Final Draft with Edits Resulting from Committee Comments 7/8/13

Final Draft with edits resulting from committee comments – 7/8/13 Section 4.4 Loading Docks

1 SECTION 4.4 LOADING DOCKS

2 4.4.1 General

3 This section delineates requirements for loading docks at National Institutes of Health buildings 4 as well as special features required in loading docks that support research facilities. It is not 5 intended as a comprehensive guide for loading dock design.

6 4.4.2 Programming

7 Loading dock requirements vary widely depending on facility size and use. Functions that place 8 increased demand on the loading dock include healthcare, food service, and animal facilities. 9 Consultation by a professional material handling consultant is recommended for waste and 10 material handling.

11 Needs Assessment: Programming shall include an assessment of needs including material 12 handling, waste disposal, recycling, hazardous materials handling, storage, loading dock 13 management and oversight, security requirements, and special uses (e.g., dedicated areas for 14 animal facilities, food service, etc). Participants in this assessment shall include: 15  User group representatives 16  Dock Material Management Services 17  Waste Management Services 18  Division of Environmental Protection 19  Division of Public Safety 20  Division of Occupational Health and Safety, pest management representative.

21 Staffing: larger facilities may have dedicated staff including a building manager, dock managers 22 and/or security staff that may require space at or adjacent to the loading dock.

23 4.4.3 Planning Requirements

24 Functional Relationships: Building loading docks shall be located so that they are separated 25 from primary building entrances (including adjacent buildings). Access to loading docks should 26 be provided from secondary or service roadways to the greatest extent possible.

27 Loading docks shall have convenient access to receiving areas and freight elevators, and be 28 segregated from personnel elevators, entry lobbies and other public spaces. Corridors and 29 doorways connecting loading docks with freight elevators shall be configured to allow for 30 transport of large equipment used in the facility. 31  Loading dock areas used for personnel, shipping and receiving shall be isolated from 32 areas used for waste handling to the greatest extent possible. Waste materials should 33 not be staged within the receiving area.

1 Final Draft with edits resulting from committee comments – 7/8/13 Section 4.4 Loading Docks

34  Separate spaces shall be provided for holding and disposing of medical pathological 35 waste, hazardous waste, radioactive waste, mixed waste, general waste, and recycling 36 waste. 37  Emergency egress paths shall not pass through the material staging and vehicle berth 38 areas. 39  When the loading dock also services an animal facility, a separate, secure area should 40 be provided that is dedicated to the animal facility. 41  Security requirements shall be determined by risk assessment. Security features may 42 require separation of dock areas from critical utility rooms and fuel storage facilities, and 43 blast hardening. Vehicular areas shall not be located under the building. 44  Loading dock apron areas shall not be located near building air intakes.

45 4.4.4 Design Requirements

46 4.4.4.1 Apron Areas

47 Sufficient clearance shall be allowed in apron areas to accommodate service vehicles without 48 blocking adjacent pedestrian walks or roadways. Dumpsters and trash compactors shall be 49 arranged to facilitate proper use and cleaning, and avoid infringement onto service vehicle 50 berths and maneuvering areas. 51  Apron area paving and drainage grates shall be structurally capable of supporting wheel 52 loads for designated service vehicles. 53  A minimum of two loading dock berths per building shall be provided. 54  Apron area for a minimum of one dumpster and two trash compactor shall be provided. 55  All new buildings shall be provided with a minimum of two 23 m³ self-enclosed 56 compactors or equivalent equipment for collection of cardboard to be recycled and 57 general trash. Additional area may be required for storage trailers. 58  A 30’ deep, 8” thick reinforced concrete apron shall be provided to accommodate waste 59 dumpsters. Access for disposal of trash to the dumpster shall be directly from the 60 loading dock 61  Electrical power shall be provided to compactors and dumpsters per manufacturer 62 recommendations. 63  Apron area shall be shall be properly sloped to prevent storm water ponding, and 64 designed to contain spills of hazardous substances and minimize the contamination of 65 storm water runoff. Grate drains within vehicle loading areas shall be equipped with a 66 normally closed valve. Uncontaminated storm water runoff shall be diverted to alternate 67 grate drains or other outlets.

68 4.4.4.2 Dock Berths

69 Dock elevations shall be sized to accommodate vehicles used to service the building, typically 70 42” to 55”” above service yard grade. Minimum berth width shall be 12’. 14’ should be 71 considered if large vehicles regularly use the dock, and space permits. Minimum berth depth 72 shall be 10’. Greater depth may be required for material transport behind lifts depending on the 73 mode of transport. 74  Loading dock berths shall be equipped with load levelers, and at least one should be 75 equipped with a hydraulic scissors lift capable of carrying a 1,000kg (2,200 lbs) load as a 76 minimum. Levelers shall not extend under doorways, as they can become pathways for 77 pest infestation. 78  An overhang extending 4’ beyond the edge of the platform shall be provided at open 79 docks for weather protection. Overhangs and canopy projections must be of a sufficient 80 height so as to provide necessary truck clearances, including the removal of refuse 81 containers. 82  Overhangs and associated spaces shall be designed such that nesting areas are not 83 created for birds. If ledges are unavoidable, netting shall be considered 84  Protective steel guards shall be provided to protect exposed edges. 85  Commercial grade shock absorbing dock bumpers shall be mounted under load levelers. 86 Barriers that prevent a truck from damaging the load leveler when backing to the leveler 87 shall also be provided. 88  An intercom or house phone shall be provided to communicate with the dock manager or 89 building occupants. 90  Hose bibs shall be provided for wash down and sanitation. 91  Each berth shall be equipped with adequate lighting to illuminate the dock and service 92 vehicle interiors. 93  A service ramp and stairway shall be provided near the loading berths. Minimum ramp 94 width 36”, maximum slope 1:6.

95 4.4.4.3 Shipping and Receiving Areas

96 Receiving areas shall be provided directly adjacent to dock berths. When programmed, an 97 office with visibility to the loading dock berth area shall also be provided for the dock manager. 98 A security station may also be required. A dedicated toilet room and vending area should be 99 considered for dock staff and service vehicle drivers. 100  Exterior overhead coiling doors are recommended for provided access to loading dock 101 berths. At least one exterior personnel door shall also be provided. All doors shall be 102 weather tight and securable. 103  Air curtain or similar device shall be provided at each material transport door for energy 104 efficiency and exclusion of flying insects.

105  Weather resistant doors should be considered for corridors accessing receiving areas to 106 protect the building environment when overhead doors are open.

107 4.4.4.4 Waste Handling Areas

108 Separate areas shall be provided within the dock area as determined by waste handling SOPs 109 for holding and disposal of medical pathological waste (MPW), chemical waste, multi-hazardous 110 waste, radioactive waste, Trash, and recycling waste. Requirements for these areas are listed 111 in Section 4.5, Waste Management .

112 4.4.4.5 Materials and Finishes

113 Materials, finishes, fixtures and construction detailing throughout the loading dock area shall be 114 impact resistant, durable, and easily cleanable. CMU partition construction is preferred in all 115 areas used for material transport or storage. Gypsum Wallboard, if used, shall be high abuse 116 type with glass fiber reinforced finish. Wall protection rails and corner guards shall be provided 117 for all partitions subject to impact, including exterior walls at open berth areas. High 118 performance coating system finishes capable of frequent sanitation and hose-down shall be 119 used in receiving and waste holding areas.

120 4.4.4.6 Animal Research Facilities

121 The need for a separate loading dock for the animal research facility shall be determined by the 122 program based on required SOPs, security issues, facility size, etc. Loading docks dedicated to 123 the animal research program are an extension of the animal facility, and shall comply with 124 requirements listed in other sections of the DRM related to construction and sanitary detailing 125 within the ARF. The ARF dock shall be segregated and secured from other areas of the loading 126 dock, create an effective barrier between the outside and the clean environment of the animal 127 care facility. 128  A dedicated dock berth and receiving area shall be provided meeting all requirements 129 listed above. When possible, separate clean and soiled areas should be provided to 130 facilitate SOPs requiring separation of incoming materials from outgoing waste. An 131 intercom or telephone shall be provided for communication between delivery and ARF 132 personnel. The loading dock berth and receiving area should be designed to visually 133 screen deliveries. A partially or fully enclosed berth for loading and unloading vehicles 134 should be considered for programs utilizing large animals and species that are intolerant 135 of temperature fluctuation. 136  A designated route of transportation between the ARF and designated loading dock shall 137 be defined. Depending on SOPs and facility size, this may be programmed as a fully 138 segregates route. A dedicated vestibule or area to be used for surface decontamination 139 of incoming materials prior to entry into the ARF. The decontamination area shall be 140 appropriately constructed with durable finishes resistant to decontaminating chemicals 141 used. It may also require a drain and hand wash sink depending on SOPs. When

142 programmed, decontamination SOPs may also require placement of an autoclave 143 adjacent to the ARF receiving area for decontamination of incoming materials. 144  Storage areas shall be provided for material dedicated to the ARF which may include 145 gas cylinders, bulk decontaminants and cage wash detergents, packaging material, etc. 146 147  A holding area for animal intake and acclimation may be required near the receiving 148 area, if programmed. 149  A cold storage room or freezer area shall be provided within the soiled area for animal 150 carcasses and other medical pathological waste marshalling unless this function is 151 planned to be located directly within the ARF. 152  Apron space shall be provided for waste containers dedicated to the ARF. When 153 programmed, this may include receptacles that are part of an automated animal bedding 154 waste removal system that includes components such as air compressors, vacuum 155 pumps, etc. that require dedicated utility rooms, power supply and exhaust stacks. 156  When programmed, the ARF loading dock may include automated systems for bulk feed 157 and/or bedding storage as well as dedicated equipment to support automated transport 158 of this material to the ARF.