EN 1992-4 is the European standard governing the design of fastenings for use in concrete. This page provides an overview of the standard and how Clariti implements it.
What is EN 1992-4? EN 1992-4:2018 (Design of fastenings for use in concrete ) is a harmonized European standard that defines:
Design methods for concrete fasteners
Verification procedures for all failure modes
Partial safety factors and reliability requirements
Product qualification criteria
It replaced the previous ETAG 001 guidelines and is part of the Eurocode system (specifically, part of EC2).
Scope The standard covers:
Cast-in Fasteners Anchor channels, headed studs, and other fasteners placed before concrete
is poured. These are Clariti’s primary focus.
Post-installed Fasteners Mechanical anchors, chemical anchors, and undercut anchors installed
in hardened concrete.
What’s Covered
Fasteners under static, quasi-static, and fatigue loading
Tension, shear, and combined loading
Cracked and uncracked concrete
Single fasteners and groups
What’s Not Covered
Seismic design (see EN 1992-4 Annex C or national annexes)
Fire design (see EN 1992-1-2)
Fasteners in lightweight concrete (special provisions)
Fibre reinforced concrete (requires additional guidance)
Document Structure EN 1992-4 is organized as follows:
Section Content 1-3 Scope, references, definitions 4 Basis of design 5 Determination of action effects 6 Cast-in headed fasteners 7 Anchor channels (primary Clariti reference)8 Post-installed mechanical fasteners 9 Post-installed chemical fasteners Annexes National parameters, seismic provisions, testing
Clariti focuses on Section 7: Anchor channels . For headed studs and
post-installed anchors, refer to Sections 6, 8, and 9 respectively.
Design Philosophy EN 1992-4 follows limit state design principles consistent with other Eurocodes:
Ultimate Limit State (ULS) Verification that the design resistance exceeds the design action:
Ed ≤ Rd Where: Ed = design value of action (factored load) Rd = design value of resistance (factored capacity)
All failure modes must satisfy this inequality.
Serviceability Limit State (SLS) Verification of:
Displacement limits
Crack width control
Durability requirements
Clariti primarily addresses ULS verification. SLS checks (deflection,
fatigue) may require additional analysis outside the tool.
Material Assumptions The standard assumes:
Concrete:
Normal weight concrete (density 2000-2600 kg/m³)
Strength classes C12/15 to C90/105
Cracked or uncracked state
Steel:
Carbon steel or stainless steel
Defined by characteristic yield and ultimate strength
Ductility requirements for certain applications
Grout/Mortar:
Where applicable, must meet specified strength requirements
Cracked vs. Uncracked Concrete A critical design assumption:
Condition Assumption When to Use Cracked k₁ = 8.9 Default — assume cracking occurs Uncracked k₁ = 12.7 Only when cracking can be reliably excluded
Uncracked concrete may be assumed only when:
Tension zone is always in compression (prestressed elements)
Detailed analysis proves no cracking occurs under SLS loads
Member is designed to remain uncracked throughout its life
Most structural applications should assume cracked concrete. Using
uncracked values without justification is unconservative and may not
be accepted by checking engineers.
Product Qualification Anchor channels must have:
ETA (European Technical Assessment) — Product-specific approvalCE marking — Conformity to European standardsDeclaration of Performance — Manufacturer’s declared properties
Clariti only includes products with valid ETAs, ensuring all resistance values are certified and traceable.
National Annexes EN 1992-4 allows national variation through National Annexes (NAs). Key nationally determined parameters include:
Partial safety factors (γM values)
Design working life assumptions
Seismic provisions
Additional requirements for specific applications
Clariti uses the recommended values from the base standard. Check your jurisdiction’s National Annex for any modifications.
Relationship to Other Standards EN 1992-4 interfaces with:
Standard Interface EN 1990 Basis of structural design, load combinations EN 1991 Actions on structures (load values) EN 1992-1-1 Concrete design (material properties) EN 1993-1-1 Steel design (for steel elements) EN 1998-1 Seismic design
Design loads (NEd , VEd ) come from EN 1991 analysis. Clariti focuses on the resistance side per EN 1992-4.
Key Changes from ETAG 001 If you’re familiar with the predecessor ETAG 001:
Aspect ETAG 001 EN 1992-4 Status Guideline Harmonized standard Coverage Separate documents Single unified standard Factors Some differences Updated γM values Methods Equivalent Refined equations Reference Being phased out Current standard
Clariti uses EN 1992-4 as the primary reference, with ETAG 001 compatibility for legacy projects where required.
Further Reading 
