New Facilities Planning Seminar Scheduled for March 7-8, 2013 in Orlando, Florida

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New Facilities Planning Seminar Scheduled for March 2013 in Orlando, Florida

For more than a decade The Center for Public Safety, Inc. in association with Architects Design Group has been hosting a bi-annual seminar titled; “Planning, Funding and Obtaining New Public Safety Facilities”.

This seminar is designed to help a governmental entity planning a new or renovated facility within the next few years to become more educated about the steps of the process from the identification of the need until the ribbon cutting to open the new facility.

Topics include involving staff, the RFP/RFQ process, selecting the design team, the stages of the project, project funding options, grants, construction delivery methods, emerging trends and security concerns among others.

This seminar is unique in that it is only available to current public sector employees or elected officials. To date more than 400 cities, towns, parishes, counties and public entities have sent at least one person to participate in this seminar.

The next opportunity to attend is March 7th and 8th in Orlando, Florida. In addition to the day and a half seminar, participants will have an opportunity to take a facility tour of a police department, fire station or emergency operations center. Lunch is provided the first day and that evening participants and their spouses can attend a catered reception where they can meet and interact with their peers and the seminar presenters.

For more information on or about the seminar, please visit http://www.centerforpublicsafety.org/ or contact CPS Executive Director Stockton Reeves via email at stocktonr@centerforpublicsafety.org or at 407-756-1237.

Survivable Design Considerations for Public Safety Facilities

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Contributor:  David Crabtree

Public Safety Building Survivable Design:   Part 2:  Essential Facility

There are a multitude of standards that stipulate building envelope requirements, building structural loads, and envelope survivability for Public Safety Buildings.  These codes and Standards Include: FEMA 361, ICC 500, IBC, NFPA 1221, ASTM E1996/E1886, and ASCE 7.  It should be noted the authority having jurisdiction must be identified as they will determine local codes and the application.  The first item to note is this building type is considered an “Essential Facility” per IBC and FBC and this will have inherent increases in the base code requirements, but these are quickly surpassed by FEMA 361 or Alternate Review Methods per ASCE 7.   These codes are not unilaterally applied, and they may have overlapping and sometimes conflicting requirements.  So, it is important to determine early on with the client and authority having jurisdiction which codes will apply.  Some are elective codes due to Grant Application or client requirements and others are mandated as the adopted local or regional code.  For example, the Florida Building Code (FBC) can be very restrictive when trying to also meet other survivable codes due to the stringent nature of the FBC and Florida Product Approval; whereas, other states mostly refer to IBC as the primary code and there is more flexibility which allows the Engineer of record to sign off on the system and its ability to meet testing requirements for the authority having jurisdictions approval.  In general, regardless of the code specifics, the building support structure and enclosure may need to incorporate protective materials and system design, including, but not limited to the following: progressive collapse protection if FEMA 361 is required, hardened wall construction, specialized glazing systems, protective intake ventilation, and other measures deemed necessary based on the level of threat determined.  Blast Requirements, Impact Protection, wind speed determination, lateral load bracing, seismic loads, snow loads, rain loads, and other envelope design systems will be further guided by the outlined codes. 

In order to meet the stringent design requirements, specialized systems are specified for the public safety building typology.  Exterior walls are ideally constructed of concrete materials or other survivable systems and openings are protected from impact; however, there is a wide range of survivability requirements per code, regional requirements, local hazards, and client requests that complicate this issue.  Lower wind speeds and impact per Essential Facility regional codes such as FBC or IBC may allow for CMU block or other architectural cladding systems without issue as they may only need to meet a 90mph wind speed and minimal impact of 9# 2×4 @ 34 mph if any at all; however, as the survivability needs increase the systems become more limited and stringent.  In the case of FEMA 361, the wind speeds may be 200-250 mph with an impact of 15# 2×4 @ 100 mph which would require 8” cast in place concrete walls which can be either load bearing or over a steel or concrete frame, concrete roof decks and opening protection systems for all windows, louvers, and other building envelope penetrations.  These two extremes have a clear budget and system availability implications that must be considered early in the process. 

Redundant Design Standards

Due to the nature of this building type and the need to maintain operations during natural and manmade events there are many attributes that are unique and beyond the typical office building that will be determined by codes such as FEMA 361 and NFPA 1221.  This includes strengthened building envelope design standards noted above, increased structural requirements, and the ability to maintain continued service from all building utilities noted below.  All of these items below should be reviewed and vetted with all design consultants and client team members to ensure the project needs are being accommodated as anticipated.  

  • Provide utility systems backup in the event of prolonged power, water, data, and sewage outages. 
  • Provide 72 hours generator back up and assume some load shedding is possible. 24 hour back up is a minimum if Communication PSAP’s are in the program and NFPA 1221 will dictate.  In some cases FEMA 361 only requires 2 hours of back up for Tornado prone areas whereas 24 hour back up is required for Hurricanes due to the prolonged threat. It is important to review this issue with the client, any grant criteria required, code requirements, consultants, and authority having jurisdiction.  
  1. Automatic transfer switches should be required.
  2. Provide the ability to bring in a flat bed truck to plug another generator should one go down during an event.
  3. Fuel tank sizes will be estimated based on 72 hours of back up unless determined otherwise. 
  • Per civil design estimates, the team should determine gallon/day of sewage storage for anticipated building loads during activation.  These occupancy levels should be reviewed with the client group. 
  1. There are multiple ways to deal with redundant sewage storage such as the design of a lift station with an oversized well to hold sewage in the event power or the line out is broken and may also have generator back up.
  2. If no lift station is required, then a sewage storage tank can be utilized and may need to be aerated per local codes which would need to be determined by your appropriate engineers.
  3. Existing gravity line capacity can also be considered if the current infrastructure is new, sized large enough to hold 72 hours of capacity, and well protected without risk of deep tree roots or other hazards that would interrupt flow during activation. 
  • Fresh water storage via tanks should be designed to serve the number of occupants assumed during activation per the projects Plumbing Engineers review and client feedback.  These tanks would have circulation pumps tied back to the generator. Other options include: 
  • Large bladders storage, large bottled water storage, and/or options for small tanker trucks with water tanks to connect to the main building via Siamese connection.  If the anticipated pumper trucks are not pressurized to a level that can serve the building pumps will need to be designed. 
  • The Communications PSAP programs and associated equipment rooms should be designed with redundant HVAC systems and UPS back up in mind to cover momentary power loss during transfer. 
  • Redundant Feeds for Data from two distinct service points is ideal and consideration for onsite communication tower or roof mounted antenna would certainly be essential if the program includes a PSAP. 
  • All generators and HVAC equipment, pumps, etc at the exterior central energy plant should be protected from impact.

Redundant building systems such as Potable Water, Sanitary Sewer, HVAC, Power, Data and Communications systems are very complex issues that must be reviewed with all stakeholders to ensure the project is meeting the anticipated codes, grant criteria, program, and client expectations. 

 

Survivable Design Considerations for Public Safety Facilities

Contributor:  David Crabtree

Public Safety Building Survivable Design:   Part 1:  Risk Assessment and Security

The functional requirements of Public Safety Buildings require special attention to survivable needs that include the building programming, building design, site selection and site design, and building system selection and design.  The “Essential Facility” building type requires a systematic, analytical approach to review and determine code mandated requirements, guideline requirements and allow flexibility for grant requirements that must be met to ensure funding continuity, and specific client requirements.  The analysis quite often reveals a complex web of criteria that sometimes will be at odds with each other.  More importantly, the established design criteria can have severe budget impacts.  It should be noted this is a “brief” introduction to a very complex subject; specific project criteria, client needs, and specific publications reference herein should be the final resource for any project analysis.

Risk Assessment
Risk assessment should consider far reaching regional threats, local natural and man-made threats, building typology and perceived threats to the ongoing operation of the specific program, and site related threats.  Typical standards utilized for Risk Assessment are published by FEMA, the Department of Defense, and the GSA.  For the most part, the Department of Defense UFC-4 Standard is used as a reference for the various other agencies mentioned unless it is a Department of Defense Building (DoD).  FEMA 361 Design and Construction of Community Shelters, FEMA 426 – Reference Manual – to Mitigate Potential Terrorist Attacks Against Buildings, and FEMA 452 – How to Guide To Mitigate Potential Terrorist Threats all refer to Department of Defense UFC-4 in regards to site security and stand-off zones.  It should be noted these are guidelines and unless the project is an actual Department of Defense Building with DoD officials the UFC-4 standard is not strictly applied. The application is based on the project’s perceived and analyzed risks.  The site and project review process should begin with: 

  • Vulnerability analysis that identifies the value of assets and the types and severity of threats 
  • Risk Assessment that assigns a value to all of the above so they can be prioritized
  • Development of Mitigation Options that consider overall cost and benefit to the various solutions
  • Final Decision on the best Risk Management Strategy 

Security Standoff Zones, Site Access Control, Definition of Public Access and Secured Access Zones
Regarding the Public Safety Building site design layout, it is important to define site stand-off zones, site access control, and the definition of secure and public access zones from the building per the UFC-4 guidelines.  This equates to an 82’-148’ standoff zone for a controlled perimeter, public drives, and public parking; and 33’- 82’ for roadways and staff drives within the controlled perimeter.  These standoff zones are a good starting point and can be lessened if the property limits and perceived threat do not allow full compliance. The areas surrounding the building should be free and clear of visual obstructions that hinder the natural surveillance of the site.  Further, site access should be monitored at the controlled perimeter via security gates and access control (Closed Circuit TV, card readers, scanners, etc). 

The survivability of the Public Safety Building is also extended to the surrounded site conditions and buildings.  Because this building is an emergency response facility it must remain operational before, during, and after manmade and natural events.  For this reason, it is ideal to: 

  • Design other surrounding buildings such that they will not produce flying debris hazards and design them for Coastal Wind Speeds or other Wind Borne Debris Region Standards
  • Maintain the grounds and trees making property free of potential flying debris
  • Site fencing, light poles, and other site amenities should be designed to withstand appropriate wind speeds
  • Ideally all power and utilities should be constructed underground in protected duct banks
  • Surrounding roads should be above flood hazard facility to maintain continuous ingress/egress, and many other considerations
  • Design the surrounding landscape to follow CPTED principles (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design)
  • Flood Hazards should also consider the following:
    1. Use FEMA/FIRM maps or other jurisdictional maps such as SLOSH maps to review and determine threat
    2. Locate Site Outside of Coastal (high hazard areas), Seaward, and areas with potential moderate wave action, as well as outside of known floodways
    3. Location of lowest floor
      • 2′ above B.F.E. of 100′ year event or
      • Still water flood elevation at 500 year event or
      • Lowest elevation required by community flood plain or
      • 2′ above highest recorded flood elevation
      • If in coastal storm source
        1. Maximum still water at Category 5 Hurricane
        2. Wave of one story elevation at 12% chance of being equated

Next week:  Public Safety Building Survivable Design:  Part 2: Essential Facility Design

Architects Design Group Exhibiting at Florida Police Chiefs Association Conference

For the 16th year in a row, Architects Design Group will be exhibiting at the Annual Florida Police Chiefs Association (FPCA) Summer Conference which will be held in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. This is the 60th anniversary of the FPCA Summer Conference and the association anticipates more than 250 agency heads will attend this training conference and exposition.

Architects Design Group specializes in the design of Police stations and is committed to enhancing the Law Enforcement community’s ability to provide first class facilities to its citizens. We continually lecture, exhibit and sponsor events at conferences such as FPCA to ensure we remain on the cutting edge of emerging trends, technology and standards.

Come visit us at Booth #36 July 8th through the 10th at the Marriott Resort and Spa to learn more about the services we offer including spatial needs assessments, master planning, site selection, design, construction administration, and grant assistance.

Upcoming Facilities Planning Seminar

Architects Design Group in conjunction with The Center for Public Safety, Inc. (CPS) will be hosting their semi-annual Facilities Planning Seminar in San Diego on Thursday, September 27, 2012 just before the start of the yearly International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference (IACP).

The seminar is designed to bring together those officials in first responder roles such as police and fire chiefs, emergency operations center and communications directors, city and county managers as well as elected officials. Now in its twelfth year, the seminar has hosted more than 400 attendees from over 500 agencies from Alaska to Maine to the Cayman Islands and Southern California.

This is an in-depth one-day educational opportunity for those communities interested in the renovation of existing facilities or new law enforcement, fire safety and communications facilities. The seminar is designed to provide key officials with knowledge about planning, funding, designing and constructing these critical structures. More information on the topics taught and the experts sharing their experience at www.centerforpublicsafety.org.

Interested parties can contact CPS for more information at 407-756-1237 or email us at info at centerforpublicsafety.org.