EN 1993-6:2026/prA1

EN 1993-6:2026/prA1 is a CEN draft amendment to Eurocode 3 - Design of steel structures - Part 6: Crane supporting structures. It updates the design text for crane supporting structures, with changes to structural analysis, fatigue and crane-rail design. This draft is issued for enquiry and will amend EN 1993-6:2026 if approved.

What does EN 1993-6:2026/prA1 specify?

EN 1993-6:2026/prA1 specifies amendments to EN 1993-6:2026. The base standard provides rules for the structural design of crane supporting structures, especially indoor and outdoor overhead crane runway beams for top-mounted cranes, underslung cranes and monorail hoist blocks.

It also extends to ancillary runway items such as crane rails, structural end stops, surge connectors and surge girders, plus runway supporting structures. The standard excludes cranes and other moving parts, and it excludes the tracks and suspensions of light crane systems conforming to EN 16851.

The draft amendment is organized into four modification items:

What are the key requirements of EN 1993-6:2026/prA1?

The amendment mainly changes how designers apply the existing crane-supporting-structure rules in EN 1993-6:2026.

• Introduction - The reference to EN 1990 is replaced by EN 1990-1, which shifts the basis reference to the part for new structures. In practice, designers should align the amended text with the correct Eurocode 0 part when preparing new designs.

• Clause 7.7.3 - The wording on local bending stress at the end of the beam is changed. This matters because end-region stresses in runway beams need to be checked with the updated interpretation.

• Clause 7.8.1 - A note is added saying rail bending and additional local rail-weld stresses become relevant when contact bearing between rail and top flange cannot be ensured. In practice, this tells the engineer when the rail-to-beam contact assumption is not enough and more detailed checking is needed.

• Clause 7.8.1 - The formulae for the rail-related stress expressions are replaced. Users need to apply the updated stress calculation method rather than relying on the superseded expressions.

• Clause 11.3.2 - The fatigue wording changes from stress range notation to maximum and minimum stress notation. In practice, fatigue checks should be read with the revised symbols and interpretation.

• Annex A - The design equations for crane rails with independent rail fixings are replaced, and the accompanying symbol explanations are updated. This is the part to use when checking rail fixings, rail stiffness effects and the stress in the rail section.

• Annex A formula numbering - Several formula numbers are renumbered. That matters when working from marked-up copies, calculation sheets or internal design procedures.

What terms does EN 1993-6:2026/prA1 define?

• crane supporting structures - Steel structures that carry and support crane actions, including runway beams and related supporting members.

• overhead travelling cranes - Cranes that travel along runways, either as top-mounted cranes or underslung cranes.

• top-mounted cranes - Overhead cranes that run on top of the crane rail.

• underslung cranes - Overhead cranes or hoist blocks that operate below the supporting flange.

• monorail hoist blocks - Hoist blocks that travel on a single runway.

• light crane systems - Standardized crane systems whose tracks and suspensions are treated as parts of the crane and are covered by EN 16851.

• runway supporting structures - The structural members that support the crane runway and transfer crane actions into the building or supporting frame.

• independent rail fixings - Rail fastening arrangements where the crane rail is designed with separate fixings rather than being integral with the supporting member.

Who uses EN 1993-6:2026/prA1?

EN 1993-6:2026/prA1 is used by structural engineers, steelwork designers, crane-runway designers and checking engineers who work on crane-supporting steel structures. It is also relevant to fabricators, contractors and technical reviewers who need to build or verify runway beams, crane rails, end stops and related supporting members.

It matters in industries that install overhead travelling cranes and monorail hoists in factories, workshops, logistics buildings and other industrial structures. Buyers and quality managers may use it when specifying what design rules a supplier should follow for crane-supporting steelwork.

What changed in EN 1993-6:2026/prA1 from the previous edition?

EN 1993-6:2026/prA1 amends EN 1993-6:2026. The changes stated in the draft are:

• the Introduction now points to EN 1990-1 instead of EN 1990 (all parts)
• Clause 7 revises the local bending stress wording in 7.7.3
• Clause 7.8.1 adds a note on rail bending and local rail-weld stresses when contact bearing is not assured
• Clause 7.8.1 replaces two stress formulae
• Clause 11.3.2 revises the fatigue stress wording
• Annex A replaces the rail-fixing design formulae and symbol explanations
• Annex A updates formula numbering and the table reference for a symbol

Which standards are used with EN 1993-6:2026/prA1?

• EN 1990-1 - Provides the basis of structural and geotechnical design for new structures, and is the reference named in the amended Introduction.
• EN 1991 (all parts) - Supplies action rules used with the structural design rules unless stated otherwise.
• EN 1993-1 (all parts) - Provides the general steel design rules used together with this part.
• EN 1090-2 - Provides execution quality and tolerances that the design methods assume.
• EN 16851 - Covers light crane systems, whose tracks and suspensions are excluded from EN 1993-6.
• EN 13001 (all parts) - Gives crane design provisions for cranes in general.
• EN 15011 - Gives provisions for bridge and gantry cranes in particular.

What does the EN 1993-6:2026/prA1 document contain?

The document contains a European foreword and four modification clauses. These cover the Introduction, Clause 7 on structural analysis, Clause 11 on fatigue, and Annex A on crane rails with independent rail fixings.

The body of the draft mainly replaces references, revises stress wording, adds a note on rail bending when contact bearing is uncertain, and updates formulae and symbol explanations. It also renumbers some Annex A formulae.

For practical use, the document is meant to be read alongside EN 1993-6:2026, because it changes selected parts of that standard rather than restating the full design rules.