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ISC Security Design Criteria for New Federal Office Buildings and Major Modernization Projects A Review and Commentary (2003) / Chapter Skim
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4. Assessment of the ISC Security Design Criteria
Pages 41-48

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From page 41...
... The design criteria are generally acceptable and full implementation of the ISC Security Design Criteria will provide some protection for building occupants against most blast-related threats and will significantly reduce injuries. However, the organization of the document makes it difficult to identify clearly the connections between specific criteria and the performance objectives they are meant to achieve.
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From page 42...
... Structured appropriately, prescriptive criteria can be a means of meeting performance objectives. However, the ISC Security Design Criteria do not provide guidance on the amount and completeness of information to be provided in documenting a performance-based security design.
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From page 43...
... The Facilities Standards is issued to architects and engineers who design buildings for GSA's Public Buildings Service. However, the committee finds it troublesome that the Facilities Standards document does not include the text from Part 1 of the ISC Security Design Criteria that would connect the criteria, in a policy sense, with the Presidential Executive Order that established the Interagency Security Committee.
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From page 44...
... The new Physical Security and Hazard Mitigation Committee of the Federal Facilities Council partially fulfills this objective, but a more formal process is warranted. Assessing and Managing Risk Improvements to the ISC Security Design Criteria related to risk assessment cannot be achieved without structural changes in the way the federal government manages its general approach to building security.
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From page 45...
... The first are those that the committee believes can and should be implemented in the short term to help maximize comprehension and use of the important security concepts in the ISC Security Design Criteria with minimum effort. Unless this first set of recommendations is implemented as soon as possible, the ISC Security Design Criteria will probably continue to be underused and misinterpreted by users who do not have a strong background in blast or security analysis.
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From page 46...
... The Interagency Security Committee in concert with its member agencies begin a comprehensive review of the ISC Security Design Criteria as soon as possible. This review should include creation of risk assessment and management tools as well as policy guidance for physical protection and security to guide the development of risk reduction strategies and a performance-based design process.
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From page 47...
... 12. The designated lead agency for implementation of the ISC Security Design Criteria create a security database, and other agencies, to the extent permitted by law and national security, be directed to share information as required by Executive Order 12977.
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Key Terms

  • design criteria
  • isc security
  • executive order
  • interagency security
  • security committee

  • facilities standards
  • major modernization
  • building design
  • federal buildings
  • blast effects

  • building security
  • office buildings
  • public buildings
  • federal office
  • security criteria

  • buildings service
  • federal facilities
  • design process
  • criteria document
  • required resources

  • guidance provided
  • features instituted
  • protective strategies
  • modernization projects
  • security standards

  • include critical
  • related intelligence
  • structural changes
  • designated lead
  • particular design


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