CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1-1 BACKGROUND. Mass notification provides real-time information and
instructions to people in a building, area, site, or installation using intelligible voice
communications along with visible signals, text, and graphics, and possibly including
tactile or other communication methods. The purpose of mass notification is to protect
life by indicating the existence of an emergency situation and instructing people of the
necessary and appropriate response and action.
This Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) was developed by collecting and refining
criteria from Department of Defense (DOD) antiterrorism guidance, examining previous
mass notification system (MNS) evaluation reports, and reviewing the capabilities of
representative, commercially available MNS and products.
1-2 PURPOSE. This UFC provides technical criteria for systems that will:
• Implement mass notification in compliance with the DOD antiterrorism
requirements as specified in UFC 4-010-01
• Implement national design standards and recommendations for mass
notification systems as provided in National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA) Standard 72 (including Annex E)
• Achieve coordination of DOD mass notification capabilities with national
systems as required by Executive Order 13407
1-3 SCOPE. This UFC provides the design, operation, and maintenance
requirements of MNS for DOD facilities. The requirement for a MNS is established by
UFC 04-010-01. This document is intended to assist in the design of systems that meet
the requirement established by UFC 04-010-01 and to give guidance to commanders,
architects, engineers, and end users on design, operation, and maintenance of MNS.
1-3.1 Applicability. This UFC applies to new construction, major renovations, and
leased buildings and must be used in accordance with the applicability requirements of
UFC 4-010-01 or as directed by service guidance. See UFC 4-010-01 for more
information on the applicability requirements.
1-3.2 Service Exception. Where one or more service's criteria vary from the other
services' criteria, it is noted in the text with the (Service Exception) symbol.
1-3.3 Compliance with Technical Criteria. Do not deviate from the technical
criteria of this UFC without prior approval from the component office of responsibility:
• U.S. Air Force: Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency, 1 Operations and
UFC 4-021-01
9 April 2008
Change 1, January 2010
2
Programs Support Division /1/ (HQ AFCESA/CEO)
• U.S. Army: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Directorate of Civil Works,
Engineering and Construction (HQ USACE/CECW-CE)
• U.S. Navy: Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Headquarters Chief
Engineer’s Office (NAVFACENGCOM HQ Code CHE)
• U.S. Marine Corps (HQMC), Code PS and Code LFF-1
• Defense Logistics Agency Director (HQ DLA-D) through Support Services
(DLA-DES-SE)
• National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), Security and Installations
• Other DOD components: the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense
(Installations & Environment) (DUSD [I&E]) via the DOD Committee on Fire
Protection Engineering
1-3.4 Authority having Jurisdiction (AHJ). The component office of responsibility
listed in paragraph 1-3.3 is also referred to in this UFC as the AHJ.
1-3.5 Waivers and Exemptions. The AHJ may approve waivers and exemptions to
the technical criteria of this UFC only. Waivers and exemptions shall comply with the
requirements of MIL-STD-3007, Department of Defense Standard Practice for Unified
Facilities Criteria and Unified Facilities Guide Specifications.
1-3.6 Implementation. Implementation of an effective MNS will require the
coordinated efforts of engineering, communications, and security personnel. Fire
protection engineering personnel are needed for the successful implementation of this
UFC because they bring a special expertise in life safety evaluations, building
evacuation systems, and the design of public notification systems. Coordination with
communications personnel is required when the MNS is connected to the DOD
installation’s communications infrastructure. The designated first responders of the DOD
installation are ultimately responsible for the protection of building occupants, and will
be the primary users of an individual building MNS. Designated security or command
personnel will be the primary users of a wide area MNS and should recommend
installation projects, oversee access control, update central control system mapping
and, as necessary, develop associated local recipient groups for targeted notification.
1-3.7 Responsibilities. DOD does not mandate which organizations are
responsible for funding, operation, or maintenance of MNS installed in accordance with
UFC 4-010-01; each DOD component must assign those responsibilities.
1-3.8 Retroactivity. Existing MNS installed in compliance with an earlier version of
this UFC do not have to be modified to meet the requirements of the current edition of
this UFC; however, any alteration or any installation of new equipment shall meet, as
nearly as practicable, the requirements for new MNS.
UFC 4-021-01
9 April 2008
Change 1, January 2010
3
1-4 REFERENCES. See Appendix A.
1-5 QUALIFICATIONS OF SUPPLIERS AND CONTRACTORS
1-5.1 System Integrators and Contractors. Use system integrators and
contractors that are able to demonstrate a full knowledge and understanding of systems
used for mass notification, and that have factory-trained personnel to perform system
design, installation, testing, training, and maintenance.
1-5.2 MNS Component Products and Manufacturers. Only accept products from
manufacturers that can meet the design criteria of this UFC and can demonstrate
5 years of experience in producing products similar to those required for mass
notification. Utilize products of current manufacture with replacement parts and
components available for a minimum of ten years.
1-5.3 Performance and Acceptance Testing
1-5.3.1 Upon completion of the installation, the contractor must complete
performance testing of the MNS for compliance with this UFC. Verification of
performance testing will be checked by local representatives of the AHJ. Performance
results, including the required sound pressure levels and intelligibility values, shall be
documented and submitted to the AHJ with notation of any deficiencies and corrective
actions.
Note: The AHJ are those component offices of responsibility listed in paragraph 1-3.3
(see paragraph 1-3.4).
1-5.3.2 Upon successful completion of performance testing, the contractor must
complete a witnessed acceptance test. Acceptance testing will be witnessed by local
representatives of the AHJ. (See paragraph 1-3.4 for more information on the AHJ.)
1-5.4 Installation Records. The contractor must provide a complete set of record
drawings and operations and maintenance manuals for the MNS. Record drawings and
operations and maintenance manuals must provide information for troubleshooting,
preventive maintenance, and corrective maintenance.
1-6 SECURITY ENGINEERING UFC SERIES. This UFC is one of a series of
security engineering UFC documents that cover minimum standards, planning,
preliminary design, and detailed design for security and antiterrorism. The manuals in
this series are designed to be used sequentially by a diverse audience to facilitate
development of projects throughout the design cycle. The manuals in this series
include:
1-6.1 DOD Minimum Antiterrorism Standards for Buildings. UFC 4-010-01 and
4-010-02 establish standards that provide minimum levels of protection against terrorist
attacks for the occupants of all inhabited DOD buildings. These UFC are intended to be
used by security and antiterrorism personnel and design teams to identify the minimum
UFC 4-021-01
9 April 2008
Change 1, January 2010
4
requirements that must be incorporated into the design of all new construction and
major renovations of inhabited DOD buildings. These UFC also include
recommendations for designs that should be, but are not required to be, incorporated
into all such buildings.
1-6.2 Security Engineering Facilities Planning Manual. UFC 4-020-01FA
presents processes for developing the design criteria necessary to incorporate security
and antiterrorism measures into DOD facilities and for identifying the cost implications of
applying those design criteria. These design criteria may be limited to the requirements
of the minimum standards, or they may include protection of assets other than those
addressed in the minimum standards (people), aggressor tactics that are not addressed
in the minimum standards, or levels of protection beyond those required by the
minimum standards. The cost implications for security and antiterrorism are addressed
as cost increases over conventional construction for common construction types. The
changes in construction represented by those cost increases are tabulated for
reference, but they represent only representative construction that will meet the
requirements of the design criteria. The manual also addresses the tradeoffs between
cost and risk. UFC 4-020-01FA is intended to be used by planners as well as security
and antiterrorism personnel with support from planning team members.
1-6.3 Security Engineering Facilities Design Manual. UFC 4-020-02FA provides
interdisciplinary design guidance for developing preliminary systems of protective
measures to implement the design criteria established in UFC 4-020-01FA. Those
protective measures include building and site elements, equipment, and the supporting
manpower and procedures necessary to make them work as a system. The information
in UFC 4-020-02FA is in sufficient detail to support concept-level project development,
and as such can provide a good basis for a more detailed design. The manual also
provides a process for assessing the impact of protective measures on risk. The primary
audience for UFC 4-020-02FA is the design team, but the UFC can also be used by
security and antiterrorism personnel.
1-6.