Eurocode 5 'Design of Timber Structures' is a significant advance for the design of timber structures as it the first time that a limit state design code has been used in the United Kingdom. It also includes bridges within is scope, again a first for the UK. The change to limit state and the fact that a number of material standards have to be consulted to find the characteristic strength and stiffness properties mean that designers will take time to become familiar with the new standards particularly if they are not familiar with timber as a material. The first part of this paper discusses a number of these issues. One of the commonly expressed concerns about timber bridges is their durability. The second part of this paper reviews the recent work in Europe on this matter.
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