In 2018, the Ministry of Construction of Russia expanded its plan for the development of regulatory documentation by adding to it a rulebook titled 'Aluminium Alloy Bridges. Design Rules.'

National Research Moscow State University of Civil Engineering (NRU MGSU), a leading Russian construction research organisation, has been developing regulations to govern the use of aluminium alloys in bridge components since 2016.

The document currently being developed is based on the principles found in SP 35.133300.2011 Bridges and Pipes and EN 1999, and aims to fill the gap which exists today in the regulations for designing load-bearing bridge components from aluminium alloys. The document will include not only theoretical and analytical formulae to use in designs, but also a comprehensive list of tests that must be used on samples made from 6xxx and 7xxx series aluminium alloys, as well as test to be performed on scale models of bridge elements (made from the 1915T alloy) 3x10 m in size. The document has already been developed, has undergone public discussions, and has now been submitted for review to the relevant agencies of the Ministry of Construction of Russia.

The rulebook 'Aluminium Alloy Bridges. Design Rules' must be approved by the Ministry of Construction of Russia by late 2018. After it is approved and goes into effect, there will no longer be any need to develop specifications for every new bridge. This will allow companies to significantly simplify the development of design documentation and reduce the overall cost of aluminium bridges.

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