New e-Learning tool helps business

The British Standards Institution (BSI) has created a free interactive e-learning course to introduce industry to the benefits of using the structural Eurocodes.

The new codes will have a significant impact on British industry both in Europe and worldwide when they replace existing British Standards in construction over the next four years. The online learning package is a first for the BSI and was chosen as a creative way of informing people and encouraging them to get a better understanding of what the Eurocodes are and how they will be implemented.

The e-learning tool encourages users to role-play a BSI Eurocodes conference which is attended by delegates from all over the world. After the lecture from an expert on Eurocodes there is a question and answer session where international delegates get to ask questions about how the Eurocodes will affect them in their countries. In this way users are able to find out what the international implications of the codes will be. The whole programme takes approximately 60 minutes to complete and aims to provide users with key information about the Eurocodes and create an interest to look at them in greater detail. The interactive conference can be found at www.bsi-global.com/eurocodes

Mark Wasmuth, International Development Manager for British Standards said, ?BSI is taking a lead role in informing industry about the Eurocodes in an innovative way, which provides interest and puts the Eurocodes into context. We have used the e-learning package to make the benefits of using Eurocodes available to all interested parties, as education is vital for the successful implementation of these standards.?

Ends

Notes to Editor:

The Eurocodes comprise 58 design standards and cover 10 areas: the basis of structural design, actions, concrete, steel, composite steel and concrete, timber, masonry, aluminium, geotechnical and seismic design.
21 Eurocodes, 1 national annex and 1 education publication have been completed covering areas such as timber, geotechnical and seismic. Others are being developed with the final documents due to be published in 2007 and withdrawal of the British national standards to be complete in 2010.
For further information on Eurocodes readers can visit www.bsi-global.com/Eurocodes or contact BSI Customer Services on +44 (0)20 8996 9001 or email BSI at info@bsi-global.com

For media information:

Jonathan Mason
Public Relations Officer
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8996 7248
Mob: +44 (0) 7717 451 990
Email: jonathan.mason@bsi-global.com
Website: www.bsi-global.com

BSI British Standards is one of the world?s leading national standards-making bodies. Part of the BSI Group, BSI British Standards develops standards and standardization solutions to meet the needs of business and society. BSI works with government, businesses and consumers to represent UK interests and facilitate the production of British, European and international standards.
For further information on British Standards please visit:
www.bsi-global.com/british_standards

The NSSF is an initiative of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), BSI, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the United Kingdom Accreditation Service to provide a platform for increasing the awareness, use and understanding of standards and standardization in the UK.
For further information on the NSSF please visit: www.nssf.info