In February 2026, Spain was hit by large-scale flood disasters, which caused severe damage to local infrastructure, including some bridge structures. This natural disaster once again highlighted the importance of designing and constructing durable, resilient and standard-compliant permanent bridges for regional infrastructure stability. In the field of civil engineering, constructing permanent bridges plays a vital role in infrastructure advancement. Before delving into the Eurocodes standard applicable to permanent bridges in Spain, it is necessary to clarify the definition, advantages of permanent bridges, as well as the overall framework of European bridge design codes and the specific requirements of Spain’s local bridge design codes—all of which lay the foundation for ensuring bridge safety and adaptability, especially in the context of frequent extreme weather events such as floods.

What is a Permanent Bridge and Its Advantages?

A permanent bridge refers to a long-term, fixed bridge structure designed and constructed to serve transportation needs (highway, railway, pedestrian, etc.) for an extended service life—usually 50 years or more—with stable performance, strong durability and low long-term maintenance costs. Unlike temporary bridges that are built for short-term use (such as emergency rescue after natural disasters), permanent bridges are designed to withstand long-term environmental erosion, continuous traffic loads and unexpected extreme conditions (including floods, earthquakes, strong winds, etc.), and are core components of a region’s transportation network.

The advantages of permanent bridges are particularly prominent, especially in disaster-prone areas like Spain which suffered from large-scale floods in February 2026: First, excellent durability, using high-quality materials and scientific design to resist corrosion, fatigue and environmental damage, ensuring long-term stable operation even after being affected by floods. Second, strong load-bearing capacity, which can stably bear continuous traffic loads (such as heavy trucks, high-speed trains) and sudden additional loads (such as flood impact, debris accumulation during floods). Third, good adaptability, which can be designed according to local geographical environment, climate characteristics and disaster risks (such as flood control standards) to enhance structural resilience. Fourth, economic efficiency in the long run, although the initial construction investment is relatively high, the low maintenance cost and long service life reduce the total life-cycle cost, and avoid frequent reconstruction and maintenance caused by structural damage after disasters. Fifth, stable social value, as a key link in the transportation network, permanent bridges ensure the smooth flow of people and materials, which is crucial for post-disaster rescue, economic recovery and daily social operation—this was fully reflected in the 2026 Spanish flood disaster, where standard-compliant permanent bridges became important channels for rescue materials transportation and personnel transfer.

European Bridge Design Codes and Spain’s Local Bridge Design Codes

European bridge design codes, commonly known as Eurocodes, are a set of harmonized technical standards developed by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) to unify the structural design framework across European countries. The core purpose of Eurocodes is to ensure the safety, reliability, durability and interoperability of construction projects (including bridges) within the European market, eliminate technical trade barriers, and promote cross-border cooperation in the construction industry. Eurocodes cover all aspects of bridge design and construction, including load calculation, structural analysis, material specifications, durability requirements, and disaster resistance design (such as seismic, flood and wind resistance), forming a comprehensive and systematic technical guideline system.

For Spain, the bridge design standard system is based on Eurocodes, supplemented by local national annexes and special specifications to adapt to the country’s unique geographical, climatic and engineering needs—especially in response to flood risks, which have been further emphasized after the February 2026 flood disaster. Specifically, Spain’s bridge design codes consist of three core parts:

First, Eurocodes adopted as national standards. Spain converts Eurocodes into national standards through the Spanish Association for Standardization (UNE), with the prefix “UNE-EN”, making them mandatory for bridge design and construction. The key Eurocodes related to permanent bridges are consistent with the European unified standards, including EN 1990 (Basis of Structural Design), EN 1991 (Actions on Structures), EN 1992 (Design of Concrete Structures), EN 1993 (Design of Steel Structures), and EN 1994 (Design of Composite Steel and Concrete Structures), which form the core technical basis for Spanish bridge design.

Second, National Annexes (NA). As a mandatory supplement to Eurocodes, the National Annexes adjust and specify key parameters in Eurocodes according to Spain’s actual conditions, such as load partial factors, flood control load standards, seismic zoning parameters, and material performance requirements. For example, AN/UNE-EN 1993-2 (National Annex for Steel Bridges) and AN/UNE-EN 1998-2 (National Annex for Seismic Design of Bridges) further refine the technical requirements combined with Spain’s engineering practice, especially increasing the relevant provisions for flood impact resistance after the 2026 flood disaster.

Third, Spanish local special specifications. Issued by Spain’s Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility (MITMA) and the Railway Infrastructure Administration (ADIF), these specifications focus on the special needs of Spain’s highway and railway bridges. Key specifications include NCSP-07 (Real Decreto 637/2007, Bridge Seismic Design Code), which supplements EN 1998-2 to enhance the seismic and flood resilience of bridges; RPX-95 (Recommended Code for the Design of Highway Steel-Concrete Composite Bridges); IAP-98 (General Design Code for Highway Bridges), which specifies geometric parameters, load standards and structural details; and ADIF’s special specifications for railway bridges, which match Eurocode 1991-2 and Eurocode 1993-2 to meet the design requirements of high-speed and ordinary railways.

In Spain, compliance with the above Eurocodes standard and local specifications is crucial to guarantee safety, reliability, and performance in bridge design and construction—this is even more important after the February 2026 flood disaster, as the standards put forward higher requirements for the flood resistance, durability and structural resilience of permanent bridges. This article further explores the technical specifications, applications, and advantages of the Eurocodes standard concerning permanent bridges in Spain, and introduces how EVERCROSS BRIDGE TECHNOLOGY (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD., as an integrated industry and trade enterprise, produces steel structure bridges that meet local standards, offering valuable insights for B2B buyers and industry professionals.

What are Eurocodes?

Eurocodes represent a collection of harmonized technical standards developed by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) to establish a cohesive framework for structural design across Europe. These guidelines cover various construction components, such as load calculations, structural analysis, and material specifications. For Spain, Eurocodes are essential not only for meeting national regulations but also for promoting international collaboration and trade in construction methodologies. Especially after the 2026 Spanish flood disaster, Eurocodes’ provisions on extreme load resistance (including flood impact) have become a key basis for optimizing bridge design and ensuring structural safety.

Eurocodes adopt a limit state design method, focusing on two core limit states: Ultimate Limit State (ULS) and Serviceability Limit State (SLS). The Ultimate Limit State ensures that the bridge structure does not suffer collapse, damage or loss of stability under extreme loads (such as flood impact, heavy traffic, earthquakes); the Serviceability Limit State ensures that the bridge’s deflection, crack width and vibration meet the requirements during normal use, avoiding affecting traffic safety and user comfort. This design concept is fully integrated into the entire process of permanent bridge design in Spain, providing a solid technical guarantee for the long-term stable operation of bridges.

Key Eurocodes Relevant to Permanent Bridges

When designing permanent bridges in Spain, several Eurocodes are particularly significant, and their roles have been further highlighted in the context of post-2026 flood disaster infrastructure reconstruction:

EN 1990: Basis of Structural Design - This standard lays out the principles and requirements for structural design, including load combination rules, safety factors and design criteria, ensuring bridges can endure various loads and environmental factors (such as flood impact, temperature changes, and corrosion). It is the core guiding standard for all permanent bridge design in Spain, providing a unified design framework.

EN 1991: Actions on Structures - This code outlines the various loads that bridges may face, such as dead loads (bridge dead load, pavement, auxiliary facilities), live loads (highway vehicles, railway trains, pedestrians), wind forces, seismic actions, and special loads (flood impact force, debris impact force during floods). For Spain, which suffered from large-scale floods in 2026, the provisions on flood-related loads in this code have become a key reference for optimizing bridge design and improving flood resistance.

EN 1992: Design of Concrete Structures - This standard delivers guidelines for designing and detailing concrete components utilized in bridge construction, concentrating on durability, serviceability, and ultimate limit states. It specifies the performance requirements of concrete materials, the design method of reinforced concrete and prestressed concrete structures, and the anti-crack and anti-corrosion measures—important for improving the durability of concrete bridges in flood-prone areas.

EN 1993: Design of Steel Structures - For steel bridges, this code provides specifications on material properties, structural behavior, and fatigue evaluation. It clarifies the selection criteria of steel materials, the design method of steel components and connections, and the fatigue check requirements under long-term dynamic loads, which is the core standard for the design of steel structure permanent bridges in Spain.

EN 1994: Design of Composite Steel and Concrete Structures - This standard is essential for bridges that incorporate both steel and concrete, offering guidelines for their integration and performance. Composite steel-concrete bridges combine the advantages of high strength of steel and good durability of concrete, and are widely used in highway and railway bridge projects in Spain, especially in post-2026 flood disaster reconstruction projects due to their strong adaptability and short construction period.

Technical Features of Eurocodes for Bridge Construction

The Eurocodes furnish comprehensive technical features that bolster the safety and reliability of permanent bridges, and these features are closely combined with Spain’s local needs and disaster prevention requirements, especially in response to flood risks:

Load Combinations: Eurocodes specify particular load combinations to be considered during the design phase, including the combination of permanent loads, variable loads and special loads (such as flood impact loads), ensuring bridges can endure extreme circumstances, such as heavy traffic, adverse weather conditions and natural disasters like floods. After the 2026 Spanish flood disaster, the rationality of load combinations has become a key focus of bridge design review, ensuring that bridges can resist the impact of extreme floods.

Material Performance: The standards stipulate performance criteria for various materials, ensuring that the steel and concrete used in bridge construction comply with stringent quality standards for strength and durability. For example, steel materials need to meet the requirements of tensile strength, yield strength and impact toughness, and have good corrosion resistance (to adapt to the humid environment after floods); concrete materials need to have appropriate strength grade, impermeability and frost resistance, avoiding damage caused by flood immersion and erosion.

Structural Analysis: The Eurocodes promote advanced analytical techniques, including finite element modeling, which allows for more precise predictions of structural behavior under different load scenarios (such as flood impact, uneven settlement, and temperature stress). In Spain’s permanent bridge design, finite element analysis is widely used to simulate the stress and deformation of bridge structures under flood conditions, optimizing the structural design and improving flood resistance.

Durability and Maintenance: Eurocodes address the long-term performance of materials and structures, underscoring the importance of maintenance strategies to prolong the lifespan of bridges. Combined with the experience of the 2026 flood disaster, Spanish bridge design further strengthens the durability design, such as adopting anti-corrosion coatings for steel structures, setting drainage systems to avoid long-term water accumulation, and formulating regular inspection and maintenance plans to timely repair structural damage caused by floods and other disasters.

Applications of Eurocodes in Permanent Bridge Projects

Permanent bridges in Spain are essential connectors for transportation networks, and implementing Eurocodes ensures they adhere to both national and international standards. Especially after the February 2026 flood disaster, the application of Eurocodes in bridge reconstruction and new construction projects has become more extensive, covering various types of permanent bridges:

Highway and Rail Bridges: Eurocodes facilitate the design of sturdy highway and rail bridges capable of supporting heavy traffic loads and dynamic forces from trains. In post-flood reconstruction, these bridges are designed according to Eurocodes’ load combination requirements, increasing the flood impact resistance and ensuring the smooth flow of key transportation lines—an important guarantee for regional economic recovery.

Pedestrian and Cycle Bridges: The standards offer guidelines for designing lighter, aesthetically pleasing pedestrian and cycle bridges, ensuring safety and comfort for users. Even for such light-duty bridges, Eurocodes’ requirements for structural stability and durability are strictly followed, especially in flood-prone areas, to avoid structural damage caused by floods and ensure the safety of pedestrians and cyclists.

Bridges in Seismic Zones and Flood-Prone Areas: Given Spain’s varied geography, which includes both seismic-prone areas and flood-prone regions (as reflected in the 2026 flood disaster), Eurocodes provide critical criteria for designing bridges in these areas, enhancing their resilience and safety. For flood-prone areas, Eurocodes’ provisions on flood load calculation, structural waterproofing and corrosion resistance are fully applied, and combined with Spain’s local NCSP-07 specification, the bridge’s flood resistance level is further improved.

EVERCROSS BRIDGE TECHNOLOGY (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.: Producing Steel Structure Bridges Compliant with Spanish Standards

Against the backdrop of Spain’s emphasis on bridge safety and standard compliance, especially after the 2026 flood disaster which increased the demand for high-quality, disaster-resistant permanent bridges, EVERCROSS BRIDGE TECHNOLOGY (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD. (hereinafter referred to as “EVERCROSS”) stands out as an integrated industry and trade enterprise specializing in the R&D, design, production, and export of steel structure bridges. With rich experience in international bridge projects and a strict quality control system, EVERCROSS has the capability to produce steel structure bridges that fully comply with Eurocodes and Spain’s local bridge design standards, providing reliable infrastructure solutions for the Spanish market, especially for post-flood reconstruction projects.

As an integrated industry and trade enterprise, EVERCROSS achieves compliance with Spanish standards through a full-process quality control system, covering design, material selection, production, testing and after-sales service:

First, Professional Design Team with Rich Experience in Eurocodes. EVERCROSS has a team of senior structural designers who are proficient in Eurocodes (especially EN 1993 for steel structures) and Spain’s local specifications (including UNE-EN series standards, NCSP-07, RPX-95, etc.). Combining the geographical environment, climate characteristics and flood risk of the project location in Spain, the team carries out personalized design—for example, optimizing the bridge structure to enhance flood impact resistance, adopting reasonable load combinations according to the 2026 flood disaster experience, and ensuring that the design scheme fully meets the requirements of Spanish national standards and local specifications. At the same time, the design team uses advanced finite element analysis software to simulate the structural behavior under flood, seismic and other extreme conditions, ensuring the safety and reliability of the design.

Second, Strict Material Selection Meeting European Standards. The quality of steel materials is the foundation of steel structure bridge safety and durability. EVERCROSS selects high-quality steel materials that comply with Eurocodes and Spanish standards, such as S355JR, S355J2 and S460 steel, which have excellent strength, toughness and corrosion resistance—suitable for Spain’s flood-prone environment. All steel materials are accompanied by authoritative inspection reports, and strict incoming inspection is carried out to ensure that the material performance meets the design requirements. In addition, according to the corrosion environment (such as humid environment after floods), EVERCROSS adopts advanced anti-corrosion treatments, such as hot-dip galvanizing and anti-corrosion coating, to prolong the service life of steel structure bridges.

Third, Standardized Production Process and Strict Quality Control. EVERCROSS has a modern production base equipped with advanced steel structure processing equipment and a complete quality control system. The production process strictly follows Eurocodes and Spanish specifications, including cutting, welding, assembling, surface treatment and other links. The company’s welders have professional qualifications recognized by the European Union, and the welding quality is inspected by non-destructive testing (NDT) methods (such as ultrasonic testing, radiographic testing) to ensure that the welding performance meets the standard requirements. For key components related to flood resistance and structural stability, special quality inspections are carried out to avoid any quality hidden dangers. In addition, the company implements full-process production monitoring, and establishes detailed production records to ensure traceability of product quality.

Fourth, Comprehensive Testing and Certification Compliance. Before the steel structure bridges leave the factory, EVERCROSS carries out comprehensive performance testing, including load testing, structural deformation testing, anti-corrosion performance testing, etc., to ensure that the product performance meets the design requirements and Spanish standards. At the same time, the company cooperates with authoritative third-party testing institutions recognized by the European Union to issue compliance testing reports and certifications, ensuring that the products can smoothly pass the customs inspection and on-site acceptance in Spain. For post-2026 flood disaster reconstruction projects, EVERCROSS also carries out special flood resistance testing according to the requirements of Spanish local specifications, ensuring that the bridges can resist extreme flood impacts.

Fifth, Perfect After-Sales Service and Technical Support. EVERCROSS provides full-process after-sales service for Spanish customers, including on-site installation guidance, commissioning, regular inspection and maintenance guidance. After the bridges are put into use, the company tracks the operation status of the bridges in real time, and provides technical support for dealing with structural problems caused by floods or other disasters. Combining the experience of the 2026 Spanish flood disaster, EVERCROSS also provides customized maintenance plans for customers, helping to prolong the service life of steel structure bridges and ensure long-term stable operation.

With its integrated industry and trade model, professional technical strength and strict quality control system, EVERCROSS has become a reliable partner for steel structure bridge projects in Spain, providing high-quality, standard-compliant and disaster-resistant permanent steel structure bridges for the Spanish market, and making positive contributions to the reconstruction and development of Spain’s infrastructure after the 2026 flood disaster.

Conclusion

In summary, the Eurocodes standard, combined with Spain’s local national annexes and special specifications, constitutes the complete design and construction standard system for permanent bridges in Spain. This system not only ensures the safety, reliability and durability of permanent bridges but also provides a solid technical guarantee for improving the disaster resistance (especially flood resistance) of bridges—this is particularly important after the February 2026 flood disaster, which has put forward higher requirements for Spain’s infrastructure construction. A permanent bridge, as a core component of the transportation network, with its excellent durability, strong load-bearing capacity and good adaptability, plays an irreplaceable role in regional economic development and post-disaster recovery.

For B2B buyers and industry professionals in the Spanish bridge construction industry, understanding the Eurocodes standard and Spain’s local bridge design codes is the premise of carrying out project cooperation and ensuring project quality. As an integrated industry and trade enterprise specializing in steel structure bridges, EVERCROSS BRIDGE TECHNOLOGY (SHANGHAI) CO.,LTD. relies on its professional design team, strict material selection, standardized production process and perfect after-sales service to continuously provide steel structure bridges that fully comply with Spanish standards, helping to promote the upgrading and development of Spain’s permanent bridge infrastructure, and contributing to building a more resilient and reliable transportation network in Spain.