is the British Standard titled “Code of practice for foundations.” Historically, it served as the UK’s pre-eminent guide for the design and construction of foundations for all types of structures. It covers a vast array of foundation types, including shallow foundations (strip, pad, raft) and deep foundations (piles and caissons).
The landscape changed with the adoption of Eurocodes across Europe. The UK adopted for geotechnical design. However, Eurocode 7 is a high-level design code that requires supporting documents to be fully usable.
Thus, a modern engineer cannot work solely from a vintage BS 8004:1986 PDF. They must use the 2015 edition alongside Eurocode 7. bs 8004 pdf
In 2015, BS 8004 was revised to align with Eurocode 7. It is now intended to be read in conjunction with .
If you are looking for the BS 8004 PDF for a new build project, you must ensure you are accessing the 2015 version with the 2020 amendment. Using the 1986 code for new designs may lead to non-compliance with current UK Building Regulations. is the British Standard titled “Code of practice
Unlike the previous 1986 version, this edition is fully aligned with Eurocode 7's limit state principles, using partial factors for actions and material properties.
The high search volume for stems from the document's ubiquity. It is required reading for: The UK adopted for geotechnical design
– Most free PDFs floating on file-sharing sites are the BS 8004:1986 version. Designing foundations using a 40-year-old standard is not only irresponsible but could lead to professional indemnity claims and structural failures.
The standard provides specific guidance on the depth of foundations to avoid frost heave and seasonal moisture changes (typically 450mm to 750mm in the UK).