A
series of regulatory documents were issued by the National Research Council
(CNR) of Italy on the use of FRP
for
strengthening existing civil
constructions. These documents, described in more details in the paper, set for
the first time in Italy some standards for production, design and application
of FRP for reinforced concrete, masonry, timber and metallic constructions.
They are also conceived with an informative and educational spirit, which is
crucial for the dissemination, in the professional sphere, of the mechanical
and technological knowledge needed for an aware and competent use of such
materials. The documents are the result of a remarkable joint effort of almost
all professors and researchers involved in this emerging and promising field,
from 15 Italian universities, of the technical managers of major production and
application companies, and of the representatives of public and private
companies that use FRP for strengthening artifacts. Thus, the resulting FRP
codes naturally incorporate the experience and knowledge gained in ten years of
studies, researches and applications of FRP in Italy.