Design Standards

Multiagency Visitor & State Travel Information Center at the El Malpais National Monument, New Mexico.

• Accessibility & Universal Design
• Architectural
• Automated Controls
• CAD/BIM & Drafting (Computer Aided Design/Building Information Modeling)
• Civil (Site) & Environmental Engineering
• Cost Engineering & Estimating
• Electrical Engineering
• Fire Protection Engineering
• Landscape Architecture
• Lighting
• Mechanical Engineering
• Occupational Health & Safety Engineering
• Site & Building Security
• Structural Engineering

 

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General Statements

• The National Park Service Museum Handbook offers best-practice guidance relevant to architects and engineers involved in the planning and design of facilities that house or support museum collections. It addresses critical design considerations such as environmental controls, integrated pest management, storage systems, fire protection, health and safety, and security-ensuring the built environments meet the preservation and operational needs of NPS collections.
• NPS adopted codes are referenced in Policy Memorandum 23-01 - Adoption of Nationally Recognized Building Codes.
• Designs shall reflect the context of the park unit and local environment (contextual design). Designs shall respond to the capabilities of the park unit staff and the local market for support services.
• All designs shall adhere to the Organic Act (39 Stat. 535, 16 U.S.C. 1) specifically: "To conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."
• Facilities will be harmonious with park resources, compatible with natural processes, esthetically pleasing, functional, energy- and water-efficient, cost-effective, universally designed, and as welcoming as possible to all segments of the population. NPS Management Policies, 2006
• Designs for Denver Service Center shall comply with all applicable Design Standards. Design Standards are arranged by discipline and/or specialty. Some aspects of a specific discipline's Design Standards also apply to other disciplines. To fully understand the design requirements, consult all applicable Design Standards. Resources are provided for informational purposes only and may be used with discretion.
• NPS Management Policies 2006 - The Guide to Managing the National Park System: This volume is the basic policy document of the NPS for managing the national park system. It includes chapters devoted to: cultural resource management, natural resource management, use of parks, and park facilities as well as many more - many of which directly impact facility design and construction. Adherence by NPS employees (and, by extension, Architectural Engineering (A/E) firms designing NPS facilities on behalf of the NPS) to policy is mandatory unless specifically waived or modified by the Secretary of the Interior, the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, or the Director of the National Park Service.
• Laws, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Executive Orders (EOs), Government Directives, Government Standards, cited in the Design Standards refer to the original document as well as any subsequent amendments, corrections, and additions. The latest amendments, corrections and additions are to be assumed applicable in the same way as the document itself.
• FAR 52.208-9 Contractor Use of Mandatory Sources of Supply or Services provides requirements regarding supplies and services that must be obtained from non-profit agencies participating in a program operated by the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled. Products available through AbilityOne shall be evaluated to meet this requirement.

 

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