Which standards apply to storage and livestock buildings and shelters?

Standards are references defined by organizations such as AFNOR (French Association for Standardization) to ensure uniformity and a minimum quality in the design of products and structures. They play a central role in ensuring the safety, durability, and reliability of constructions. They also allow for the comparison of different players based on a common framework. These regulations have concrete implications for businesses, particularly in terms of responsibility and insurance.
Storage and livestock shelters are governed by European construction standards that define the requirements for the design and construction of buildings. For example, Eurocode 3 particularly applies to them, as it is dedicated to steel structures and defines the design and calculation rules. Eurocode 1 is also essential as it defines the climatic loads to be considered.
Several main criteria are taken into account, which depend on the location of the structure: snow, altitude, wind, terrain category (wind exposure), etc.
These standards are adapted to each country through national annexes to account for local specificities.

Why are these standards essential for storage buildings?

Ensuring the Strength and Safety of the Structure

Complying with standards primarily ensures the safety and resistance of constructions, in accordance with the climatic conditions of the area where they will be installed.

Facilitating Administrative Processes and Insurance Coverage

Complying with the standards also facilitates insurance coverage, as they often condition their guarantees on this compliance. In some cases, adhering to the standards can simplify obtaining building permits and may even be necessary, particularly in countries such as France and Germany.

Storage and Livestock Shelters: The Standards to Follow for Reliable Construction

Regulatory Frameworks

The compliance of storage shelters relies on two main regulatory frameworks, which incorporate concepts such as snow loads, wind speed, altitude, etc.:

• Eurocodes: These European standards apply to metal structures and define the necessary calculation rules to guarantee their strength. They incorporate various standards.
• EN 13031-1 Standard: Specifically dedicated to agricultural structures.

National Annexes to Define the Framework for Each Territory

Many European countries have their national annexes for “snow zones” and “wind zones,” which include local specificities. These parameters help define the climatic loads that a structure may face. For example, for France:

• Snow: The EN 1991-1-3 standard has a French national annex NF EN 1991-1-3/NA, which defines the application conditions in the French territory.
• Wind: The NF EN 1991-1-4 standard has a French national annex NF EN 1991-1-4/NA.

Calculation Method to Ensure Optimal Safety

Calculations are made by combining data related to snow and wind loads, applying the safety coefficients prescribed by the standards and Eurocodes. The main steps are as follows:

1. Identification of local climatic loads: referring to the national annexes of the standards.
2. Application of safety coefficients: as dictated by the regulatory frameworks.
3. Considering the different load cases separately and combined, to evaluate all possible scenarios and ensure the structure’s resistance in these scenarios.

Attention to the Standards Used

By highlighting the removable or movable characteristic, some companies use less stringent standards. The resistance of these structures is therefore not comparable. This type of standard is suitable for short periods, from three to six months at most.
It is also crucial to verify that the announced guarantees (for example, snow loads or wind speeds supported) truly comply with the applicable standards.

Shelterall: Certified and Standardized Shelters

At Shelterall, compliance with standards and the quality of our constructions are at the heart of our commitments. Our strength lies in the robustness of our models, designed to meet regulatory requirements based on their installation zones and type of use.
Our in-house design office, based in Eygalières, carries out advanced simulations to precisely model combined snow and wind loads on projects. The spacing between the arches (also called bays or “meshes”) is adjusted based on the identified constraints, ensuring resistance tailored to each situation.
Internationally, we collaborate with independent national design offices that incorporate the country-specific details and bring their local expertise to ensure the structures comply with the applicable regulations.
Our calculations undergo external validation: Shelterall works with organizations like Socotec, which verify and certify the compliance of the calculations. This validation provides an additional guarantee for clients, who benefit from reliable, secure shelters tailored to their needs.

Compliant and Tailored Storage and Livestock Shelters for Your Needs

Compliance with standards is essential to guarantee the safety and durability of your storage and livestock shelters. Not all companies systematically meet these requirements, so it’s crucial to gather all the necessary information.
At Shelterall, we combine technical expertise and flexibility to design solutions suited to the specificities of each project. Our rigorous adherence to standards, along with external certifications, guarantees the quality and compliance of our structures. This commitment provides a real guarantee for our clients: reliable, secure shelters designed to last.
Contact us today to receive tailored support and structures compliant with regulatory requirements.