VHA PROGRAM GUIDE PG-18-3
July 2006
TOPIC 1 CODES, STANDARDS AND EXECUTIVE ORDERS
PURPOSE: The Public Buildings Amendment Act of 1988, Public Law (Pub. L.) 100-
678 requires Federal agencies to follow national recognized "model" building codes.
The Federal Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary Standards, Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-119, requires all executive agencies to rely
on voluntary standards, both domestic and international, whenever feasible, and to
participate in voluntary standard bodies.
GENERAL: VA has adopted the latest edition of the following codes and standards as
a minimum for all projects performed in the modernization, alteration, addition, or
improvement of its real property and the construction of new structures. VA design
Manuals and Master Specifications specify other codes and standards that VA follows
on its projects:
VA Directives, Design Manuals, Master Specifications, VA National CAD
Standard Application Guide, and other Guidance on the Technical Information
Library (TIL) (http:\www.va.gov/facmgt/standard/).
Occupational, Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Standards.
International Building Code (IBC)
VA Seismic Design Requirements, H-18-8
National Electrical Code (NEC)
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Codes, with the exception of
NFPA 5000 and NFPA 900
National Standard Plumbing Code (NSPC)
Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators, American Society of Mechanical
Engineers (ASME) A 17.1.
ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code
ASME Code for Pressure Piping
Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS) including VA Supplement,
Barrier Free Design
Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete, American Concrete
Institute (ACI 318 2) and Commentary (ACI 318 R2)
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