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Belarus now uses European civil engineering standards
MINSK, 6 January (BelTA) – The Belarusian civil engineering industry has switched to using European standards, Belarus Deputy Architecture and Construction Minister Anatoly Nichkasov told BelTA.
As of 1 January all the 58 Belarusian technical codes, which are identical to those Europe uses, have been enforced. The codes regulate the calculation and design of building structures. Starting this year Belarus uses 668 European standards that the European codes refer to. These standards are harmonized with Directive 89/106/EEC. The European standards regulate several areas, including the production of construction materials and structures as well as designing. Anatoly Nichkasov remarked that all European Union countries use these regulations in their civil engineering practices.
“The adoption of the standards is a giant leap ahead. Within a year the country has accomplished a breakthrough project that will allow building up export to Central and Eastern Europe and removing technical barriers regarding the implementation of investment projects in Belarus. Now foreign investors will be able to operate in the country using common European technical standards”, said the Deputy Architecture and Construction Minister.
Following the introduction of the European standards in Belarus a program of measures meant to assimilate European Union civil engineering standards at Belarusian companies has been put together. The program will be implemented this year. The transition to the European standards will require certain expenses, in particular, the purchase of the relevant software, re-training and professional development for various specialists.
Meanwhile, Belarusian standards will stay in place. For some time the European standards will be used alongside the existing national regulations.
Some time before that 249 standards, which have been harmonized with European and international standards and which lay down technical requirements and methods to test wall materials and products, cement, building glass and so on, were introduced. The measure enabled Belarusian construction product exporters to use CE labels on their products and export them to the European Union.
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