EN1337 Standard: Core Summary & Comprehensive structure Bearing Characteristics
EN1337 is a series of harmonized standards for structural bearings developed by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), consisting of 11 parts. Its core objective is to unify requirements for the design, manufacturing, testing, installation, and maintenance of structural bearings used in civil engineering projects (e.g., buildings, bridges) across the European Union (EU). By ensuring the safety, reliability, and interchangeability of structural supports, products certified to EN1337 can bear the CE marking and circulate freely in the EU market. The standard's core value lies in eliminating technical barriers and standardizing the full-lifecycle management of structural bearings.
1. Core Summary of EN1337 Parts
- EN1337-1: Establishes the general design foundation for the entire standard series, defining key elements such as terminology, symbols, safety design principles, bearing displacement, clearance, and marking requirements.
- EN1337-2: Focuses on technical specifications for non-independent sliding elements, delineating material combinations, friction coefficients, and load-bearing capacities to meet the sliding function needs of various bearings.
- EN1337-3: Regulates the classification, material selection, mechanical properties, and environmental adaptability of elastomeric bearings, setting application standards for scenarios with medium-small loads and displacements.
- EN1337-4: Specifies the structural forms and performance requirements of roller bearings, providing technical basis for applications requiring high load-bearing capacity and limited horizontal displacement.
- EN1337-5: Formulates design standards for pot bearings regarding structure, load-bearing capacity, displacement, and durability, covering support needs for long-span and heavy-load structures.
- EN1337-6: Clarifies the rotation principles and design requirements of rocker bearings, standardizing their application in heavy-load structures requiring directional rotation.
- EN1337-7: Defines multi-directional force design standards for spherical and cylindrical PTFE bearings, adapting to high-end scenarios with complex displacement and rotation requirements.
- EN1337-8: Focuses on the functional design of guide and restraint bearings, regulating their role in controlling structural displacement directions and requirements for combined use.
- EN1337-9: Develops design specifications for bearing protection systems, extending service life through sealing, anti-corrosion, and protective measures.
- EN1337-10: Specifies regular inspection items, maintenance procedures, and replacement guidelines for bearings, ensuring long-term safe operation of structures.
- EN1337-11: Standardizes environmental requirements for bearing transportation and storage, as well as precision control for on-site installation, guaranteeing reliability during construction.
2. Comprehensive Characteristics of Main structure Bearing Types
|
Bearing Type (EN1337 Part) |
Definition |
Classification |
Composition |
Key Features & Parameters |
Applicable Scenarios |
|
(EN1337-3) |
Support devices using rubber as the core elastic material to transmit loads, compensate for displacement, and absorb vibrations |
Type A (Fixed); Type B (Uniaxial Sliding); Type C (Biaxial Sliding); Type D/E (Laminated with Sliding Layer); Type F (Plain Pad/Strip) |
Chloroprene rubber (CR)/EPDM, reinforced steel plates, optional sliding layers |
Load capacity ≤15 MN; Displacement ±25~±100 mm; Rotation angle ≥0.02 rad; Operating temperature -25°C to +50°C (short-term +70°C); Cost-effective; Good vibration absorption |
Medium and small-span bridges (≤50m), building main structures, general load scenarios requiring vibration absorption |
|
Pot Bearings (EN1337-5) |
Support devices composed of steel pots, rubber discs, and sliding systems, suitable for heavy loads and large displacements |
Type GD (Fixed); Type DX (Uniaxial Sliding); Type SX (Biaxial Sliding) |
Spherical steel pot, elastic rubber roundel, steel cover, PTFE + stainless steel sliding system |
Load capacity 1~100 MN; Displacement ±20~±200 mm; Rotation angle 0.02~0.04 rad; Operating temperature -40°C to +50°C; Service life 50~100 years; High stability |
Long-span bridges (50~500m), heavy-load building structures, scenarios requiring high load-bearing capacity and large displacement compensation |
|
Roller Bearings (EN1337-4) |
Heavy-load support devices using rollers as core components to compensate for displacement through rolling |
Single-roller bearings; Multi-roller bearings (optional with sliding elements) |
Cylindrical/conical rollers, upper and lower bearing plates, optional sliding elements |
Load capacity up to 50 MN; Strong uniaxial horizontal displacement capacity; Operating temperature -40°C to +50°C; Excellent stability |
Simply supported beams, continuous beam bridges, structures requiring high load-bearing capacity and limited horizontal displacement |
|
Rocker Bearings (EN1337-6) |
Support devices achieving directional rotation through curved contact surfaces, suitable for heavy-load scenarios |
Linear rocker bearings (uniaxial rotation); Point rocker bearings (biaxial rotation) |
Curved contact components, upper and lower support plates, optional sliding elements |
High load-bearing capacity; Fixed rotation center; Adapts to limited rotation needs; Operating temperature -40°C to +50°C |
Heavy-load bridges, large building structures, scenarios requiring directional rotation and bearing large vertical loads |
|
Spherical & Cylindrical PTFE Bearings (EN1337-7) |
High-end support devices using spherical/cylindrical surfaces + PTFE sliding layers to achieve multi-directional rotation and displacement |
Cylindrical bearings |
Concave/convex spherical/cylindrical bearing plates, PTFE sliding layers, stainless steel contact surfaces |
Load capacity 1~50 MN; Multi-directional displacement ±50~±200 mm; Omnidirectional rotation angle ≥0.02 rad; Friction coefficient ≤0.03; Operating temperature -40°C to +50°C |
Cable-stayed bridges, suspension bridges, long-span high-rise buildings, scenarios with complex stress and multi-directional displacement compensation needs |
|
Guide & Restraint Bearings (EN1337-8) |
Auxiliary support devices that do not transmit vertical loads, focusing on limiting structural displacement directions |
Directional guide bearings; Biaxial restraint bearings (optional combined with other bearings) |
Restraint components, sliding/rotation auxiliary structures |
Longitudinal rotation ≤0.01 rad; Transverse rotation ≤0.04 rad; Vertical displacement +15/-10 mm; Precisely controls displacement direction |
Viaducts, ramp bridges, scenarios requiring prevention of lateral deviation and control of temperature deformation directions |
The EN1337 Standard establishes a comprehensive technical framework for structural bearings, regulating full-lifecycle requirements-from design principles to protection and maintenance-through its 11 dedicated parts. Its core values lie in safety (achieved via rigorous design rules and testing requirements) and versatility (unifying the European market and facilitating technical exchange).
