News

Four New Design Guides on Facility Security Released

Posted: 11-05-07

The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have released new critieria manuals to provide the design team with standards on the range of strategies available for physical security and natural hazard protection for new and existing buildings.

Physical Security Design Manual for VA Facilities: Mission Critical Facilities
This Manual contains the physical security standards for improving the protection of mission critical facilities of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Mission Critical facilities are those required to continue operation during a natural or man-made extreme event. Design and construction standards are provided for the physical security of new buildings, additions, and major alterations. In addition, recommendations and strategies are provided to improve the physical security for existing mission critical facilities.

Physical Security Design Manual for VA Facilities: Cost Estimates for Physical Security Enhancements
Physical Security Design Manuals for Mission Critical Facilities and Life-Safety Protected Facilities have been prepared for VA. In addition to providing strategies, the cost impact of these strategies on the facility's design and construction budget has been quantified. This cost estimate has been prepared to guide the design team in determining and developing the most cost effective physical security for each facility.

Design Guide for Improving Critical Facility Safety from Flooding and High Winds: Providing Protection to People and Buildings
This manual concentrates on critical facilities (hospitals, schools, fire and police stations, and emergency operation centers). It is based on the behavior of critical facilities during Hurricane Katrina and makes recommendations on the performance of these types of buildings. It provides building professionals and decision makers with information and guidelines for implementing a variety of mitigation measures to reduce the vulnerability to damage and disruption of operations during severe flooding and high-wind events. It includes extensive information on the impact of storm surges to the Gulf Area.

Design Guide for Improving Hospital Safety in Earthquakes, Floods, and High Winds: Providing Protection to People and Buildings
The intent of the Design Guide is to provide its audience with state-of-the-art knowledge on the variety of vulnerabilities faced by hospitals exposed to earthquakes, flooding, and high-winds risks, as well as the best ways to mitigate the risk of damage and disruption of hospital operations caused by these events. The information presented in this publication provides an exhaustive review of mitigation measures and design solutions that can improve the safety of hospitals in natural hazard events. However, this publication does is not intended to be a comprehensive mitigation design manual that the reader can use to develop actual plans and specifications. It is intended as an introduction to the fundamental principles of natural hazard risk reduction, with an emphasis on mitigation planning and the design of hospital buildings.