Quality with FransWhat EN 13670 is
EN 13670 sets the rules for building concrete structures on site: falsework and formwork, reinforcement, prestressing, concreting, curing, precast erection, geometrical tolerances and the inspection that goes with them, including execution classes. Eurocode 2 assumes these execution rules are followed, so the design and the site work are meant to fit together. It covers in-situ and precast work, permanent and temporary structures. It does not cover producing or specifying the concrete itself (that is EN 206), or health and safety. In the UK it sits behind the National Structural Concrete Specification.
2009 edition vs the new edition
| Item | EN 13670:2009 | New edition (expected) |
|---|---|---|
| Design code it pairs with | EN 1992-1-1:2004 | EN 1992-1-1:2023 (second-generation Eurocode 2) |
| Concrete standard it pairs with | Earlier editions of EN 206 | The new EN 206-1 |
| FRP, CFRP and steel fibre concrete | Little coverage | Dealt with in the main body |
| Annex F (guidance on concreting) | No guidance for fibre concrete | Updated for steel-fibre-reinforced concrete |
| National provisions | Informative Annex H | Moved into a new clause 0.2 in the main text |
| Annex H | National provisions | New annex on strengthening existing structures with FRP |
This list comes from CEN's own summary of the revision, confirmed by the French standards body for building (BNIB). Neither source gives detail on tolerances or inspection classes, so don't assume those numbers have changed until you can read the published text. Sources also disagree on the exact publication date: one catalogue says mid-December 2026, while BSI's project page points to early January 2027.
Why this matters for QA/QC
EN 13670 is the document behind much of what we check before and after a pour: inspection classes, reinforcement fixing, cover, tolerances and curing records. As more projects start designing to the 2023 Eurocode 2, you could end up with a design to the new code and an execution specification that still cites the 2009 edition. That mismatch is worth catching early, before it turns into an argument over which tolerance or curing rule applies.
The other big change is for refurbishment work. FRP and carbon-fibre strengthening is common on existing buildings and bridges, but until now it had no proper home in the execution standard. A dedicated annex means clients and engineers will start to expect a formal inspection and test plan for it, not just the supplier's data sheet. Steel fibre floors and slabs also get concreting guidance of their own.
Check on your site tomorrow
- Check which edition of EN 13670 your execution specification cites, and whether the design is to Eurocode 2:2004 or 2023. If they don't match, raise it with the designer.
- On steel fibre concrete pours, check the method statement covers fibre dosage checks, placing and finishing, not just the mix.
- On FRP or carbon-fibre strengthening, check there is an inspection and test plan for substrate preparation, bond (pull-off) testing and curing, with hold points.
- Make sure the national rules your project relies on (for example the UK National Annex or NSCS) are written into the specification, not just assumed.
- Don't change your current inspection and test plans yet. Keep working to the edition in your contract until you get a formal instruction to change.
The 31-point checklist I use before every pour: bar sizes, spacing, cover and laps against the approved drawing.
Download the checklist
Sources: iTeh Standards: prEN 13670 project status and summary · BNIB: revision of the concrete execution standard · Genorma: EN 13670:2026 · ISS: EN 13670 project · BSI: Draft BS EN 13670 · BSI: UK National Annex to EN 1992-1-1:2023. Summary in my own words; the published standard and your project specification apply.