Safety of the reinforced concrete structure in selected design and execution parameters

The chapter discusses selected standard parameters for the safety of a building structure, which include reliability, serviceability and durability. The current Eurocodes in Poland formulate the concept of reliability for the period from the design concept to the end of the intended service life. Hence, the reliability of the structure is influenced by factors related to the stage of investment preparation, design works, execution as well as the use and maintenance of the facility. The Eurocodes formulate otherwise obvious requirements as to the qualifications of engineering and labor staff, supervision and quality control of the implementation of design and construction works, the requirement to use materials compliant with the applicable standards, and proper maintenance of the facility and use in accordance with the assumptions. Such requirements were not formulated in previously binding standards. According to the author, the appearance of such provisions should be treated as a direct assumption of high standards. The issue of the value of service loads and the accuracy of their mapping was discussed. Attention was also paid to the problem of significant complexity of the climatic load patterns. The Ultimate and Serviceability Limit States are explained. In terms of impacts, the issue of their value and possible calculation schemes was raised. In terms of materials - concrete and steel, the general research and relationships between the most important strength properties are discussed. The issue of geometric dimensional deviations and the method of their adoption were also discussed, with particular emphasis on the reinforcement cover at the design and execution stage.