CHAPTER 10: TECHNICAL CRITERIA
paint detected must be abated using HUD procedures and re-tested to
10.1.6 Separation Requirements:
ensure compliance.
Centers shall be separated from other occupancies by a minimum one-
hour fire resistant rated wall with doors having a fire protection rating of not
Please refer to Lead-Based Paint: Interim Guidelines for Hazard Identifica-
less than 45 minutes.
tion and Abatement in Public and Indian Housing, 1990 (HUD).
10.1.7 Interior Finish:
The interior finish requirements for walls, ceilings, floors, draperies, cur-
10.1.11 Lead in Water:
tains, and movable partitions shall meet the requirements of the latest edi-
Test all sources of water used by the center for lead at the acceptance of
tion of GSA's Facilities Standards for the Public Buildings Service and LEED
the substantially completed project (for new and major renovation projects
guidelines
that involve plumbing). In buildings over 25 years old, they should be tested
annually, at a minimum, using guidance in the Environmental Protection
10.1.8 Automatic Sprinkler System:
Agency pamphlet Lead in School's Drinking Water, EPA 570/9-89-001,
Automatic sprinklers shall be installed throughout all new construction center
January 1989. If the lead levels exceed 20 parts per billion, the affected
projects and all renovation center projects in accordance with the require-
water supply must not be used and mitigation actions must be taken im-
ments of GSA's Facilities Standards for the Public Buildings Service.
mediately.
Special Requirements:
10.1.12 Asbestos-Containing Materials:
Provide sprinkler guards in areas such as multi-purpose rooms where
Survey center (or area anticipated to house the center) for the presence of
there may be ball-throwing activities.
asbestos-containing materials. GSA's asbestos abatement and control pro-
gram must be implemented if material is present. Asbestos-containing
10.1.9 Fire Alarm System:
materials that are damaged or subject to disturbance will be abated in
A fire alarm system shall be installed throughout all new-construction cen-
accordance with regulatory requirements and guidelines. In a limited area
ter projects and all renovation center projects in accordance with the re-
of the country, typically with highly acidic drinking water, water may also
quirements of the latest edition of GSA's Facilities Standards for the Public
contain asbestos. While this is considered much less of a hazard than
Buildings Service.
friable asbestos found in buildings, the drinking water supply should still be
tested for the presence of asbestos and means taken to eliminate it as a
Special Requirements.
hazard.
Manual fire alarm stations shall be double-action type and installed at
the required exits from the center.
10.1.13 Radon in Air:
Photoelectric smoke detectors shall be installed throughout the center
For a minimum of 90 days, test the center for radon in the air using alpha
and shall be installed in accordance with the requirements of NFPA,
track detectors or electric ion chambers. If radon levels are at, or exceed,
National Fire Alarm Code.
4 picoCuries per liter, mitigation actions must be taken immediately.
In buildings not protected throughout with an automatic sprinkler sys-
tem, photoelectric smoke detectors shall be installed in the corridors of
10.1.14 Radon in Water:
all floors occupied by the center.
Test the center for radon in water if the drinking water used by the center is
obtained from a non-public water source. Environmental Protection Agency
10.1.10 Lead-Based Paint:
guidelines shall be used for testing as prescribed in Radon in Water Sam-
Test all existing painted surfaces in the interior of the center and center's
pling Manual (EPA/EERF-Manual-78-1). If radon levels are at, or exceed,
playground equipment for lead-based paint following Department of Hous-
ing and Urban Development (HUD) guidelines. In addition, exterior paint in
an area, which the children may access, must be tested. All lead-based
PBS-140 - July 2003
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