2.01 GENERAL This section contains general compliance and safety planning information to be used by design professionals and contractors in the design and construction of University facilities. The criteria represent minimum levels of performance, quality, and/or standards, which are sometimes different than those accepted in private and commercial industry. This is in recognition that campus facilities must survive longer than normal service lives, without undue cost, while still supporting academic, research, and service missions of the University of South Alabama. The Design and Construction Standards must be considered as part of a total contract that may include other attachments and guidelines depending on the project. These attachments may impact information presented in these standards and must be evaluated by the consultant with the University of South Alabama Project Manager. CODES AND REGULATIONS All building projects for the University of South Alabama shall be designed, and Contract Documents prepared in conformity with current Alabama Building Commission Code Requirements. Design Consultants should refer to the Alabama Building Commission web site for current requirements. Since the requirements of codes cannot readily be made a part of the Specifications and other Contract documents merely by reference, the Architect should prepare his Specifications and Drawings with particular care to ensure that all parts of the work shall be of a character that will satisfy the requirements of those codes. Various industry standards, generally accepted and frequently cited, may be referenced in the Specifications. If abbreviations are used for these Standards in the body of Specifications, a list to identify them should be included in the Specifications. SUSTAINABILITY All new capital projects will follow USGBC guidelines for silver certification at a minimum. The University will on a case by case decide which projects will pursue actual USGBC LEED Certification. SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS All University buildings shall be designed with full consideration for the safety of the occupants and users. The following are University requirements that require emphasis and in some cases may be in addition to those required by Code. These requirements will be administered by the university office of Safety and Environmental Compliance. ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE It is the policy of University of South Alabama, that prior to any restoration, alteration, demolition or renovation of any area the University of South Alabama Safety and Environmental Compliance department (SEC) assess the area for environmental hazards. The Project Manager in consultation with the University SEC will manage this effort. Examples of environmental hazards are items such as, but not limited to, presence of asbestos-containing materials and/or lead-based paint, biological chemical including PPCB ballast and fluorescent license bulbs, and radiation hazards. The presence of biological, radiation and chemical hazards will be found primarily in the laboratory/research environment. Presence of asbestos-containing materials and lead-based paint coated surfaces can be found in and on all types of building materials as well as laboratory-related equipment. For specific requirements pertaining to the noted hazards, refer to the project manager. CUTTING AND PATCHING PERMITS Work requiring concrete cutting, brazing, grinding, welding or soldering of metals, or work producing gases or particulate capable of activating ionization or smoke/heat detectors, shall require five days notice. Failure to notify Owner of this work that results in Fire Department false alarm will result in pass-through of false alarm fine to Contractor. UPDATED - JANUARY 20, 2015 Page 1 of 5
ASBESTOS REMOVAL - Most University buildings constructed before 1970 contain asbestos materials in some form or another. The most typical use is pipe insulation or acoustical control. It is the preference of the University to abate and dispose of these materials whenever a construction project is undertaken to remodel a building or part of a building. The actual abatement and disposal will be accomplished by an outside contractor prior to the start of the remodeling project. If the abatement project is large enough to require the bidding process, the Owner may contract with a consultant for preparation of contract documents. These services will be separate and distinct from the Architect s services. ASBESTOS The use of asbestos or any product containing asbestos banned by the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Labor s occupational Safety and Health Administration is absolutely prohibited from this project. Any contractor installing any product with asbestos shall bear full responsibility and liability for any penalties, damages, suits or loss and shall pay for any and all costs of removal and replacement and also all legal costs if they are involved. Any product specified that unknowingly contains asbestos shall be brought to the attention of the architect in writing prior to its purchase and shall not be used on this project. SPPRINKLER SYSTEM An automatic fire suppression system will be required in all buildings regardless of specific code requirements. UNIVERSITY DIG PERMIT Any consultant doing any excavation work on university property will be required to file a University Dig Permit. The dig permit is circulated to appropriate University departments who will verify the location and type of all know utilities in the area of the proposed excavation. The Dig Permit is available thru the University Project Manager. See appendix section for dig permit process form. EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS The University's Emergency Response and Recovery Plan is managed by the University of South Alabama's Safety and Environmental Compliance department to ensure that a set response and action will take place by the majority of staff prior to or directly following an emergency situation. The primary objective is to protect students, employees, visitors and the Universities properties from a spectrum of possible emergencies and disasters. The plan does not cover every potential disaster/emergency, but rather those that are of major concern on a typical university campus in a coastal location. This document is available in hard copy form from the University Project Manager. Each Contractor on Campus must provide their plan to the University SEC Department. CONFINED SPACE ENTRY Many workplaces on the University campus contain spaces that are considered "confined" because their configurations hinder the activities of employees who must enter, work in, and exit them. A confined space has limited or restricted means for entry or exit, and it is not designed for continuous employee occupancy. Confined spaces include, but are not limited to underground vaults, tanks, storage bins, manholes, pits, silos, process vessels, and pipelines. OSHA uses the term "permit-required confined space" (permit space) to describe a confined space that has one or more of the following characteristics: contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere; contains a material that has the potential to engulf an entrant; has walls that converge inward or floors that slope downward and taper into a smaller area which could trap or asphyxiate an entrant; or contains any other recognized safety or health hazard, such as unguarded machinery, exposed live wires, or heat stress. Confined spaces may be encountered in virtually any occupation; therefore, their recognition is the first step in preventing fatalities. Since deaths in confined spaces often occur because the atmosphere is oxygen-deficient, toxic or combustible, confined spaces that contain or have the potential to contain a serious atmospheric hazard should be classified as Permit-required confined spaces and should be tested prior to entry and continually monitored. The following references aid in recognizing and evaluating hazards and possible solutions related to confined spaces. UPDATED - JANUARY 20, 2015 Page 2 of 5
PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE-DESIGN PROFESSIONALS Design professionals under contract with the university are required to have the following coverage's issued by an insurer licensed by the Insurance Commissioner to transact the business of insurance in the State of Alabama for the applicable line of insurance, and such insurer (or, for qualified self-insured's or group self-insured's, a specific excess insurer providing statutory limits) must have a Best Policyholders Rating of "A-" or better and a financial size rating of Class V or larger. Insurance certificate must provide the following information; Name and address of authorized agent of the insurance company, Name and address of insured, Name of insurance company or companies, Description of policies, Policy Number(s), Policy Period(s), Limits of liability, Name and address of Owner as certificate holder, Project Name and Number, if any, Signature of authorized agent of the insurance company, Telephone number of authorized agent of the insurance company, Mandatory thirty day notice of cancellation / non-renewal / change. Unless otherwise provided in the Special Provisions of the Agreement, the Architect shall purchase the types of insurance coverage's with liability limits not less than as follows: Workers Compensation coverage shall be provided in accordance with the statutory coverage required in Alabama. A group insurer must submit a certificate of authority from the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations approving the group insurance plan. A self-insurer must submit certificate from the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations stating the Architect qualifies to pay its own worker s compensation claims. Employer s Liability Insurance limits shall be at least: (a) (b) Bodily Injury by Accident - $1,000,000 each accident Bodily Injury by Disease - $1,000,000 each employee Commercial General Liability Insurance, written on an ISO Occurrence Form (current edition as of the date of this Agreement) or equivalent, which shall include, but need not be limited to, coverage for bodily injury and property damage arising from premises and operations liability, products and completed operations liability, personal injury liability and contractual liability. (a) (b) The Commercial General Liability Insurance shall provide, at minimum, the following limits: Coverage Limit 1 General Aggregate $ 2,000,000.00 2 Products, Completed Operations Aggregate $ 2,000,000.00 3 Personal and Advertising Injury $ 1,000,000.00 per Occurrence 4 Each Occurrence $ 1,000,000.00 The Commercial General Liability Insurance policy shall name the Owner and its agents and employees as additional insured's and shall state that this coverage shall be primary insurance for the additional insured's. Commercial Business Automobile Liability Insurance which shall include coverage for bodily injury and property damage arising from the operation of any owned, non-owned or hired automobile. The Commercial Business Automobile Liability Insurance Policy shall provide not less than $1,000,000 Combined Single Limits for each occurrence and shall name the Owner, Alabama Building Commission, State Department of Education (if applicable), and their agents, consultants and employees as additional insured's. Professional Liability (Errors & Omissions) Insurance shall be carried in an amount not less than policy deductible shall not exceed $25,000.00. $1,000,000. The PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE-CONTRACTORS The Contractor shall be responsible to the Owner from the time of the signing of the Construction Contract or from the beginning of the first work, whichever shall be earlier, for all injury or damage of any kind resulting from any negligent act or omission or breach, failure or other default regarding the work by the Contractor, a Subcontractor, anyone UPDATED - JANUARY 20, 2015 Page 3 of 5
directly or indirectly employed by them or anyone for whose acts they may be liable, regardless of who may be the owner of the property. Each of the insurance coverage's required below shall be issued by an insurer licensed by the Insurance Commissioner to transact the business of insurance in the State of Alabama for the applicable line of insurance, and such insurer (or, for qualified self-insured's or group self-insured's, a specific excess insurer providing statutory limits) must have a Best Policyholders Rating of "A-" or better and a financial size rating of Class V or larger. Each policy shall be endorsed to provide that the insurance company agrees that the policy shall not be canceled, changed, allowed to lapse or allowed to expire for any reason until thirty days after the Owner has received written notice by certified mail as evidenced by return receipt or until such time as other insurance coverage providing protection equal to protection called for in the Contract Documents shall have been received, accepted and acknowledged by the Owner. Such notice shall be valid only as to the Project as shall have been designated by Project Name and Number in said notice. The Contractor shall procure the insurance coverage's identified below, or as otherwise required in the Contract Documents, at the Contractor's own expense, and to evidence that such insurance coverage's are in effect, the Contractor shall furnish the Owner an insurance certificate(s) acceptable to the Owner and listing the Owner as the certificate holder. The insurance certificate(s) must be delivered to the Owner with the Construction Contract and Bonds for final approval and execution of the Construction Contract. The insurance certificate must provide the following; Name and address of authorized agent of the insurance company, Name and address of insured, Name of insurance company or companies, Description of policies, Policy Number(s), Policy Period(s), Limits of liability, Name and address of Owner as certificate holder, Project Name and Number, if any, Signature of authorized agent of the insurance company, Telephone number of authorized agent of the insurance company, Mandatory thirty day notice of cancellation / non-renewal / change Self-insured retention, except for qualified self-insurers or group self-insurers, in any policy shall not exceed $25,000.00. Unless otherwise provided in the Contract Documents, the Contractor shall purchase the types of insurance coverage's with liability limits not less than as follows: Workers Compensation coverage shall be provided in accordance with the statutory coverage required in Alabama. A group insurer must submit a certificate of authority from the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations approving the group insurance plan. A self-insurer must submit a certificate from the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations stating the Contractor qualifies to pay its own worker compensation claims. Employer s Liability Insurance limits shall be at least: Bodily Injury by Accident - $1,000,000 each accident, Bodily Injury by Disease - $1,000,000 each employee Commercial General Liability Insurance, written on an ISO Occurrence Form (current edition as of the date of Advertisement for Bids) or equivalent, shall include, but need not be limited to, coverage for bodily injury and property damage arising from premises and operations liability, products and completed operations liability, blasting and explosion, collapse of structures, underground damage, personal injury liability and contractual liability. The Commercial General Liability Insurance shall provide at minimum the following limits: General Aggregate $ 2,000,000.00 per Project Products, Completed Operations Aggregate $ 2,000,000.00 per Project Personal and Advertising Injury $ 1,000,000.00 per Occurrence Each Occurrence $ 1,000,000.00 The policy shall name the Owner, Architect, Alabama Building Commission, State Department of Education (if applicable), and their agents, consultants and employees as additional insured's, state that this coverage shall be primary insurance for the additional insured's; and contain no exclusions of the additional insured's relative to job accidents. The policy must include separate per project aggregate limits. Commercial Business Automobile Liability Insurance which shall include coverage for bodily injury and property damage arising from the operation of any owned, non-owned or hired automobile. The Commercial Business Automobile Liability Insurance Policy shall provide not less than $1,000,000 Combined Single Limits for each occurrence. The policy shall name the Owner, Architect, Alabama Building Commission, State Department of Education (if applicable), and their agents, consultants, and employees as additional insured. UPDATED - JANUARY 20, 2015 Page 4 of 5
Commercial Umbrella Liability Insurance to provide excess coverage above the Commercial General Liability, Commercial Business Automobile Liability and the Workers Compensation and Employer Liability to satisfy the minimum limits set forth herein. Minimum Combined Primary Commercial General Liability and Commercial/Excess Umbrella Limits of $ 5,000,000 per Occurrence or $ 5,000,000 Aggregate. The policy shall name the Owner, Architect, Alabama Building Commission, State Department of Education (if applicable), and their agents, consultants, and employees as additional insured. The policy must be on an "occurrence" basis. The Builder s Risk Policy shall be made payable to the Owner and Contractor, as their interests may appear. The policy amount shall be equal to 100% of the Contract Sum, written on a Causes of Loss - Special Form (current edition as of the date of Advertisement for Bids), or its equivalent. All deductibles shall be the sole responsibility of the Contractor. The policy shall be endorsed as follows The following may occur without diminishing, changing, altering or otherwise affecting the coverage and protection afforded the insured under this policy: Furniture and equipment may be delivered to the insured premises and installed in place ready for use; or Partial or complete occupancy by Owner; or Performance of work in connection with construction operations insured by the Owner, by agents or lessees or other contractors of the Owner, or by contractors of the lessee of the Owner. The Contractor shall require each Subcontractor to obtain and maintain Workers' Compensation and Employer s Liability Insurance coverage's as described in preceding Paragraph B, or to be covered by the Contractor s Workers' Compensation and Employer s Liability Insurance while performing Work under the Contract. The Contractor shall require each Subcontractor to obtain and maintain adequate General Liability, Automobile Liability, and Umbrella Liability Insurance coverage's similar to those described in preceding paragraphs. Such coverage shall be in effect at all times that a Subcontractor is performing Work under the Contract. The Contractor shall have responsibility to enforce its Subcontractors compliance with these or similar insurance requirements; however, the Contractor shall, upon request, provide the Architect or Owner acceptable evidence of insurance for any Subcontractor. SHUTDOWNS Shutdown Requests: All necessary service interruptions of utilities of any type or magnitude shall be scheduled in advance with University of South Alabama s Project Manager. Major utility shutdowns shall be scheduled during nonbusiness hours. Scheduling of shutdown shall be through submittal of written request at least 48 hours prior to proposed shutdown, and awaiting approval. Minor utility service interruptions shall be scheduled with a minimum of 24 days prior notice. Utility outage form - See appendix section for Shutdown Process Form. UPDATED - JANUARY 20, 2015 Page 5 of 5