Atch_08_ACC_Architectural_and_Interior_Design_Stds_200201.pdf

AIR COMBAT COMMAND

CIVIL ENGINEER

ARCHITECTURAL AND INTERIOR

DESIGN STANDARDS

January 2002

TABLE OF CONTENTS

COMMAND STANDARDS: ______________________________________________ 3

REGULATORY GUIDELINES: ___________________________________________ 3

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN POLICY: ______________________________________________ 4

SITE DESIGN: _________________________________________________________________ 5

Location: _______________________________________________________________________________ 5 Site: ___________________________________________________________________________________ 6 Pavements: _____________________________________________________________________________ 6 Landscape: _____________________________________________________________________________ 7 Site Components: ________________________________________________________________________ 8 Site Signage: ____________________________________________________________________________ 9 Infrastructure: __________________________________________________________________________ 10

FACILITY DESIGN: _________________________________________________________________ 11 Form: _________________________________________________________________________________ 12 Walls: ________________________________________________________________________________ 12 Doors and Windows: _____________________________________________________________________ 13 Roofs: ________________________________________________________________________________ 13 Additions: _____________________________________________________________________________ 14 Metal Buildings: ________________________________________________________________________ 15 Colors: ________________________________________________________________________________ 15 Utility and Dumpster Enclosures: ___________________________________________________________ 16 K-SPANs: _____________________________________________________________________________ 16 Solar Applications: ______________________________________________________________________ 17 Facility Signs: __________________________________________________________________________ 17 Exterior Graphics, Striping and Banding: _____________________________________________________ 17 Force Protection/Anti-Terrorism: ___________________________________________________________ 18

INTERIOR DESIGN : __________________________________________________ 19

Command Standards: ____________________________________________________________________ 19 Permanent Finishes: _____________________________________________________________________ 19 Non-Permanent Finishes: _________________________________________________________________ 20 Finishes and Treatments: __________________________________________________________________ 20

INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE: ___________________________________ 22

AFFIRMATIVE PROCUREMENT POLICY: _________________________________ 23

COMMAND STANDARDS

The Air Combat Command Architectural and Interior Design Standards provide guidance for all facilities on ACC installations, tenants on ACC bases, and ACC units on other major command (Majcom) installations except interior finishes in tenant facilities. It covers all project types including Military Construction (MILCON), Operations and Maintenance (O&M), Non- Appropriated Fund (NAF), P-341, and any base or tenant support by in-house, Self-Help, or Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer (RED HORSE) resources. ACC bases must follow the ACC policy standards in local base architectural standards.

The ACC Architectural and Interior Design Standards must be followed in all these circumstances unless a waiver is obtained from ACC/CV. All waiver requests must be a signed letter by the Wing Commander of the requesting ACC base or the unit commander for units not on ACC bases. Submit the waiver request to ACC/CE, 129 Andrews Street, Suite 102, Langley AFB VA 23665. Submit the waiver request early in the design process, at least by the thirty-five percent design stage. Allow a minimum of 12 working days from the date of receipt for processing.

All AF 1391C forms submitted to ACC/CEP shall contain a section that identifies whether or not the project complies with the ACC Architectural and Interior Design Standards and the Base Architectural Standards. For more information contact ACC/CECT.

REGULATORY GUIDELINES

The ACC Architectural and Interior Design Standards are not intended to provide comprehensive technical information generally known to professional architects, planners, engineers and interior designers. This guide does not provide all the information needed to design and execute a successful project, but should be used in conjunction with other documents and project specific criteria. All ACC projects must comply with regulatory guidelines such as the local building code, the National Electric Code, the Air Force Policy Directive for Installations and Facilities (AFPD 32-10), the Air Force Joint Manual for Installation Design (AFJMAN 32-1008), the Air Force Instruction for Design and Construction Standards and Execution of Facility Construction Projects (AFI 32-1023), the Air Force Instruction for Planning and Programming of Facility Construction Projects (AFI 32-1021), the Air Force Instruction for Planning and Programming Nonappropriated Fund Facility Construction Projects (AFI 32-1022), the Air Force Instruction for Planning and Programming Appropriated Funded Maintenance, Repair, and Construction Projects (AFI 32-1032), the Air Force Instruction for Standard Facility Requirements (AFI 32- 1024), Air Force Pamphlet for Sign Standards (AFPAM 32-1097), the Air Force Instruction for Air Force Comprehensive Planning (AFI 32-7062), the Interim Department of Defense Antiterrorism/Force Protection Construction Standards, the Air Force Installation Force Protection Guide, the Air Combat Command Instruction Exterior Signs (ACCI 32-1054), the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Military Handbook 1008C, NFPA 101, NFPA 1141 and the Uniform Building Code. This list is not meant to be all-inclusive. Architects, planners, engineers and designers should check with their Design Agent or government project manager for the latest guidelines.

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN POLICY

The special character of defense installations dictates “compatibility” over “personal style” or “architectural statements”. The limited size and function of ACC bases cannot accept the diverse opinions of the many design professionals without becoming cluttered and unsettled. In this context, “good design” is defined as design that contributes to the overall harmony of the base rather than design that attracts individual attention. Good examples of where ACC goals should lead are college campuses and corporate office parks. Because we do not want monotony, every building does not have to be the same, but some common architectural element or theme should tie all buildings together to create architectural compatibility. Buildings that hold special importance on the base such as wing headquarters and chapels should stand out as object buildings. Other buildings should function as background buildings. All buildings should be aesthetically attractive, convenient and logically laid out, technically sound, compatible with their environment and built with long-lasting materials and details that reduce life cycle costs.

Responsible design will achieve this goal.

The Architectural Policy has a set of goals that guide the development of the policy.

- Site Conditions. Provide site improvements and building forms appropriate to any new, future or existing buildings. Facilities having similar or related functions should be located in the same vicinity. Do not let parking dominate. Encourage pedestrian access. Relate building forms to each other. Create small clusters of related buildings as opposed to spreading buildings out across the landscape.

- Environmental. Design facilities in ways to enhance environmental quality and minimize consumption of natural resources. Tightly cluster buildings that are related to each other creating walkable campuses. These clusters will reduce the amount of land use, utility costs to run utilities to large expanses of land, and vehicle costs to move from building to building. Consider participation in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program.

- Layouts. Provide functional layouts that are logical and satisfy users’ needs both inside and outside of the facility as well as layouts that have the ability to accommodate other future users.

Anticipate and plan for expansion.

- Low Maintenance. Use permanent low-maintenance exteriors that are compatible with ACC base standards and their natural and manmade environments. Use materials that do not require painting during their lifetime. Emphasize low life-cycle costs. Use indigenous landscaping that requires little or no irrigation and little or no maintenance.

- Aesthetics. Design buildings that are aesthetically attractive using materials that are indigenous to the local area or the function of the base. Follow the Base Architectural Standards. Keep in mind that all buildings do not have to be “object” buildings. Buildings such as chapels, dining halls, public buildings, etc. should stand out as object buildings, whereas other buildings should blend into the background emphasizing the object buildings. Facilities should foster a sense of pride among its occupants.

- Technology. Provide technically sound buildings at low costs. Take advantage of emerging technologies, but not at the expense of aesthetics or standards!

- Cost. Reduce life-cycle costs. Concentrate on low life-cycle costs as opposed to low initial costs. Our facilities should be designed, constructed and maintained to last decades. Reduce labor-intensive maintenance procedures.

- Approval. Obtain user approval of design concept layout prior to predesign conferences in order to prevent costly changes during final design, contracting and construction. This is normally done through a Customer Concept Document prior to preparation of programming documents.

SITE DESIGN

The land in-between and around our buildings provides the fabric which holds our bases together. As such, these areas need to be as well thought out as our buildings. Well-designed outdoor spaces help create friendly, inviting, walkable communities. Site selection and design are important to achieve compatibility with the Base General Plan. The following guidelines for site location, site issues, pavements, landscaping, site amenities, site signage and infrastructure will help contribute to this compatibility. Include all applicable standards including force protection/anti-terrorism.

Location:

Situate new buildings within compatible functional groups as determined by the base master plan.

- Complexes. Locate buildings supporting common functions such as civil engineering, administrative, or flying functions in complexes in order to share a common infrastructure of roads, parking, utilities and security. These tight clusters should read as one idea with similar details and materials that link them aesthetically as well as functionally. Provide enough space around a complex for expansion. Assume ten expansion whenever other supporting data is not available.

- Environmental. Design facilities in ways to enhance environmental quality and minimize consumption of natural resources. Clustered buildings reduce the amount of land use, utility costs to run utilities to large expanses of land, and vehicle costs to move from building to building.

- Traffic. When existing traffic patterns are changed by new construction proposals, provide adequate traffic alternatives to coincide with the construction of the new project. Locate buildings so that you can walk between buildings in a functional group. Only encourage driving when walking cannot be accommodated. Design parking lots so traffic can move between adjacent parking lots. Avoid the commercial strip parking lot system where lots are designed so vehicles cannot move between lots.

- Noise. Consider noise levels and attenuation requirements when locating facilities. Do not locate facilities in incompatible noise zones unless no other options are available.

Site:

Once the site has been selected, address every aspect of site planning early in the process, including building siting, relationship of interior spaces to the site, pavement, landscaping, pedestrian access, signage, service equipment, infrastructure, and other barriers. Design facilities considering both the inside functional requirements of the buildings and the influence of the site.

Design the entire site. Include all applicable standards including force protection/anti-terrorism.

- Site influence. Do not use sites that force building functions into basements, third floors, or uneconomical shapes such as curves, diagonals, or long rectangles.

- Open area. Use sites that permit open landscape space around buildings to separate the building from required pavement. Prevent an overcrowded appearance. Do not allow pavements to come directly up to facilities except for especially selected, purely industrial uses.

- Existing site contours. After positive drainage away from buildings is developed, use existing or natural grades and contours to avoid excessive cut and fill operations.

- Setbacks. Sites need to allow minimum setbacks from other structures such as buildings, roads, and parking. Minimum setbacks are 25’ for the front and rear, and 30' for the side. Keep setbacks consistent with buildings and other structures in the area.

- Environmental. Site buildings in accordance with appropriate laws and directives regarding wetlands, flood plains, protected species habitats, and archeological sites.

- Screening. Screen utility equipment, dumpsters, and storage areas. Use walls and mature landscaping or berms. Do not use chain-link fence. Exterior recycling bins should be treated and screened as trash dumpsters.

Pavements:

Pavements include streets, parking lots, sidewalks, and airfield pavement.

- Parking. Use size, location, and screening to prevent parking from becoming a dominant feature. Use consistent angles and stall sizes in all parking areas. Use drop-off areas at high-use facilities to decrease close-in parking. Use raised parking islands to break up parking areas except in areas with excess snow. (Contact ACC/CEC for a list of excess snow areas). Curb all parking lots and avoid using wheel stops/bumper blocks.

- Buildings and Parking Lots. Do not locate parking directly in front of buildings or entrances.

Do not locate parking between the main viewing street and buildings. Locate parking behind buildings. When a building is located between a street and a parking lot the building appearance is improved and the parking is screened with minimum cost. Consider building shape and relationship to other buildings to provide as much screening as possible. Ensure the principle or main view of the building presents a pleasing and uncluttered appearance. The parking arrangement is a major factor in providing an orderly appearance.

- Parking Lot Size. Use separate smaller parking lots of 50 cars or less rather than one large lot.

Where large parking lots exist, landscape approximately ten percent of the area within the lot except in excess snow areas. (Contact ACC/CEC for a list of excess snow areas)..

- Walking distance. Design parking lots to limit walking distance. Use a maximum of 200 feet for most buildings; for transient and unaccompanied housing limit luggage carrying and walking distance to 100 feet.

- Paving. Use economical asphalt paving for most vehicle parking areas, but avoid asphalt sidewalks and curbs. As a minimum, use concrete for sidewalks and curbs. Consider special unit pavers for courtyards, plazas, entrances and other high-profile sites. Provide a landscape buffer between all buildings and paved areas.

- Streets. Avoid utility or other cuts in pavement. Whenever possible use tunneling technologies to go under pavement with conduits or piping. Streets should intersect at right angles and offset intersections should be avoided.

- Curbing. Curb all parking, access roads and streets (except remote/isolated). All primary streets and all parking lots should be paved with integral concrete curbs and gutters. Painted curbs are prohibited because they are very difficult to maintain. Provide mower ramps for access to grass areas.

- Walkways. Use concrete walkways at least 48 inches wide to link facilities and promote pedestrian use. Illuminate walkways used heavily at night. Provide walkways on at least one side of every street and between all facilities. Avoid placing utility poles or signs too close to sidewalks. Locate walkways judiciously and in accordance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Contact ACC/CEO for further guidance.

- Handicapped Access. Ensure handicapped access is provided at intersections, crosswalks and wherever UFAS and ADA require them to be.

- Drainage. Design paved areas to minimize drainage. Drain into natural water courses, detention, and retention ponds.

Landscape:

The use of appropriate trees and other landscape plantings provides a positive first impression, promotes energy efficiency, inhibits erosion, reduces noises, and enhances safety by helping to control blowing/drifting snow. Landscape planting also supports national policy aimed at enhancing air quality. All landscape plantings should comply with the base land management plan. Develop functional rather than purely visual landscapes. Plan to reduce maintenance.

Provide a landscaped space uncluttered by vehicles in front, at the entrance, and between the main viewing street and buildings.

- Plant material. Consult the Base Architectural Standards for an appropriate landscaping material list. Use indigenous, low maintenance, adapted trees and shrubs locally recommended for urban or street use that can survive without irrigation after the first season (one year) warranty maintenance period. Do not use plant material that drops large amounts of fruit or seedpods.

Select deciduous trees that drop all their leaves early in the fall season rather than those that retain brown leaves most of the winter and continue to be a maintenance problem for many months. Some trees to avoid are Sycamore, Beech, and some Oaks. Place mulch bed around all trees and shrubs. Consider fabric barriers that contain an effective pre-emergent herbicide that will provide protection for many years.

- Sustainable Landscaping. Landscaping practices should incorporate sound design planning while minimizing the requirement for fertilizers and pesticides. Use water efficient practices such as mulches, efficient irrigation systems (drip irrigation), and reclaimed water. Consider using boulders with plants, gravel blankets for grass, and pebbles for ground cover. Soften arid landscaping with varied contours and drought-tolerant plantings.

- Preservation. Preserve existing landscape where possible. Use consolidated development areas to help preserve the existing landscape. Avoid overplanting and allow for natural growth and form of plants. Limit turf and keep it free of obstructions which require trimming. Define planting areas with walkways, edging and concrete curbs.

- Mowing strips. Provide planting beds with wide mowing strips. Mowing strips should eliminate hand trimming and edging caused by turf creeping into bedding plants.

- Surface Runoff. Use trees, shrubs, grass and landscaping to reduce storm water runoff. Terrace steep slopes.

- Berms. Use berms to screen and restrict views. Limit berm slope to one foot in 10 feet. Do not use earth berms against building walls.

- Function. Use landscape to reduce energy cost, shade to prevent heat and glare, and windbreaks to lessen air infiltration. Use landscape to screen unsightly views, control pedestrian circulation, define entries, and accenuate outdoor amenities.

Site Components:

Site components include site furniture, bicycle racks, trash receptacles, etc. Site components and the spaces in between buildings should be as carefully planned as the spaces within buildings.

These spaces provide a cost effective way to provide pleasurable spaces. Encourage attention to detail concerning each of these site components. Work to reduce visual clutter, unnecessary signs, receptacles, etc. Include all applicable standards including force protection/anti-terrorism.

- Site Furniture. Site furniture is defined as furniture or other accessories provided in outdoor areas for the comfort or convenience of personnel. Examples are benches, litter receptacles, ash cans, picnic tables, and bicycle racks. The design of site furnishings should respond to the local climate and cultural influences. Bases have established an overall plan that complements the installation architecture and environment. Use these for site furniture selection.

-- Color. Use site furnishings to complement exterior color schemes. Limit colorful accents to high-profile sites. Ban the use of red ash cans and yellow pipe bollards.

-- Materials. Use durable materials which are appropriate for the architectural context and the environment, such as factory finished metals, precast concrete, or quality wood. In hot climates, be careful of metal finishes that may burn anyone who might touch the object.

-- Outdoor Seating. Provide comfortable benches or seat walls near building entrances and in courtyards. Tables should be limited to informal gathering places such as picnic or dining areas.

-- Receptacles. Place litter receptacles and planters on paved sites where they are clear of circulation. All litter receptacles require attached lids. Ash receptacles must match outdoor furniture.

-- Bollards. Bollards shall be set into paving or placed in sleeves to allow access. Use bollards to enhance pedestrian protection and provide vehicle control.

-- Bicycle Racks. Bicycle racks should be located near entrances in secure, visible areas.

Racks must be on concrete, brick or block pads. Use simple, attractive racks.

-- Flag Poles. Locate flag poles in accordance with AFR 900-3. Morale flagpoles are not allowed in accordance with AFI 84-105.

-- Other Assorted Items. Consider accessories such as newspaper vending machines, smoking receptacles, planters, refuse containers, and other equipment in design plans.

Neutralize the visual impact of these items by developing a basewide standard, as well as painting, concealment, or removal. Locate these items in convenient yet discrete locations.

Site Signage:

Site signage must provide clear, consistent, and necessary direction or information. Correctly designed and controlled signs can be a positive aspect of the installation’s overall professional image. Follow ACCI 32-1054, Sign Standards Pamphlet. The following are excerpts from ACCI 32-1054 and are not all inclusive. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration signs must be used for all regulatory and warning traffic signs.

- Visual Clutter. Reduce visual clutter by eliminating super-graphics, poorly designed signs and outdated information. Taping temporary signs on doors, walls, or windows is prohibited.

Condense and consolidate information to minimize the number of signs. Standardize the height of all signs by type. Use sign systems that will accommodate changes.

- Color. All exterior signs will be consistent throughout each installation. Langley brown (Federal spec 21000) background is the ACC standard. Poles and back of signs should be painted or factory finished to match.

- Street Signs. Include the Command shield on all street signs. Color and lettering should be consistent with other signs on the installation. Ensure there is a street name sign for each street at intersections.

- Directional Signs. Install directional signs only where needed to guide visitors and new base personnel. Normally, only four entries should be displayed on a sign.

- Special Signs. Limit unique signing to high-visibility locations where highlights are required to support the architectural theme. Avoid plastic letters and marquee and warning signs on the outside of utility or equipment room doors unless required by code.

- Parking Signs. Reduce the number of parking signs by strictly limiting reserved parking, including temporary reserved parking. Standardize reserved parking designations by installation.

- Temporary Sign Standards. Develop a simple base standard for temporary signs such as a painted brown 4”x4” column with a wood base and a brown sign with white lettering .

Infrastructure:

Components of the installation infrastructure such as street and area lighting and fuel and water storage tanks must be considered when developing facilities. Emphasis should be placed on reducing visual impact by proper siting, painting, screening, or concealment. Utilities should be underground whenever possible. Allow sufficient capacity for future growth. Ensure all applicable standards are followed including force protection/anti terrorism.

- Color. New equipment should have a factory-applied color appropriate to the installation standards. Paint existing equipment to match. Avoid galvanized or green finishes.

- Screening. Use walls and landscaping to screen all utility equipment but maintain required access and clear zones. Avoid the use of metal or wood fencing. Do not use chain-link fencing except for perimeter fencing or high security locations. See the Base Architectural Standards for screening materials appropriate at each base.

- Special Purpose Lights. Use lighted bollards along high-use walkways, inset stair and wall lights for plazas and high-use walkways.

- Street and Parking Lights. Rectangular shaped luminaries are preferred for high-profile locations and dark colored cobra heads for outlying sites. Comply with the Base Architectural Standards. Use consistent lamp types. Metal halides lamps are preferred for most areas, but sodium lamps may be used where necessary. Avoid bright finishes and trendy mountings. Avoid use of low-pressure sodium lamps.

- Fuel and Water Storage Tanks. ACC prefers well-screened, appropriately site above ground tanks. Ideally this means that each tank is located out of view from any major road, main building entrance or significant outdoor space and well screened with a screen wall that matches its parent facility or if there is no parent facility follow the Base Architectural Standards. If this is not possible then use a vaulted tank and size the manholes adequately for maintenance and inspection or use a UST compliant with ACC MAN 32-7051. All UST locations and screening must be approved by ACC/CEC. Submit supporting documents (plans, site plan, elevations, tank details) to ACC/CECT. On above ground storage tanks avoid multiple colors, super-graphics, logos, and glossy finishes. Colors should be consistent with the installation Base Architectural Standards. Elevated storage tanks may be used to display the AF shield only on the base standard tan or beige background, appropriately sized and proportioned. Send in a site plan for each tank for ACC/CEC approval during the planning phase of the project.

- Security. Use quartz lights in secure areas and controlled access points where an instant-on feature is required. Do not use lighting to enhance architectural features.

- Fire Protection. All facilities must be designed and constructed in accordance with Mil Handbook 1008B and other ETLS available through ACC/CEC.

- Sewer. When siting multiple facilities, gravity flow sewers are desired instead of individual pumping stations at each facility.

- Efficient Use of Utilities. New facilities must be designed and constructed to minimize life cycle costs or exceed energy performance standards. Active and passive solar will be considered in new designs. Water conservation initiatives are encouraged. Many varieties of fluorescent and high-intensity discharge lighting produce quality lighting.

FACILITY DESIGN

Our buildings and the areas around them provide not only our places of work and relaxation but also reflect our sense of pride in ourselves. As such, each building and its site should be aesthetically attractive, convenient for its users, technically sound, compatible with its environment, and built with long-lasting materials and details. Refer to the installation Base Architectural Standards for exterior base standards. Base standards establish an architectural theme in keeping with the existing historical styles, local climate, and construction standards.

Provide economical construction without compromising a high quality, architecturally pleasing, and professional military appearance. Ensure all standards are followed including force protection/anti-terrorism.

Exterior treatment requires careful management to achieve the desired overall compatibility.

Each base has to define a context and direction based on existing built and natural environment.

Ensure that the exterior details respond to the building’s use, location and importance on base.

Use of the following guidelines will achieve the desired ACC standard.

Form:

Use simple plans and building forms as well as conventional sloping roofs. Eave heights may vary as required by interior functional relationships, but do not use more than one pitch angle on a building. Do not combine two kinds of roof such as flat and sloping roofs on the same building unless it is clearly justified by the influence of adjacent architecture, building function or layout.

Minimize corners, offsets and curves on horizontal and vertical surfaces. Use only as clearly justified by the adjacent architecture, building function, or layout.

- New versus old. Imitate and improve on existing base building forms to provide harmony between new and old. When new sloping roofed buildings are sited among existing flat profiled buildings, steps must be taken to develop some secondary flat forms to relate the new to the old.

- Height. Except for dormitories, which are limited to three stories, limit buildings to two stories above ground. Do not use basements for occupied spaces.

- Main Entrance. Main entrances should face a major street. Emphasize the main entrance of all facilities using a combination of architectural treatments and building signage.

- Mechanical. Do not let mechanical systems become form-givers. Locate mechanical units to the rear or side of buildings. Design these features to blend in and to integrate with the building architecture in such a way that they are not prominent or detectable. Match materials for mechanical enclosures to the building they serve; i.e., masonry with masonry. Do not use roof-mounted equipment. If no other alternative is available waiver requests for rooftop mechanical equipment should be submitted to ACC/CEC. If required, match the equipment enclosure to the roof or wall material, as much as possible. Equipment wells are also acceptable. As a minimum, screen any equipment at ground level with landscape. In arid climates architectural screens are required. When screening mechanical equipment, ensure adequate clearance, as recommended by the equipment manufacturer, is provided to allow for proper air circulation and maintenance.

Walls:

Minimize use of curves, cants or angles other than 90-degree corners. Use only as clearly justified by the adjacent architecture, building function or layout.

- Material. On exterior walls use low maintenance durable materials that are integrally colored and textured such as brick, split-face Concrete Masonry Units (CMU), split ribbed CMU, prominently exposed aggregate on precast concrete or other substrates, and integrally colored concrete that is textured by use of form liners. Brushed, honed or sandblasted concrete is not acceptable. Do not use materials that require painting on new buildings. Avoid the use of materials that require painting on renovation projects. Use of bricks, blocks, or grout containing fly ash or other byproducts is encouraged. Use concrete containing fly ash or other recycled materials. Autoclaved cellular cement should be used where appropriate. On interior walls the use of exposed or painted CMU is not allowed except in gymnasiums or industrial uses.

Decorative split-face CMU, ribbed CMU, or similarly integrally colored, textured masonry materials may be used as interior finishes in building entries with a waiver from ACC/CEC.

- Metal. Metal walls are only acceptable for extremely large buildings such as aircraft hangars and temporary buildings. See the metal building section of this document. Exposed metal stairs are not acceptable in any renovation or new facility.

- Painting. Do not paint new buildings and do not use materials that are typically restored by painting such as stucco, exterior insulation finish systems, metal fascia, and various kinds of siding on renovations. Secondary doors may be painted as described in the next paragraph. On metal buildings, select a factory prefinished material. See the Base Architectural Standards for this selection.

- Anodized Aluminum. Color anodized aluminum in neutral colors (suggest dark to light bronze) is recommended for exterior metals normally associated with walls such as fascia, gutters, downspouts, windows, and building entrances. Fire exit doors and other secondary doors and frames may be painted for economy. When painting secondary doors and fire exits, they should be painted to match the primary color anodized entrances or painted to match adjacent walls; this is a designer option. The objective is to produce a simple appearance which is uncluttered by many colored shapes.

Doors and Windows:

Aluminum anodized, factory finished door and window frames are preferred for most locations.

Avoid use of mirrored glazing. Operable windows and tinted, energy-efficient glazing are encouraged. Where appropriate, install window screens to take advantage of natural ventilation.

Provide window screens where windows are operable and designed for ventilation. Windows, which operate primarily to allow cleaning, do not need screens. Provide screens for Military Family Housing (MFH) and Unaccompanied Enlisted Personnel Housing (UEPH).

Roofs:

Flat roofs and interior gutters are prohibited. Use sloped roofs equal to or greater than 3:12. Use proven, cost-effective roof systems with high durability and weather resistance such as factory-finished standing-seam metal or shingle roof. Ensure colors are compatible with ACC and base standards. These low-maintenance alternatives are required because of the poor maintenance history of low slope (less than 3:12) single and multi-ply roofs and systems as well as built-up roofs. Generally use a hip or gabled roof. Do not combine roofing materials such as metal and shingles on one roof. Make all of the building parts compatible with each other. Overhangs for weather protection and shade are desirable. Do not locate mechanical equipment on the roof.

Where unavoidable, make sure rooftop units are screened. Roof- top mechanical units require a waiver from ACC/CEC. Roofing made from recycled materials is encouraged.

- Alternatives. Do not use low slope roofing if 3:12 or steeper pitch if feasible. Building form and size (extremely large buildings such as supply facilities, main base exchanges, or commissaries) may occasionally require lower slopes and other materials. Roof designs lower than 3:12 require a waiver from ACC/CEC except commissaries and main base exchanges. If designing a low slope roof, slopes as low as 1:12 are generally accepted for structural standing seam metal (consult with manufacturers for particulars). When a single or multi-ply roof is used, slope the roof at 1/4:12 minimum. The slope is to be accomplished with structural members for new built up roofs, not by tapering the insulation.

- Drainage. Provide continuous roof slope to the perimeter of the building. Do not design interior valleys or depressions that will form ponds if a roof drain becomes obstructed. Ensure overflow scuppers are provided in accordance with applicable codes for parapets. If interior drainage can not be avoided, submit to ACC/CEC for approval.

- Skylights and clerestories. These features may be used where strong functional and economic justification dictates. Fully document economic justification and submit with proposed design to include life-cycle cost of special ballast and control devices to ACC/CEC for approval. Be sure to consider heat load and occupant comfort as part of the proposed design. General area lighting for warehouses is not considered strong enough functional justification to compensate for the generally high maintenance associated with large numbers of skylights on a low slope roof.

- Metal fascia. Do not use wide metal fascias with low slope roofed buildings. If a band is desired around the top of a building, provide it with masonry detailing such as projections, soldier course, or stack bond. Masonry detailing provides a more durable maintenance free fascia that does not require painting.

Additions:

When building additions are proposed, careful coordination is required to determine if the addition should match the old building or if the old building should be changed and brought up to ACC standards at the same time as the addition.

- Small addition. When additions are less than 25% of the existing building’s floor area, design additions to match the original construction.

- Large additions. When additions exceed 25% of the original building area, the addition and the original construction are required to comply with ACC standards. For example, a flat-roofed building of 10,000 square feet needs an addition of 3,000 square feet. In this example 3,000 is more than 25%. The additions would have a sloped roof, and the original building would be designed to have a sloped roof. If the original building were plain CMU, then a new exterior wall finish of textured CMU would be considered either in the form of a complete veneer or as a minimum, use textured CMU at important visual points such as entrances, planters, sign, corner protection, etc.

- Compatibility. In either case (large or small), when additions are complete, they should be architecturally compatible rather than obvious add-ons.

- Fire Sprinklers. Designers of additions need to evaluate the need for sprinkler protection for both the new and existing structure.

Metal Buildings:

Metal buildings may be used for only large structures such as hangars or temporary facilities.

When large buildings are metal a masonry base proportionate to the height of the building is required. The base must be an integrally colored, textured masonry base for durability.

Temporary buildings must be removed within one year. All temporary buildings and large buildings except hangars require a waiver from ACC/CEC. Specialized facilities such as water towers and fuel tanks may be metal.

- Location. Use metal buildings where they are compatible with adjacent structures. Do not use temporary metal buildings in highly visible locations. Temporary metal buildings used anywhere should be well screened with walls or vegetation.

- Finish. Use factory applied finishes with more than 15-year warranties.

- Submit site justification. At the programming stage, submit siting criteria and waiver request to ACC/CEC. Indicate adjacent building construction. If the building is isolated, describe how visible it is from major, minor, or service roads. State reason for selection of metal over masonry in addition to cost consideration.

- Protective masonry. Provide protection on the exterior of buildings where impact to metal panels is probable. For example, integrally colored and textured masonry should be used at entrances, at corners, exterior wainscot to four feet high where vehicles are parked next to buildings, around forklift operations, and at loading docks.

Colors:

Each installation is required to have an exterior color standard. The Command standard is to use neutral colors such as bronze, tan or beige or colors that occur naturally in traditional building materials as the field colors with complementary trim colors which are compatible with regional color motifs. Use neutral anodized colors such as brown tone or gray tone neutral. Judgement has to be exercised in selection of colors for isolated miscellaneous features such as exit doors, downspouts, etc. In some cases, a building benefits from having isolated features colored to match adjacent light-colored walls. This is very important on older buildings with many windows and doors. Coloring trim a contrasting color can produce a cluttered appearance.

- Wall materials. Select neutral colors such as beiges and browns, as large wall surfaces should not attract attention.

- Exterior metals. Use neutral anodized colors such as bronze. When aluminum, hollow metal, and wood are mixed on one building, hollow metal and wood may be painted to match the aluminum color or adjacent walls. In any case, do not use a third color that does not match the bronze metals. Use one trim color to the greatest extent possible.

- New work. Do not paint new masonry; instead use integrally colored, textured masonry materials.

- Color use. Usually two colors on a building produce the best appearance - one wall color and one trim color. Do not use more than three colors - one wall color and two trim or accent colors such as exposed aggregate fascia, columns, beams, etc.

Utility and Dumpster Enclosures:

Provide an enclosed yard to conceal miscellaneous support items such as generators, transformers, trash, lawn equipment, flammable storage, HVAC, meters, and aboveground tanks.

- Enclosures. Match enclosing walls to the building wall material. Split faced CMU is a good durable material. When this is not possible, metal slats and planting may be used. In some cases, plant material by itself may be used to conceal the service area, but it must functionally conceal the service area at the time of planting. All enclosures need to be at least six feet tall. If the items being concealed are taller than six feet then the enclosure should be as tall as the tallest item in the enclosures plus six inches. The use of open panel block is permitted when enclosing electrical substations, transformers, or switches for proper heat dissipation.

- Gates. If possible locate trash and mechanical enclosures so the access to the enclosure in not visible from major streets or major building entries. If this is not possible, provide gates for trash enclosures. Also provide gates for enclosures where accessibility needs to be limited.

- Subdivide. Organize and layout the service yards by responsibility. For instance, HVAC equipment should not be in the trash enclosure. Many of the functions may require separation and separate access such as tools, lawn mowers, fuel, etc.

- Pavement. Provide vehicular access and surfacing such as pavement, grass pavers, or gravel to reduce maintenance. Use concrete curbs or edging.

- Service Areas. Integrate service areas with the building design and match adjacent materials.

K-SPAN:

K-SPAN use and application are more suited to forward operating locations of CENTCOM and SOUTHCOM, or during contingency operations. In all cases, K-SPAN facilities to be located on ACC bases require HQ ACC/CE siting approval prior to purchase, delivery, or start of work.

Treat inflatable buildings the same.

- Use. Limit K-SPAN to storage applications outside the main area of ACC bases such as weapon storage areas, if approved by ACC/CV.

- Structural. Provide additional reinforcing and structural analysis when either design wind load or design live load exceeds allowable values for a K-SPAN structure of given width and height.

Consider K-SPAN structures with a factory finished metal.

- Site Justification. Submit site justification with programming documents. Provide enough information about the intended site to satisfy HQ ACC/CE that the K-SPAN buildings will be compatible with their surroundings. Indicate what is in the site vicinity and if the buildings are visible from roads or populated areas.

Solar Application:

Integrate solar components with roof or wall forms. Give preference to passive solar applications over active solar applications. Do not let solar components clutter or break the normal building form line. Example: vertical collectors should look like glass walls and roof collectors should match the roof slope. Exceptions: when collectors do not look like walls or match roof slopes, screen them from view with materials that coordinate with the building material.

Facility Signs:

Provide signs that comply with base architectural compatibility and ACCI 32-1054, Exterior Signs. No organizational emblems, logos, or direct-paint applications are permitted.

Identification of key personnel such as commanders is also not permitted. Standardize building address sign size and placement on each installation. One unit identification sign is permitted for each facility.

- Moving Signs. Do not use moving or revolving signs on ACC bases.

- Monument. Use of monument signs is limited to headquarters buildings (MAJCOM, NAF, wing and group commanders). See ACCI 32-1054 for guidance.

- Lettering Size. For signs other than those covered by ACCI 32-1054, size lettering according to the functional viewing distance. Keep sign size to a minimum. The rule to follow for readability is one inch of letter height for each 25 feet of view distance. Example: If a sign is intended to be read from a passing car using a road 100 feet away, the largest sign lettering would be four inches (100 divided by 25 equal 4). Do not oversize.

- AAFES/DeCA/Commercial Signs. Logo and lettering supplied by AAFES/DeCA/or the parent organization are required to be the AF and ACC standard. Contact ACC/CECT for a copy of the standard sign.

- Lighted Signs. Internally lighted signs create a commercial impression that is not compatible with AF and ACC standards. When night visibility is functionally required, use external flood or spot lights that illuminate both the sign and adjacent landscape or building. Illumination of the sign with its surroundings makes a better impression and improves orientation.

- Lettering. All lettering on all base signs should be of the same style, upper and lower case Helvetica medium type style.

Exterior Graphics, Striping and Banding:

- Super Graphics. Painted stripes, letters, and supergraphics are prohibited and not compatible with current AF and ACC standards.

Force Protection/Anti-Terrorism:

Coordinate and integrate force protection/anti-terrorism elements such as walls, blast protection and fences with base and building architecture as well as good architectural practices. For instance, during site planning cluster buildings that are functionally compatible with strong boundaries and move parking away from the cluster. Use distance in a positive way. During facility site design, use landscaping, bollards, planters, and other site amenities as barriers.

Provide adequate lighting. Place utilities underground. In facility design, elevate the first floor, construct blast protection by surfacing it with the same materials as the building that it is protecting, and minimize signage. Good force protection/anti-terrorism planning and design is compatible with good planning and architectural practices.

INTERIOR DESIGN POLICY

Design standards have been developed by the professional design staff at Air Combat Command Civil Engineering (ACC/CECT) to provide for the best possible coordination of interior finishes and furnishings for long-lasting maintainable interiors.

These standards are developed around an understanding of the elements and principles of design and how the industry operates, not around personal likes and dislikes.

Each year the Color Association of the United States (CAUS) develops a color palette for the succeeding year. This palette changes gradually each year and is the guide by which manufacturers determine the colorways in which they will produce their products. Whether it be fashion or automobiles, refrigerators or ceramic tile, these color palettes influence manufacturers.

The images of the pink and black tile bathrooms of the 50’s, the avocado green or harvest gold kitchen appliances and laminate countertops of the late 60’s and early 70’s, and the mauve and teal color schemes of the 80’s is why it is a mistake to use faddish colors in permanent finishes.

All in-vogue or trendy colors become dated once wallcovering, carpet or other manufacturers change their color palette.

The Air Combat Command standards ensure materials purchased and installed in our facilities will perform well in respect to both aesthetics and durability.

Command Standards:

Air Combat Command standards vary based on whether a finish is permanent or non-permanent.

The differentiation is necessary due to annual CAUS color palette changes. Generally permanent finishes last longer and consequently need to be a color that will not become dated after a few years. Non-permanent finishes do not last as long and can be updated as palettes change.

Permanent Finishes:

Permanent finishes are generally the hard surface structural interior design (SID) finishes that will last 15 to 20 years and whose removal and re-installation can be costly and may cause a major disruption to the facility. Such items as vinyl composition tile (VCT), ceramic, and other hard surface tiles, plastic laminates, toilet partitions, lockers, window blinds, all modular or systems furniture panels, work surfaces, flipper doors, etc., are considered permanent finishes.

Command standards require that all permanent finishes be in either brown-tone or grey-tone neutrals. These neutral shades can be from very light (such as off-white) to a mid-range neutral of the same shade (taupe). Neutrals with obvious pink, yellow or blue undertones should be avoided.

Non-permanent Finishes:

Carpet, paint, vinyl wallcovering, upholstery, artwork, etc. are considered non-permanent finishes.