From time to time we get the question from clients regarding whether our stack design software, MecaStack, includes the standard EN-13084.  This article is intended to address that question.  Please let us clarify that we are not experts on the European standards.  Our company is located in the USA and we try to keep up to date on the European standards, but it is a very complex issue that varies from European country to country, and so we are definitely not "Experts" in this area.


Our stack software is primarily focused on the structural design and verification of a steel stack.   In this regard we need a standard that will advise on how to apply wind and or seismic loads to the structure.  Then we need some "stress" criteria that we use to evaluate the stresses generated by those loads, and come up with some Acceptance criteria (i.e. Pass/Fail).  Finally, because cylindrical structures are subject to wind induced vibration (Vortex shedding), we need some criteria that predicts whether this type of loading is a problem, and if it is a problem some fatigue criteria to verify if failure of the stack is expected.  In the case of the European standards, we have followed the following individual codes for each of these areas of of the design.




As you will notice from the list above, nowhere does it reference EN-13084.  Of all of the above referenced standards, the overarching document that applies seems to be EN 1993-3-2 'Eurocode 3 - Design of Steel Structures - Part 3-2: Towers, masts and chimneys'.  This is the document that gives somewhat of a "Roadmap" of what to do for the design of the steel chimney.   This document refers to EN-13084 in quite a few places, and we will try to address here which are applicable and which are not within MecaStack:


MecaStack doesn't address chemical attach, thermo-dynamical performance or thermal insulation.  It is assumed that the designer has made all of these decisions prior to beginning their design within the software. 


The software doesn't do anything regarding foundation design, other than generate the loads that are to be used in the foundation design:


EN 13084-1 Para 5.2.4.1 only states that seismic actions are normally not significant for steel chimneys, and it refers to seismic actions being considered per ENV 1998-3.  We are unclear of why ENV 1998-3 is referenced, since that appears to apply to "Existing buildings" and EN 1993-3-2 requires ENV 1998-6 be used for seismic actions, and that standard is specific to Chimneys.  MecaStack is following EN 1998-6 for seismic loads.  


It appears that this is more related to fabrication and erection, which are both topics beyond what is considered in MecaStack.

MecaStack has an input for corrosion allowance, but the value used is determined by the user, not the software. 

MecaStack has most of the common materials listed below in the database.  


This requirement seems to be more related to fabrication and construction, both of which are not specifically relevant to MecaStack.


MecaStack does check the max bolt spacing using this criteria, which can be modified by the user.   


Welding details are not specifically addressed in MecaStack.



It is the our interpretation that the bulk of the requirements of EN 13084 are related to details which are not directly relevant to the MecaStack software, although they may be important for ensuring that the overall stack is constructed correctly.  There are a couple of areas that do have some special requirements that are not currently being addressed, but we are targeting these items to be addressed in future releases of MecaStack.   Fortunately these areas are not major, and so they shouldn't prevent a user from performing their design in accordance with EN 13084 and other relevant European standards using the MecaStack software.