Eurocode 7 on ‘Geotechnical design’ is now actively being implemented throughout Europe. Part 1 devoted to the ‘General rules’ has been published in 2004 and National Annexes are presently being prepared (2006) for final implementation in the various European countries. Part 2 on ‘Ground investigation and testing’ was formally voted positively early 2006 and will be published soon. After describing shortly the history of the development of Eurocode 7, the contents of the two documents are given and the main concepts are described (verifications procedures and geotechnical categories, characteristic values, derived values, ULS verifications, SLS verifications and allowable movements of foundations).

Keywords: Eurocode 7, Geotechnical design, Limit states, Foundations, Retaining structures, Ultimate limit states, Serviceability limit states.,

Submitted on September 09, 2006.
Final Acceptance on January 23, 2006.
Discussion open until August 31, 2007.
DOI: 10.28927/SR.301039