state of the art. The revision will enhance user-friendliness, without reducing applicability. This change will assist new entrants to the market and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

In the frame of Standardization Request M/515 (Eurocodes), CEN has been requested to revise existing Eurocodes standards to incorporate improvements that reflect the state of the art and the needs of the market. This work is being carried out by CEN/TC 250 in cooperation with a wide range of stakeholders, including structural design companies, the scientific community, industry associations and engineers, with the support of the European Commission and its Joint Research Centre (JRC).

In 2025, CEN/TC 250 will finalize the revision of more than 15 standards, such as:

• EN 1991-1-3 Eurocode 1 – Actions on structures – Part 1-3: Snow Loads
• EN 1991-1-5 Eurocode 1 – Actions on structures – Part 1-5: Thermal Actions
• EN 1991-1-9 Eurocode 1 – Actions on structures – Part 1-9: Atmospheric icing

CEN/TC 350 ‘Sustainability of construction works’ is responsible for the development of horizontal standardized methods for the assessment of sustainability aspects of new and existing construction works (buildings and civil engineering works), including standards for environmental product declarations (EPD, B2B and B2C).

CEN/TC 350 will continue developing standards in response to Standardization Request M/350 ‘Performance of buildings’, such as the revision of EN 15978 ‘Sustainability of construction works – Assessment of environmental performance of buildings – Requirements and guidance’. This document specifies the calculation method, based on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and other quantified environmental information, to assess the environmental performance of a building and its site, and gives the means for the reporting and communication of the outcome of the assessment.

CEN/TC 350 will also keep contributing to the CPR Technical Acquis through the subgroup dedicated to the definition of construction product environmental requirements, and it will support the drafting of the Standardization Requests.

Furthermore, CEN/TC 350/SC 1 ‘Circular Economy in the Construction Sector’ will continue its work on a brand-new standard to specify the framework, principles, and definitions to achieve a common understanding of circular economy in the construction sector.

Release of dangerous substances

CEN/TC 351 ‘Construction Products: Assessment of release of dangerous substances’ develops harmonized test methods to monitor the release of dangerous substances from construction products.

In 2025, CEN/TC 351 will continue its work on the following projects under M/366:

• EN 17216 ‘Construction products: Assessment of release of dangerous substances – Determination of activity of radium-226, thorium-232 and potassium-40 in construction products using semiconductor gamma-ray spectrometry’;
• CEN/TR ‘Construction products: Assessment of release of dangerous substances – Specific quality assurance measures’.

Building Information Modelling (BIM)

The standardization of Building Information Modelling (BIM) contributes to the effective management of information during the design, construction, and operational phases of an asset’s life cycle. The development of BIM is advancing rapidly and requires the application of common standards to ensure the future compatibility of information exchange and use.

In 2025, CEN/TC 442 ‘Building Information Modelling (BIM)’ will also focus on the development of a CEN Technical Specification (TS) to provide a structured methodology for CEN Technical Committees (CEN/TCs) to support digital transformation. This Technical Specification will utilize BIM deliverables to standardize key terms, definitions, data templates, construction objects, properties, and reference documents in standards produced by CEN Technical Committees.

In addition, CEN/TC 442 will continue the development of a brand-new standard to provide a digital data template structure for the Declaration of Performance and Conformity as defined in the revised Construction Products Regulation.

Residential solid fuel burning appliances

Based on the amendment of Standardization Request M/577 on space heating appliances in support of the CPR, CEN/TC 295 ‘Residential solid fuel burning appliances’ will finalize the following two standards:

• EN 16510-2-5 ‘Residential solid fuel burning appliances – Part 2-5: Slow heat release appliances’, which specifies the essential characteristics and procedures for assessment and verification of constancy of performance (AVCP) of solid fuel burning slow heat release appliances;
• EN 16510-2-7 ‘Residential solid fuel burning appliances – Part 2-7: Combination appliances fired by wood logs and pellets’, which specifies the essential characteristics and procedures for AVCP of combination appliances fired by wood logs and pellets.

Accessibility in the built environment

CEN-CLC/JTC 11 'Accessibility in the built environment' will continue the revision of EN 17210 'Accessibility and usability of the built environment – Functional requirements', mandated under Standardization Request M/587 on accessibility requirements of products and services in support of Directive (EU) 2019/882. This document describes basic, minimum functional requirements and recommendations for an accessible and usable built environment, following Design for All / Universal Design principles. As such, it will facilitate equitable and safe use for a wide range of users, including people with disabilities.

Energy performance of buildings

In 2025, CEN/TC 371 ‘Energy performance of buildings’ will continue working on the standard ‘Energy Performance of Buildings – Operational rating – Requirements for assessing Operational rating’. This document provides a methodology for data acquisition and data processing, to obtain a measured energy performance assessment and an operational rating of a building. The measured energy performance may be used for the purpose of: a) rating an entire building and/or providing partial performance indicators; b) validating a calculated energy performance; c) confirming the improvement of the energy performance following the implementation of an energy conservation measure.

At the moment, there are no standardized procedures for the operational rating of buildings at the European level. Instead, there are diverse approaches. Therefore, through this standard, Europe will benefit from the establishment of a level playing field where stakeholders will be able to compare operational ratings and set requirements.

Glass in building

In 2025, CEN/TC 129 'Glass in Building' will continue the revision of EN 17074 ‘Glass in Building – Environmental Product Declaration – Product Category Rules for Flat Glass Products’, among other deliverables. This document provides rules for determining the environmental performance of flat glass products throughout all life cycle stages, from cradle to grave.

Precast concrete products

In 2025, CEN/TC 229 ‘Precast concrete products’ will focus on the revision of harmonized standards for precast concrete products. This activity will support the CPR in view of the upcoming Standardization Request, prepared based on the input from the CPR Acquis.