At Bentley, we are committed to innovation and continually strive to offer the latest technology to advance infrastructure projects around the world. As such, in addition to the new generation STAAD Foundation Advanced* versions 2023 and 2024 that are currently available, we are developing, STAAD Foundation Advanced 2025, scheduled to be released later this year. Version 2025 will be a feature-complete offering that will provide the foundation analysis and design capabilities of the general mode in version 9 (V9) to American and Indian design codes. We are also striving to be feature complete with European codes in 2025.** This will eliminate the need to bundle V9 with the new-generation STAAD Foundation Advanced for those using the general mode with the above design codes. Therefore, we will officially be discontinuing support for V9, including all updates of this version that were released independently, effective December 31, 2025. In other words, all updates of version 9 will enter the "Retired Version" phase, as per the fixed lifecycle policy, after December 31, 2025.

Starting with version 2025, V9 will no longer be bundled with the new-generation STAAD Foundation products and there will be no more updates released independently. The independently released V9 update 09.07.02.99, currently available on the Bentley software download page, will no longer be downloadable after December 31, 2025. The V9 updates bundled with STAAD Foundation Advanced 2023 and 2024 will still be downloadable but will no longer be supported after December 31, 2025. Please note that once version 2024 moves to the “Retired Version” phase according to the fixed lifecycle policy, STAAD Foundation Advanced version 9 will no longer be downloadable from the Bentley software download page.

Some V9 capabilities will be permanently retired with the retirement of version 9 (after December 31, 2025) while others will be temporarily retired and renewed with future versions of the new-generation STAAD Foundation Advanced, as it continues to evolve. Below is a list of these capabilities:

Permanently Retired Capabilities

• General Foundation mode

• American code - ACI 318-05
• American code - ACI 318-11
• British code - BS 8110 1987
• Strap footing
• Combined with ribs
• Octagonal foundation
• Machine foundation

• Plant Foundation mode

• Drilled Pier

Please note that the current workflow in the new-generation STAAD Foundation Advanced will not need a separate toolkit mode for designing isolated, combined, and pile cap foundations. The rest of the capabilities in Foundation Toolkit mode, except the ribbed combined footing, will stand permanently retired.

Temporarily Retired Capabilities

• General Foundation mode

• Canadian code – A23.3 2019
• Australian code – AS3600-2018
• Chinese code – GB50007-2011.

• Plant Foundation mode

• All capabilities except “Drilled Pier,” which is permanently retired

• Foundation Toolkit mode

• Combined footings with ribs based on user demand

Accessing the New-Generation STAAD Foundation Advanced

Please also note that there is no change with respect to licensing because of the retirement of version 9. You will be able to access the new-generation STAAD Foundation Advanced with your existing STAAD Foundation Advanced or StructuralWorksuite license. If you have a STAAD.Pro or a STAAD.Pro Advanced license, you will be able to access the isolated, combined, and pile cap capabilities, along with analysis using the rigid method only. The pile cap capabilities have yet to be implemented in the new-generation STAAD Foundation Advanced but are expected to be in place by the time version 2025 is released.

Summary:

Key Dates and Changes:

• Starting with Version 2025: 

• V9 will no longer be bundled with the new-generation STAAD Foundation products, and no more updates will be released independently.

• Post-December 31, 2025: 

• Support for V9 will be discontinued and the version will move to the "Retired Version" phase.
• V9 updates bundled with STAAD Foundation Advanced 2023 and 2024 will still be downloadable but will no longer be supported.
• Independently released V9 update 09.07.02.99 of STAAD Foundation Advanced will no longer be downloadable from the software download page.

Retired Capabilities from V9 after December 31, 2025:

• Permanently Retired:
  • Design to ACI 318-05, ACI 318-11, BS 8110 1987 and strap footing, combined footing with ribs, octagonal footings and machine foundations from general foundation mode.
  • "Drilled Pier" from plant foundation mode.
  • Toolkit foundation mode capabilities (except ribbed combined footing).
• Temporarily Retired:
  • Design to Canadian code – A23.3 2019, Australian code – AS3600-2018, Chinese code – GB50007-2011 available in general mode.
  • Plant foundation capabilities (except “Drilled Pier,” which is permanently retired).
  • Combined footing with ribs of toolkit foundation mode (planned to be reintroduced based on user interest).

Licensing:

• No change in licensing.
• Access to the new-generation STAAD Foundation Advanced will be available with a STAAD Foundation Advanced or a StructuralWorksuite license.
• STAAD.Pro or STAAD.Pro Advanced license holders will have access to isolated, combined, and pile cap capabilities along with analysis using the rigid method only.
• Pile cap capabilities are expected to be implemented by the time version 2025 is released.

Please share any questions, comments, or feedback regarding the retirement of STAAD Foundation Advanced V9 by clicking here.

*The new-generation STAAD Foundation Advanced has been developed from scratch to solve foundation analysis and design problems as they continue to evolve over the coming decades, however, not all of the capabilities in version 9 were included in versions 2023 and 2024, which required bundling. 

**As version 2025 is still under development, we do not know if all European design codes will be incorporated into this release. It is our goal to be feature complete with European codes in 2025, but it may take multiple releases to accomplish this.