1.1   This specification describes a framework for an inter-change format to address the current and future needs of additive manufacturing technology. For the last three decades, the STL file format has been the industry standard for transferring information between design programs and additive manufacturing equipment. An STL file contains information only about a surface mesh and has no provisions for representing color, texture, material, substructure, and other properties of the fabricated target object. As additive manufacturing technology is quickly evolving from producing primarily single-material, homogenous shapes to producing multimaterial geometries in full color with functionally graded materials and microstructures, there is a growing need for a standard interchange file format that can support these features.

2. Second Generation of EN Eurocode Standards

The second generation of EN Eurocode standards is expected to be published between 2023 and 2026. These documents are being published as soon as they are available, to enable users to prepare for the transition from the first generation to second generation of Eurocodes. As set out in the National foreword of the BS EN second generation Eurocodes, UK adoptions of the first generation of Eurocodes will be withdrawn by BSI on 30 March 2028. That means there is a period of coexistence between 2023 and 2028 during which both first and second generation Eurocodes are available.

Until 30 March 2028, the first generation documents should be considered as the applicable standards for buildings and civil engineering works constructed in the UK unless otherwise specified by the relevant authority or in the specification for a particular project. While the use of provisions in second generation Eurocodes in conjunction with first generation Eurocodes is not precluded, it should be undertaken with care and should only be done when users are satisfied that it will not result in a lower level of reliability than the minimum level set in the first generation Eurocodes and associated UK National Annexes.