Standards Australia and Austroads have launched the latest Australian Bridge Code, which includes two new sections that address the rehabilitation of bridges and timber bridges. 

The 2017 series addresses areas such as changes in the Australian climate, sustainability and safety-in-design, and has updated technical requirements and references.

The previous 2004 edition of the Australian Bridge Code has been thoroughly reviewed. The existing seven parts have been revised, and two new parts have been added – part 8, which addresses the rehabilitation and strengthening of existing bridges, and part 9, which looks at timber bridges. 

Additional revisions include: 

• The introduction of new bridge design loads such as light rail, fire, ship impact and loads from natural disasters including urban flooding
• Rail loading provisions have been extensively revised to align with accepted international practice.
• Material in the 2004 version was strongly focussed on steel and concrete. The 2017 revision extended this to include composite, rehabilitation material and engineered timber.
• Part 6 has become a joint document with Standards New Zealand.

Chair of Standards Australia’s technical committee BD-090, Bridge Design, Adjunct Professor Wije Ariyaratne says Australia is a unique country that creates unique challenges for bridge engineers. 

“Australia...is a continent, an island and a country with an enormous land mass where most freight is transported by road over large distances. Our design and freight vehicle loads are the highest in the world.

“Application of the AS(/NZS) 5100 series will result in consistent, durable, sustainable and value for money designs and technical management of bridges harmonised across Australia and New Zealand.

“I am proud to say that the new Bridge Code will be one of the most comprehensive bridge design codes in the world." 

Austroads Chief Executive, Nick Koukoulas, emphasised the importance of the Bridge Code for industry.

“A consistent, harmonised approach to design and management of our extensive bridge stock, incorporating the latest advances in knowledge and technology, is essential for optimised asset management and national freight efficiency”, Koukoulas said.

Standards Australia CEO Dr Bronwyn Evans explained the magnitude of this achievement for Australia.

“The Bridge Code is important not only to bridge design engineers but to the entire Australian community because of the economic and social impacts that durable and cost effective bridge designs have on the nation," she said. 

“The committee significantly expanded the scope and identified new parts necessary to comprehensively address modern bridge design and place Australia in a position of leadership. I applaud everyone involved in this significant achievement."