PROF. DAVID A. NETHERCOT OBE, FREng, is the Head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Imperial College London. He has some 40 years experience of research, specialised advisory work and committee activity in the area of steel, aluminium and composite construction. He was previously on the staff at Cardiff, Sheffield and Nottingham Universities, including five years as Head of Department at Nottingham.

Ten of his papers have won Institution prizes. He was awarded a DSc degree in 1993 and elected to the Royal Academy of Engineering in that same year. He is a past President of the Institution of Structural Engineers and a former Council Member of the Royal Academy of Engineering. In 2006 he was awarded an OBE for services to Structural Engineering.

For 10 years he was chairman of the BSI Committee responsible for the design aspects of BS5950 as well as for UK input into the preparation of EC3. He currently chairs the IStructE Committee overseeing activity designed to ease the introduction of the suite of Eurocodes into UK practice, having previously chaired the group that prepared the initial statement of need requested by the UK Government. His involvement with Structural Codes extends beyond the UK and has included speaking and writing on technical content, practical usage and general principles.

STRUCTURAL CODES – OPPURTUNITIES FOR INNOVATION OR A REFUGE FOR THE RELUCTANT

ABSTRACT

Structural Codes influence the professional activities of all Structural Engineers. Based on some 40 years close personal involvement in a variety of roles, the nature and purpose of Structural Codes of Practice is examined. Comments are made on: The drafting process, format and coverage, the implications of introducing new documents and the need for suitable supporting infrastructure. Several suggestions to improve the situation are offered