If you are designing a structure in Italy, the answer is yes—legally, you must use it. However, for international research or seismic benchmarking, the NTC 2018 English Version is an invaluable resource.
It is stricter than Eurocode 8 in soil amplification, more detailed than ASCE 7 in existing masonry, and more pragmatic than the Turkish seismic code in capacity design. As of 2025, discussions have begun regarding NTC 2026, but until that is formally published and translated, NTC 2018 remains the gold standard.
Final advice: Purchase the official bilingual edition. Do not rely on scanned, watermarked "free" versions circulating online. The future safety of your structure—and your professional liability—depends on reading the exact words written, not a flawed approximation.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes. Always consult the official Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei Trasporti documentation for legal compliance. ntc 2018 english version
The NTC 2018 (Norme Tecniche per le Costruzioni) is the official Italian technical code for the design, construction, and testing of buildings and civil engineering works. While the official document is published in Italian, several English-language resources and partial translations are available: Official & Reference English Versions
European Commission Notification: An English translation of the technical regulation text can be found on the Technical Regulation Information System (TRIS).
Aires Ingegneria: This engineering firm provides English-language summaries and archives for the Current Italian Technical Codes, including the NTC18. Summary & Practical Guides If you are designing a structure in Italy,
Lisa.blue Overview: Provides a comprehensive summary of NTC 2018 key aspects, such as seismic safety and material requirements, in English.
Scribd Reports: There are community-uploaded English versions of the standards, such as the NTC2018 REPORT - ENG and specific design guidelines like the SFD NTC 2018. Academic & Research Papers
If you are looking for academic papers discussing the application of these standards, you can find them on ResearchGate: Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes
Seismic Assessment: "NTC-compatible and performance-based seismic assessment using Cloud Analysis".
Geotechnical Design: "Rock-Engineering Design and NTC2018: Some Open Questions".
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These cover foundations, retaining walls, bridges, existing constructions, and demolition. Notably, a full 20% of the document is dedicated to existing masonry buildings—a reflection of Italy’s ancient building stock.
This is the heart of the code. The NTC 2018 English Version introduces the concept of “Capacity Design” with more rigor than previous versions. It defines four performance levels:
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