This Manual contains the physical security standards for improving the protection of mission critical facilities of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Mission Critical facilities are those required to continue operation during a natural or manmade extreme event. Design and construction standards are provided for the physical security of new buildings, additions, and major alterations. In addition, standards are provided to improve the physical security for existing mission critical facilities.
The requirements of this manual are to be coordinated with all VA design and construction requirements for the mitigation of other hazards, such as earthquake and hurricane, in order to complete a multi-hazard approach to physical security planning, design, and construction. In addition, it is intended that the requirements of this manual be coordinated with the requirements of the Life Safety Code, NFPA 101.
