scope:

This International Standard constitutes a risk- andreliability-informed foundation for decision making concerningdesign and assessment of structures both for the purpose of codemaking and in the context of specific projects. The principlespresented in this International Standard cover the majority ofbuildings, infrastructure, and civil engineering works, whateverthe nature of their application and use or combination of thematerials used1). The application of this International Standardwill require specific adaptation and detailing in special caseswhere there are potentially extreme consequences of failure2). ThisInternational Standard is intended to serve as a basis for thosecommittees responsible for the task of preparing internationalstandards, national standards, or codes of practice in accordancewith given objectives and context in a particular country. Thepresent International Standard describes how the principles of riskand reliability can be utilized to support decisions related to thedesign and assessment of structures and systems involvingstructures over their service life. Three different but relatedlevels of approach are facilitated, namely, a riskinformed, areliability-based, and a semi-probabilistic approach. The generalprinciples are applicable to the design of complete structures(buildings, bridges, industrial structures, etc.), the structuralelements and joints making up the structures and the foundations.The principles of this International Standard are also applicableto the successive stages in construction, the handling ofstructural elements, their erection, and all work on-site, as wellas the use of structures during their design working life,including maintenance and rehabilitation, and decommissioning. Riskand reliability are concepts accounting for and describing actions,structural response, durability, life-cycle performance,consequences, design rules, workmanship, quality controlprocedures, and national requirements, all of which are mutuallydependent. The application of this International Standardnecessitates knowledge beyond what is contained in the Clauses andthe Annexes. It is the responsibility of the user to ensure thatthis knowledge is available and applied.