CEMP-E
TI 800-03
1 July 1998
CHAPTER 7
STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS
7-1. MANDATORY DESIGN CRITERIA AND STANDARDS. Although not all-inclusive, this
paragraph contains Federal requirements that are established by executive orders, public laws,
local requirements, and other directives. These requirements and all other Federal
requirements must be reviewed and included, as applicable, in the RFP for each new project.
with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and
Other Structures, ASCE 7-latest edition.
Seismic Requirements: Seismic requirements are not addressed in this instruction.
However, seismic requirements should be reviewed for each individual project, and the
applicable seismic requirements and required codes for the project location should be included
in the RFP.
7-2. LESSONS LEARNED. The following subparagraphs contain recommended information
that should be considered in RFP's in order to avoid past problems, define engineering
requirements, define design submittal requirements, and ensure a high level of quality. These
lessons learned should be reviewed and incorporated as appropriate in each new project.
a. State the national and local codes to be used for design, minimum material strengths
as required, and design loads. Design loads shall include design wind pressure, seismic zone,
building classification or occupancy category, ground snow load, frost penetration depth, etc.,
as applicable. Design wind speed shall be taken from ASCE 7-latest edition. Building
classification category, ground snow load, and frost penetration depth shall be taken from
Engineering Instruction (EI) 01S901, Load Assumptions for Buildings.
b. Specify in the RFP technical specifications project-specific load conditions such as
vehicular loads, cranes, special equipment loads, etc. State locations, weights, and special
support requirements.
c. Specify in the RFP technical specifications special load conditions which must deviate
from the national codes. Load conditions not included in the national codes shall be assigned
by the structural design professional after consultation with other disciplines using the areas.
d. Available, accurate geotechnical information should be furnished in the RFP technical
specifications. A sufficient amount of borings and/or test pits which adequately delineate
subsurface conditions should be performed by the Government and be provided in the RFP
technical specifications. The extent of Government-furnished data provided in the RFP should
be carefully determined to maintain the Design-Build contractor's responsibility for the
complete design and construction of foundations. It should be made explicitly clear that "The
Design-Build contractor is fully responsible for an acceptable foundation." Some detail and
definition may be necessary in the RFP to clarify what is required as an acceptable foundation.
e. The structural design is not normally described in detail in the RFP technical
specifications. The structural system presents a significant opportunity for design innovation
7-1
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