The Federal Construction Council (FCC), established in 1953, is a continuing activity of the Building Research Board (BRB) of the National Academy of Sciences. Its fundamental purpose is to provide a common base for technical studies by those federal agencies that are responsible for the design, construction, and operation of federal government facilities or for construction-related research. Because the FCC is the only organization in the United States in which the various autonomous federal construction agencies meet regularly to identify and resolve common problems, it fulfills a unique and vital function. This grant provides partial support of the Council. During 1988, work will continue on the development of a conceptual framework for an integrated computer data base encompassing the entire construction process. The program titles of five advisory studies included in the 1988 program include: Integrated Data Base Development (Phase VI); Assessing the Impact on Federal Agencies of the Use of Building Codes as Design Criteria; Improving the Operation, Maintenance, and Repair of Federal Facilities; Criteria for Selecting and Evaluating Heating, Ventilating, and Air- conditioning (HVAC) Systems for Buildings; and the Use of Risk Appraisal in the Development of Design Criteria for Facilities. NSF involvement in the FCC provides an important link for input to the development of activities in the area of structures, construction, and building research, particularly as it relates to the NSF Structures and Building Systems Program. Reports resulting from FCC activities will be prepared in sufficient quantity to ensure distribution to the sponsors, committee members, and to other interested parties. In accordance with the NAS policy, such reports also may be made available to the public without restrictions.
