The location of stairs within buildings should encourage
through their life span. A building design shall follow
the prescribed planning grid dimension unless the
their use, in lieu of elevators, to the fullest extent feasible.
designer can show long term efficiencies using another
This will reinforce the recognition of sustainable energy
dimension. Following a standard dimension will allow
conservation.
GSA to maintain standard replacement parts to service
Electrical Closets must be stacked vertically and should
the building.
be located so that they are no more than 45m (150 feet)
from any occupied space. Shallow, secondary closets off
Some structural bay sizes can adversely affect interior
permanent corridors may be used for receptacle
parking layout. The 6100 mm by 6100 mm (20-foot by
panelboards where the distance between the riser and
20-foot) bay is too narrow for a two-way driveway aisle.
the farthest workstation exceeds 45m (150 feet) and a
Some of the larger bays cannot be efficiently adapted to
separate riser is not warranted. See section Space
parking layouts. Transfer beams or inclined columns
Planning, Building Support Spaces, Mechanical and
would have to be used to adjust the column spacing. If a
Electrical Rooms of this chapter for minimum size
major parking facility must be integrated with the office
requirements.
structure, the 9100 mm by 9100 mm (30-foot by 30-foot)
bay is recommended.
Communications Closets shall meet the requirements of
EIA/TIA Standard 569: Commercial Building Standard For
Telecommunications Pathways And Spaces (and related
Technology Infrastructure
bulletins). Communications closets must be provided on
A total integration of all building systems will provide for
each floor, with additional closet for each 930 m2 (10,000
current operations as well as for future changes. A tech-
square feet). Closets must be stacked vertically and must
nology infrastructure should be planned in each building
be placed so that wiring runs do not exceed 90 m (300
to accommodate power systems including normal,
feet). Closets must tie into vertical telecommunications
emergency and uninterrupted power, mechanical systems
backbones. See section Space Planning, Building Support
and controls, fire detection and suppression systems,
Spaces, Mechanical and Electrical Rooms of this chapter
security systems, video and television systems, communi-
for minimum size requirements.
cations systems, including voice and data, lighting
controls, plumbing services, and special utility services,
Building Circulation
such as gas or exhaust systems. It is not intended to
Federal buildings must have clear circulation systems.
provide infinite amounts of space for these systems, but to
Utility system backbone pathways should be routed in
recognize their dimensional characteristics and the ability
circulation spines providing service access to utilities
to service system components. The infrastructure must
without disrupting other tenant agencies.
provide adequate spare capacity and integrate the utility
entrance facilities, equipment rooms, backbone pathways,
Planning Grid
horizontal distribution pathways and workstation outlets
for each system. In part, floor-to-floor heights are deter-
Planning grids shall be used to integrate building interiors
mined by the depth of space required for the technology
to allow more future serviceability, particularly for
infrastructure, including structural, mechanical, electrical
buildings that will experience extensive reconfiguration
and communications systems.
53
ARCHITECTURAL
AND
INTERIOR
DESIGN
3.1
Basic Building Planning Principles
Revised March 2005 PBS-P100
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