Eurocode 3 (EN 1993) is the set of European standards for designing steel structures. In the UK you use it as BS EN 1993, with its UK National Annex, alongside EN 1990 and EN 1991, and with fabrication and erection specified to BS EN 1090-2. This guide explains how those pieces fit together, where UK practice trips people up, and what to plan for before the first-generation Eurocodes are withdrawn.

TL;DR

Eurocode 3 is a package of roughly 20 documents. It is not usable on its own: it works with EN 1990 (basis of design) and EN 1991 (actions).

In the UK the National Annex is mandatory. It sets the Nationally Determined Parameters that replace the recommended values in the base document.

Eurocode 3 design rules assume execution to BS EN 1090-2, so you must choose execution classes deliberately, not by default.

The first and second generation Eurocodes coexist until 30 March 2028. Do not mix provisions between generations casually.

Overflow steel design is easier to hand over when the basis of design, National Annex and execution class are written down at kick-off.

**https://xponexusengineering.com/2026/10/22/eurocode-3-design/**