- Provide all on-site utility service lines below grade for Facility Group 1; when mounting elements—such as utility cabinets, communications equipment and water valves—above grade is unavoidable, paint these consistently and provide visual screening following Installation Facilities Standards (IFS).
- Provide installation of utility infrastructure to support near term and future electric vehicle charging stations.
- Define all service entry points into the building and route distribution below grade into an interior space within the facility; exposed conduits, cables and wires on exterior walls are not permitted for Facility Group 1.
- Include consideration of appropriate placement of meters in support of Automated Revenue Management Services (ARMS).
- Limit exterior mechanical distribution systems such as exterior steam, chilled water, and hot water distribution to Group 3 facilities; when required for Group 1 and 2 facilities integrate with the architecture and provide visual screens following IFS.
- Direct roof drainage to underground collection when feasible or provide splash blocks / paved channels to intercept roof drainage at grade.
Conduct a life cycle cost analysis and thoroughly evaluate feasibility of ground-source, solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, and grey-water reclamation systems. Include third party financing such as Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs), Enhanced Use Leases (EULs) and Public-Private Partnerships in the analysis to the maximum extent practical. Integrate all utilities and components to be visually cohesive with the facility with service lines below grade for Facility Group 1 and when economically feasible for Facility Groups 2, 3 and 4.
Fully integrate all utility equipment, components and subcomponents with facilities following Installation Facilities Standards (IFS) to eliminate the need for visual screening and to preserve architectural features. Wall-mounted utility elements on facades are prohibited for Facility Group 1 and discouraged for Facility Groups 2, 3 and 4.
Sustainability
Comply with guidance for energy efficiency and sustainable design under UFC 1-200-02. Aggressively pursue renewable-energy power sources such as ground-source and solar photovoltaic when cost effective.
Resilience
Follow DoD and AF criteria to design and protect utility systems to withstand risks and to maintain functionality after weather-related or geological events. Relate visual quality to the adjacent facility group number.
Monitor installation energy generation infrastructure, facilities, systems, and equipment and consider renewable technologies when upgrading, standardizing or replacing. Consider using performance contracts following current AF guidance.
Eliminate single points of failure to critical assets or mission-critical facilities, such as by providing dual feed.
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 3-201-01 Civil Engineering https://www.wbdg.org/ffc/dod/unified-facilities-criteria-ufc/ufc-3-201-01
UFC 3-401-01 Mechanical Engineering https://www.wbdg.org/ffc/dod/unified-facilities-criteria-ufc/ufc-3-401-01
UFC 3-440-01 Facility-Scale Renewable Energy Systems https://www.wbdg.org/ffc/dod/unified-facilities-criteria-ufc/ufc-3-440-01
UFC 3-501-01 Electrical Engineering https://www.wbdg.org/ffc/dod/unified-facilities-criteria-ufc/ufc-3-501-01
UFC 3-550-01 Exterior Electrical Power Distribution https://www.wbdg.org/ffc/dod/unified-facilities-criteria-ufc/ufc-3-550-01
UFC 3-575-01 Lightning and Static Electricity Protection Systems https://www.wbdg.org/ffc/dod/unified-facilities-criteria-ufc/ufc-3-575-01
UFC 3-580-01 Telecommunications Interior Infrastructure Planning and Design https://www.wbdg.org/ffc/dod/unified-facilities-criteria-ufc/ufc-3-580-01
UFC 3-600-01 Fire Protection Engineering for Facilities https://www.wbdg.org/ffc/dod/unified-facilities-criteria-ufc/ufc-3-600-01
