Hilti's Multi-Duty Channel System (MT) in relation to BC1:2023

Well, firstly it is important to understand what Eurocode 1993 (EN 1993) and BC1: 2023 are.

·      EN 1993 (also known as Eurocode 3) is one of the ten European Standards (Eurocodes) for structural design. The EN 1993 standard for structural steel design is adopted in Singapore as the SS EN 1993 with its corresponding National Annexes.
·      BC1: 2023 is issued to serve as a design guide for alternative steel materials not manufactured to British/European (BS EN) standards or manufactured to BS/EN without Factory Production Control (FPC) certificates that may be allowed in structural designs based on Singapore Standard Eurocode 1993 (SS EN 1993)

Within the Eurocodes, there are product standards that consider a variety of materials. This includes the required physical and mechanical properties. Examples include EN 206: Concrete and EN 10138: Prestressing steels. However, given that construction products innovate, these products are sometimes too early in their life to be covered by a standard and developing a new harmonized product standard takes too long, hindering time-to-market. For products that are not covered under a harmonized standard but are covered by EADs, a European Technical Approval (ETA) is issued by the members of the European Organization for Technical Approvals (EOTA).

ETAs give the essential performance characteristics through the criterions given in respective European Assessment Documents (EADs). This means readers can compare product performance (given that the EADs referred to in the ETAs are the same) through an apples-to-apples comparison. It also helps that the product performance assessment is provided by recognized accredited Technical Assessment Bodies which helps build customer trust in new products along with clear transparency and alignment with existing standards.

As the BC1: 2023 was established for alternative steel materials not manufactured to British/European standards or manufactured to BS EN standards without Factory Production Control (FPC) certificates, for design according to SS EN 1993. Hilti’s channel and strut systems are covered by ETAs under the appropriate EADs and have the pre-requisite FPCs, hence the systems are beyond the scope of BC1:2023.  The Hilti channel and strut systems are acceptable to be used in Singapore for installation systems for supporting technical building equipment when designed in accordance with product performance information in their respective ETAs and designed accordingly.

For more information, please drop us an email to find our more: teamengineering.sg@hilti.com