Building Entrances

Air Force Corporate Standards

Create the primary entrance as a focal point and distinguish it from other entrances corresponding to the Facility Group designation following the Facilities Hierarchy guidance in the Overview of this AFCFS. Design and construct entrances to provide a functional thermal barrier between interiors and exteriors to reduce heat loss or gain (depending on the season), to conserve energy, and to provide protection from the elements. Select durable materials and weather-resistant details that do not show wear during their life span.

Provide fully functioning shading devices with configurations and dimensions, based on actual climate data and the direction of surface being shaded, to block solar heat gain from glazing or surfaces to reduce mechanical cooling energy. Create a hierarchy of primary, secondary and service entrances that provides consistent design yet uses greater detailing on the primary entrance.

Sustainability

Cost-effectively integrate passive building components such as thermal mass walls and exterior shading devices prior to the design of active mechanical systems for vestibules. Design entrances and vestibules to enhance and preserve indoor environmental quality and to promote thermal comfort, moisture control and daylighting. Properly orient building entrances in response to the local climate. Avoid north-facing entrances in cold climates. Material specifications for entrances should consider recycled content, environmentally preferable products and biologically based products.

Resilience

For entrances located in climates subject to extreme heat, provide passive systems for thermal shading as the first priority.

In climates subject to extreme cold, provide passive systems for thermal insulation at entrances as the first priority. Insulation must be provided for doors and windows and may be automatically controlled over glazing to remain closed during the time of year when mechanical heating or cooling is needed.

UFC 1-200-01 General Building Requirements
https://www.wbdg.org/ffc/dod/unified-facilities-criteria-ufc/ufc-1-200-01

UFC 1-200-02 High Performance and Sustainable Building Requirements
https://www.wbdg.org/ffc/dod/unified-facilities-criteria-ufc/ufc-1-200-02

UFC 3-101-01 Architecture
https://www.wbdg.org/ffc/dod/unified-facilities-criteria-ufc/ufc-3-101-01

UFC 4-010-01 DoD Minimum Antiterrorism Standards for Buildings
https://www.wbdg.org/ffc/dod/unified-facilities-criteria-ufc/ufc-4-010-01

UFC 4-610-01 Administration Facilities
https://www.wbdg.org/ffc/dod/unified-facilities-criteria-ufc/ufc-4-610-01

US Air Force Family Housing Design Guide for Planning, Programming, Design and Construction
https://www.wbdg.org/FFC/AF/AFDG/familyhousing.pdf