The DoD has released a new UFC 4-010-01, dated February 9, 2012. Whenever there is a new version of this UFC, the industry experiences growing pains as they become familiar with the changes and nuances in the new document, and there are quite a few changes in this new version.    However, we see wanted to highlight two updates as being the ones that will have the most far-reaching effects or will cause/remove the most confusion in this time of transition between versions.  These are:

• Clarifications in the levels of protection, applicability and exceptions of the requirements.
• Significant changes in standoff distances.

Clarifications:

The standards in the UFC 4-010-01 are applicable to all DoD components, all DoD inhabited buildings, billeting, and high occupancy family housing, and all DoD expeditionary structures. The updated document includes needed clarification on the applicability of these standards. For example:

• Mandatory for all new construction (regardless of funding source) with the following caveats:
  • Projects programmed or designed under previous standards if design has proceeded past 35% completion (design-bid-build projects) or if the project has progressed past the RFP phase for Design-Build projects.
  • Projects funded by host-nation agreements upon completion of negotiations with the foreign government.
• Non-DoD Tenant Buildings on DoD Installations – are to comply with the new document.
• Enhanced Use Leases  – if facilities associated with Enhanced Use Leases are completely outside the installation controlled perimeters and where access to those facilities does not require access from within the controlled perimeter – the facilities are exempt (unless they meet the DoD occupancy limits)

Standoff Distances

In the previous version of the UFC 4-010-01, standoff distances depended exclusively of the required level of protection.  This new version introduces additional variables into the determination Conventional Construction standoff distances, which are based on blast calculations.   These now depend not only on the required level of protection, but also on the exterior envelope construction type, and structural function (load bearing vs. non-load bearing).   Therefore, in order to identify if air-blast design of the building is required, the design team needs to consider the specific type of construction as referenced in UFC 4-010-01 Table B-2 (including the limitations in Table 2-3) in order to identify the applicable Conventional Construction Standoff. For preliminary information, Stone Security Engineering has developed a spreadsheet that will help design teams identify the conventional construction standoff distances for their particular situations. This spreadsheet can be downloaded from the Resources Section.

Allowable minimum standoff distances have also changed to a minimum of 18 feet to the controlled perimeter or parking and roadways without a controlled perimeter, and 12 feet to parking and roadways within the controlled perimeter and trash containers. This new minimum standoff distances are substantially smaller and will have important implications in the design of buildings to support air-blast loads.