What should future design standards in the construction industry look like? The need for new value propositions.
Design standards play a fundamental role in the construction sector, in particular as a means by which the acceptability of designs can be verified and in enabling research outcomes to be translated for widespread practical application. Research has highlighted the need to address some usability issues with the structural design standards currently in use across Europe. Recognising the major changes that can be expected in the construction industry in coming years, it is worthwhile going beyond responding to these immediate issues and asking what future designs standards should look like to meet the emerging vision for the construction sector. From a study of the main changes affecting the construction industry and the current role of design standards and challenges in their development and use, the need for new value propositions for future design standards is established, particularly to meet needs, interests and capabilities of users of these documents. It is hoped that this paper will stimulate discussion, provide a better understanding of the research challenges in developing users-orientated design standards, and provoke interest among the research community to further explore this research area.