Tony Bryer
12th November 2009, 11:26 PM
Introduction
Eurocodes have been under discussion for more than a few years - see our Future of BS449 page (http://www.superbeam.co.uk/bs449.htm), but we are finally at the stage where all the relevant codes and National Annexes have been published. Some useful web sites:
CEN Eurocode web site (http://eurocodes.jrc.ec.europa.eu/home.php)
Eurocodes Expert web site (http://www.eurocodes.co.uk/) NCCI Steel (http://www.steel-ncci.co.uk/Clauses/List_NCCIs.htm)
Eurocodes provide a consistent design approach across all materials. Over the last 10+ years a lot of Eurocode thinking has found its way into British Standards so for steel design not too much changes. The big change is with timber design where EC5 brings limit state design to timber for the first time (in the UK anyway).
EuroBeam®
We are now working on a new program, EuroBeam, which will ultimately replace SuperBeam and ProSteel. The expectation is that it will look and work just like these two and combine their functionality, i.e. steel and timber beam and column design and checking, beam web openings, connections and beam splices, though my current thinking is that the first release will contain beam and column checking only, with the other options being added in progressively.
Here are answers to some of the questions you may have:
Availability
EuroBeam ships when it does! I'll be disappointed if version 1.0 isn't released in Q1 2010 but this is not a promise.
Pricing
Pricing will be decided when the product is ready for release, but will probably be similar to the combined SuperBeam + ProSteel new user price (£239). Update cover will probably be £70p.a., the current combined price for SuperBeam and ProSteel and will include updates to these programs if you own them, though after 2010 it is likely that all significant enhancements will go into EuroBeam only.
Existing users of SuperBeam and ProSteel
We have always looked after our existing customers so will be giving deep discounts to users who have SuperBeam and ProSteel with current update cover. Other users will be offered a discount depending on which product(s) they have and the length of any unexpired update cover. My current thinking is that if you have one product only, you'll be offered EuroBeam with 12 months update cover for about £120-150, less £10 for each full quarter of unexpired cover
I'm thinking of buying SuperBeam and/or ProSteel - should I wait for EuroBeam
No, if you need one or both, buy it/them now and they'll be saving you time and money. As outlined above, you'll be able to buy EuroBeam at a good discount when it is released. EuroBeam will not be able to read SuperBeam or ProSteel files, but future releases of both these programs will include an option to save projects as a EuroBeam file.
EuroBeam is a registered trade mark of Greentram Software Pty. Ltd. The information above is given in good faith but does not bind Greentram Software to release any product. Prices given are indicative only, apply to single user licences and are subject to change.
Eurocodes have been under discussion for more than a few years - see our Future of BS449 page (http://www.superbeam.co.uk/bs449.htm), but we are finally at the stage where all the relevant codes and National Annexes have been published. Some useful web sites:
CEN Eurocode web site (http://eurocodes.jrc.ec.europa.eu/home.php)
Eurocodes Expert web site (http://www.eurocodes.co.uk/) NCCI Steel (http://www.steel-ncci.co.uk/Clauses/List_NCCIs.htm)
Eurocodes provide a consistent design approach across all materials. Over the last 10+ years a lot of Eurocode thinking has found its way into British Standards so for steel design not too much changes. The big change is with timber design where EC5 brings limit state design to timber for the first time (in the UK anyway).
EuroBeam®
We are now working on a new program, EuroBeam, which will ultimately replace SuperBeam and ProSteel. The expectation is that it will look and work just like these two and combine their functionality, i.e. steel and timber beam and column design and checking, beam web openings, connections and beam splices, though my current thinking is that the first release will contain beam and column checking only, with the other options being added in progressively.
Here are answers to some of the questions you may have:
Availability
EuroBeam ships when it does! I'll be disappointed if version 1.0 isn't released in Q1 2010 but this is not a promise.
Pricing
Pricing will be decided when the product is ready for release, but will probably be similar to the combined SuperBeam + ProSteel new user price (£239). Update cover will probably be £70p.a., the current combined price for SuperBeam and ProSteel and will include updates to these programs if you own them, though after 2010 it is likely that all significant enhancements will go into EuroBeam only.
Existing users of SuperBeam and ProSteel
We have always looked after our existing customers so will be giving deep discounts to users who have SuperBeam and ProSteel with current update cover. Other users will be offered a discount depending on which product(s) they have and the length of any unexpired update cover. My current thinking is that if you have one product only, you'll be offered EuroBeam with 12 months update cover for about £120-150, less £10 for each full quarter of unexpired cover
I'm thinking of buying SuperBeam and/or ProSteel - should I wait for EuroBeam
No, if you need one or both, buy it/them now and they'll be saving you time and money. As outlined above, you'll be able to buy EuroBeam at a good discount when it is released. EuroBeam will not be able to read SuperBeam or ProSteel files, but future releases of both these programs will include an option to save projects as a EuroBeam file.
EuroBeam is a registered trade mark of Greentram Software Pty. Ltd. The information above is given in good faith but does not bind Greentram Software to release any product. Prices given are indicative only, apply to single user licences and are subject to change.