The Eurocodes for construction were started in 1975 to improve cross-border trade in construction products and services. These documents are finally being published and will be mandatory by 2008, heralding the greatest change in codified design practice and specification for the 150,000 structural engineers across Europe.

The STEEL project aims to develop a comprehensive localized eContent service that will overcome the multi-lingual and multi-cultural barriers to Eurocode implementation. It will give engineers quality and timely technical support to encourage fast and effective adoption and use.

With the support of the European Union eContent Programme and steel producers Arcelor and Corus, the Steel Construction Institute in the UK is managing the STEEL project. The project team includes technical information centres CTICM in France, RWTH in Germany and SBI in Sweden, as well as software company CSC (UK) Ltd and localization experts e-Training International in Ireland.