European Committee for Standardization Approves Development of Composite Material Specifications, Expected Release in 2028

en.Wedoany.com Reported - The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) has approved the development of a European standard specifically for composite materials. This standard will join the existing 10 European standards, providing unified rules for building and civil engineering design within the EU, enabling engineers to confidently design safe and reliable structures using composite materials, thereby promoting their wider application in the construction industry.

After completing the final procedural steps, this European standard (tentatively named Eurocode 11) is expected to be released in June 2028. The standard is divided into three parts: Part 1-1 covers general rules and rules for buildings, bridges, and civil engineering structures; Part 1-2 addresses structural fire design; and Part 2 covers construction requirements.

This standard is driven by Working Group 4 (WG4) of CEN Technical Committee 250 (TC250), led by Professor Luigi Ascione from the University of Salerno. Eric Moussiaux, a board member of the European Composites Industry Association (EuCIA), and President Professor Roberto Frassine actively participate in the work of CEN TC250 WG4 on behalf of the association.

In Europe, some countries have already published design guidelines for composite materials, but the industry requires a more comprehensive and unified framework to give engineers confidence in designing safe and reliable structures with composites. Published in November 2022, CEN/TS 19101 is the result of over 12 years of work by CEN TC250 WG4, providing guidance for the structural design of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. Following the release of this technical specification, its guidelines have been extensively tested by the composite materials industry and the building and construction community. In March 2023, CEN TC250's proposal to develop construction regulations for fiber polymer composite structures was accepted, covering production, installation, and maintenance procedures not addressed in the technical specification.

The 2025 publication "Design of Fibre-Polymer Composite Structures: Commentary on the European Technical Specification CEN/TS 19101: 2022" is available on the Taylor & Francis Group website, providing supplementary information and background reports for understanding and applying the technical specification. JEC and the European Pultrusion Technology Association (EPTA) jointly support its open-access publication.

Frassine stated that the new European standard will position composite materials alongside steel, concrete, and aluminum as recognized construction materials, supporting the broader adoption of composite solutions and contributing to the sustainable development of the European construction industry.