Welcome to the UIUC Facilities Standards (Standards).  This document represents the combined input and effort of several campus units, including:

·         Planning, Construction & Maintenance (PC&M)

·         Division of Environmental Health and Safety (DEHS)

·         Division of Public Safety

·         Campus Information Technologies and Educational Services (CITES)

·         Office of Instructional Resources (OIR)

·         Division of Campus Parking and Transportation (DCPT)

·         Office of Mail Services

This specific publication represents an upgrade/revision of previous Standards.

Purpose:  It is the purpose of this document to supplement the Program Statement of each new construction or remodeling project by serving as an authoritative design manual for use by designers of campus facilities. It is not intended to be a master specification.  It is intended to provide information that is specific to the UIUC (as opposed to general knowledge), to provide guidance/requirements regarding the “UIUC way of doing things” and to provide specific direction regarding issues that have historically/repeatedly proven to be problem areas.  It is not intended to be exhaustive. Where these Standards exceed minimum code requirements, the Standards shall apply.

Format:  The format of the UIUC Facilities Standards has changed to provide users of the Standards a means to access the actual electronic files for their editing purposes.    The information under ACCESS INSTRUCTIONS is intended to provide users with some basic instructions on how to access, print and save files. 

Format:  The format of the UIUC Facilities Standards has changed to provide users of the Standards a means to access the actual electronic files for their editing purposes. The information below is intended to provide users with some basic instructions on how to navigate the new web page.  Click on the “UIUC Facilities Standards” tab at the top of this web page to access the UIUC Facilities Standards.

To Access Individual Files:  The UIUC Facilities Standards files are located in six folders on the left side of the screen.  The first folder contains the Table of Contents.  The other folders are Volume 1 - Overview Information, Volume 2 - Detailed Information, Volume 3 - Supporting Information, Addenda, and Previously Approved Variances of the Standards as described on the Content Description screen.  Each of the six main folders may contain sub-folders.  Click on the box to the left of the main folder to make the sub-folders appear.  Click on the box to the left of the sub-folder to make the actual files appear.  Click on the file you wish to open. Once a file is open, it may be printed or saved in its original format by using the File – Print or File – Save As features in the tool bar.

Native vs. PDF File Format:  Upon first accessing the UIUC Facilities Standards web page, all files are available in their original format.  These formats include MS–Word, MS–Excel and AutoCAD.  Click on the “PDF File Format” option at the top of the screen to change the format of the files to PDF format.  Once in the PDF file format, click on the “Native File Format“ option to return to native file formats. 

FTP Site:  This feature allows you to download the Standards files in “bulk” instead of opening and saving each file individually.  Click on the “FTP Site” option on the top of the screen and the six main Standards folders will appear.  Right-click on the folder you wish to copy and follow the instructions to save the files to a directory of your choice.  The files within these folders will be displayed in the same format (Native or PDF) as the format being utilized prior to accessing the FTP Site.

Search Feature:  The search feature on the right side of the screen allows you to perform key word searches within the Standards files.  Results are shown in the same format (native or PDF) as the format being utilized prior to performing a search.

Advanced Search Feature:  This feature is useful in performing a more detailed search.  Just type in a few words or phrases.  Try to use discriminating terms that are likely to be found only in the documents you seek.  The more words you give, the better results you'll get.

Help:  If you have questions or comments in regard to this web page, contact the Editor of UIUC Facilities Standards (Guy R. Grant - grgrant@uiuc.edu).

Contents:  For ease of use (and convenience of handling for those who choose to print these documents on paper) these Standards have been divided into three volumes that have been divided into sections as indicated in the Table of Contents and as described below.  Each section in each of the three volumes are to be viewed as equally authoritative (e.g. sections with titles that include the term “Guidelines” are equally as authoritative as those that include the term “Requirements”).

Volume 1 (Overview Information)

·         Introduction

·         Design & Construction Goals:  This section briefly presents the UIUC's design and construction goals, as well as our focus on delivering "institutional quality facilities".   Further, it provides a practical description of what constitutes institutional quality.

·         Design Guidelines for Campus Architecture:  The Design Guidelines can be viewed at the Facilities & Services Planning Division web site at Campus Guidelines  They are being included in the Standards by reference.  They represent a stand-alone document that has independent applications, yet they are to be treated as integral to these Standards.  The Design Guidelines address issues related to exterior architecture.  They provide designers with direction regarding the architectural context of our campus and how to design facilities that are consistent with that context.

·         General Guidelines:  The General Guidelines provide information, guidance and requirements relative to a number of general topics that relate to new construction and/or remodeling.  For ease of use, these topics have been presented in alphabetical order.  Drawings and exhibits have been referenced where appropriate.  Typically, the General Guidelines address issues that are campus-wide, system-wide or building-wide; issues that tend to be more global and/or philosophical in nature.  They address issues that might otherwise go unaddressed among the numerous details of the Technical Sections.  In other words, the General Guidelines address the “forest” while the Technical Sections address the “trees”.  It is our intention that, by reading the General Guidelines, a designer who is unfamiliar with construction and remodeling on campus, will be able to quickly get the big picture regarding “the UIUC way of doing things”.

Volume 2 (Detailed Information)

·         A/E Requirements:  The A/E Requirements address the many facets of an Architecture/Engineering firm’s responsibilities in carrying out the design and administration of a typical construction project at the UIUC.

·         Division 1 - General Requirements:  The General Requirements address the construction process, whereas the Technical Sections address the end product.  They define what is required of the contractor(s) throughout the full course of the construction process.  To a lesser degree, they communicate what is typical for the University to provide throughout the construction process.  Although the General Requirements are not intended to be specifications, for convenience they have been organized according to the familiar CSI numbering system.  The General Requirements do not address all that is typically addressed in Division 1 of project specifications.  They address only those issues that are non-project-specific.

·          Division 2-17 -Technical Sections:  The Technical Sections are the “meat” of these Standards.  They provide detailed requirements for all types of components, equipment and systems.  They address materials as well as the installation of materials.  Although the Technical Sections are not intended to be specifications, for convenience they have been organized according to the familiar CSI numbering system.  Drawings and exhibits have been referenced where appropriate.  A new Division 17 – Technology has been included in this revision of the Standards.

Volume 3 (Supporting Information)

·          Drawings:  Numerous technical drawings are provided.  Many are referenced from within the text of the General Guidelines and/or the Technical Sections.  However, some stand alone as independent documents.  Drawings that stand alone ( i.e. that are not referenced from elsewhere within these Standards) are just as authoritative as those that are referenced.  Therefore, initiative should be excercised in reviewing each and every drawing within this section.

·          Exhibits:  The  above discussion of Drawings applies equally to the Exhibits that are provided within these Standards as well. Please take note of the fact that the Brand Name Products List has been included as Exhibit 01600-1 within this edition of the Standards    This list tends to be dynamic from one edition of the Standards to the next and should always be reviewed prior to the preparation of project specifications.

Addenda

·         Critical corrections or modifications to the Standards which cannot wait until the next revision may be incorporated by means of an Addendum to the Standards. These Addenda will be compiled in this folder until the next scheduled revision. By compiling critical corrections in one location, it is our intent to not change any documents within the body of the Standards between revisions.

Variance Process

·         Variance Approval Request and Appeal Forms are available to download from this folder.

·         Records of variance requests previously approved by the Variance Process Committee will also be kept in this folder.

Variances:  Design or construction shall not deviate from the requirements of these Standards without prior receipt of an approved written request for variance.  The variance approval process is explained in detail on the “Variance Process” link on the Standards web page. Variance process forms can be downloaded on the UIUC Facilities Standards link under Previously Approved Variances and Forms.

Changes/Additions:  Your feedback is welcomed.  Corrections, additions and/or other suggested improvements should be sent by any convenient means to the editor of the UIUC Facilites Standards for appropriate action.

Revisions:  These Standards will be revised on a periodic basis.  Changes/additions will typically not be incorporated until the next scheduled revision. Revisions will be scheduled at a frequency of approximately every two years. Critical corrections or modifications to the Standards which cannot wait until the next revision may be incorporated by means of an Addendum to the Standards. These Addenda will be compiled in a separate electronic folder following Volume 3.

Variance Process

When to use this process?  Prior to any deviation from the UIUC Facilities Standards on a project, the UIUC Project Representative must obtain a variance approval.

Who is responsible for managing this process?  The UIUC Project Representative is responsible for determining when to submit a variance request on a project, sending the variance request to the Variance Process Committee members, setting up the appeals meeting if applicable, and sending approved variance requests to the Editor of the UIUC Facilities Standards.  Any project team member, such as a Project User or A/E firm, may request that the UIUC Project Representative submit a variance request, but it is the responsibility of the UIUC Project Representative to initiate and manage this process.

Variance Process Committee Membership:  The committee is comprised of one representative from each of the following groups.

1.       Campus Sustainability Committee

2.       CITES

3.       Facilities and Services – Planning (2 representatives)

4.       Facilities and Services – Planning / Engineering

5.       Facilities and Services - Maintenance

6.       Facilities Planning and Programs (2 representatives)

7.       Project User

Current membership names are listed on the Variance Approval Request Form and Variance Rejection Appeal Form.  The Project User is an open position that will be filled for each specific project.  Note that even if there are multiple users for a project, the project must identify 1 user to represent all users on the Variance Process Committee.

Request for a Variance Approval:

1.       The UIUC Project Representative initiates a Variance Approval Request Form, stating the circumstances of the variance request, with all pertinent information included.  A current copy of this form may be downloaded from the UIUC Facilities Standards web page.  The UIUC Project Representative must obtain the UIUC Facilities Standards technical expert’s comments pertaining to the variance request and note this on the variance form.  Any variance request that would impact life cycle cost of the facility if approved requires a life cycle cost analysis to be attached to the variance request.  Incomplete information will result in a rejection of the variance request.

·         Life Cycle Cost Analysis:  The Life Cycle Cost (LCC) Analysis method may be chosen by the UIUC Project Representative or their designated A/E firm.  Note that regardless of the method used, all inputs and outputs of the LCC shall be submitted for review along with the results of the analysis.  These include, but are not limited to: initial costs, replacement costs, annually recurring maintenance costs, non-annually recurring maintenance costs, energy costs, water costs, system life expectancies, etc.  Life expectancies used in the LCC Analyses shall be consistent with the system life expectancies stated in the Design & Construction Goals document in Volume 1 of the UIUC Facilities Standards. Examples of acceptable methods include but are not limited to the following list.

·         Building Life-Cycle Costing (BLCC) – see http://www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/tools_directory/software/blcc.htm

·         Quick Building Life-Cycle Costing (QBLCC) - see http://www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/tools_directory/software/qblcc.htm

·         Life-Cycle Cost in Design (LCCID) - see http://www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/tools_directory/software/lccid.htm

·         NIST Handbook 135 - Life-Cycle Costing Manual and the accompanying NISTIR 85-3273-16 "Energy Price Indices and Discount Factors for Life-Cycle Cost Analysis" that is updated every year - see http://www.eren.doe.gov/femp/ordermaterials.html.

2.       The UIUC Project Representative distributes the Variance Approval Request Form along with any applicable life cycle cost analysis data via e-mail to all Variance Process Committee members with the e-mail subject entitled “Variance Request – Respond Within 3 Business Days”.  To do this, send the form to UIUC Standards Variance Committee, which is a distribution list set up for all standing committee members.  In addition, an e-mail message must also be sent to the Project User representative.  Please send only 1 variance request per e-mail message.

3.       Committee members will have 3 business days to respond to the Variance Request.  If a member does not respond within these 3 business days, their non-response shall be taken as a vote of concurrence.

4.       If all members concur with the Variance Request, the variance is approved.  If one or more members do not concur with the variance request, the variance is not approved.

Appeal of a Variance Rejection:

1.       The UIUC Project Representative has the right to appeal the decision of the Variance Process Committee.  If the UIUC Project Representative wishes to initiate the appeals process, the UIUC Project Representative must set up a meeting with all committee members in attendance.  The committee members must enable the UIUC Project Representative to set up this meeting within 5 business days of the UIUC Project Representative’s request.  All committee members, or their designated representative, must be in attendance.

2.       Prior to the Appeals meeting, the UIUC Project Representative must distribute to all committee members completed copies of the original Variance Approval Request Form showing how all members voted.

3.       At the Appeals meeting, the UIUC Project Representative shall submit a Variance Rejection Appeal Form, state their case for an appeal, and committee members shall discuss their support for, or concerns with the request.  A current copy of the Variance Rejection Appeal Form may be downloaded from the UIUC Facilities Standards web page.

4.       Committee members will vote on the appeals request.  If it is a unanimous decision, then the appeal is either unanimously approved or rejected.

5.       If it is not a unanimous vote, then the F&S Director of Planning will make the final decision after weighing all factors and opinions presented at the meeting.  This authority is granted to the F&S Director of Planning since it is not the intent of the Variance Process Committee to halt project progress.

6.       Each committee member shall add his or her signature and comments to the Variance Rejection Appeal Form.  Any committee member not in agreement with the final decision may state this disagreement for the record. In addition, the variance may require adherence to additional conditions.  An example of this may be that a User may be required to pay for the increased cost of maintenance or energy usage that could result from an approved variance.

Records:

1.       In addition to being kept as a part of the project records, copies of approved and rejected Variance Approval Request Forms and Variance Rejection Appeal Forms shall be sent to the Editor of the UIUC Facilities Standards.

2.       The Editor of the UIUC Facilities Standards shall maintain records of all variances approved or rejected by the committee.  These records will be available on the UIUC Facilities Standards web page.