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Reclamation Design Standards
Reclamation Design Standards establish Reclamation technical requirements and processes to enable preparation of designs, documents, and reports necessary to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public. Reclamation design activities, whether performed by Reclamation or by a non-Reclamation entity, must be performed in accordance with Reclamation design criteria and standards. Deviations from Reclamation criteria and standards shall be submitted in accordance with Reclamation Manual Directive and Standard, "Design Activities," FAC 03-03. The use of Reclamation design criteria and standards outside of Reclamation is entirely voluntary.
Users should integrate sound engineering judgment, applicable national codes and design standards, site-specific technical considerations, and project-specific considerations to ensure suitable designs are produced that protect the public's investment and safety. Reference to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by Reclamation. Reclamation Design Standards may not be used for advertising or promotional purposes and are not to be construed as an endorsement of any product by Reclamation.
Reclamation Design Standards are currently being updated. Updated (Final) Reclamation Design Standard chapters may be downloaded from below. Updates to chapters designated as “Not in Progress” have not begun. Updates to chapters designated as “In Progress” have begun and final versions will be posted below when ready. If you would like to participate in the public review of draft Reclamation Design Standards chapters, please contact Richard (Dick) LaFond at rlafond@usbr.gov.
- View Updated (Final) Reclamation Design Standards
- View List of Reclamation Design Standards that are "In Progress" or "Not in Progress"
Final Reclamation Design Standards
In Progress and Not in Progress Reclamation Design Standards
Note: Not all Design Standards and/or chapters are sequential; therefore, if not in this list or the "Final" list above = "not used."| Title | Status |
|---|---|
| Design Standards No. 2: Concrete Dams | |
Chapter 1, Introduction Chapter 2, Concrete Gravity Dams Design Considerations Chapter 3, Concrete Arch Dams Design Considerations Chapter 4, Concrete Buttress Dams Design Considerations Chapter 5, Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) Dams Design Considerations Chapter 6, Modifications to Existing Concrete Dams Chapter 7, Finite Element Analysis Chapter 8, Foundation Stability Analysis and Design Chapter 9, Risk Informed Design and Construction Risks |
Not in Progress In Progress Not in Progress Not in Progress Not in Progress Not in Progress Not in Progress Not in Progress Not in Progress |
| Design Standards No. 3: Water Conveyance Facilities, Fish Facilities, and Roads and Bridges | |
Chapter 1, Open Channels Chapter 2, Canal Structures and Canal Automation Chapter 3, Diversion Dams and Headworks Chapter 5, Fish Facilities Chapter 6, Water Measurement Chapter 7, Cross Drainage for Canals Chapter 8, Pipelines and Pipe Distribution Systems Chapter 9, Bridges and Roads Chapter 12, General Structural Considerations Chapter 13, Safety Standards for Water Conveyance and Fish Facilities |
Not in Progress Not in Progress Not in Progress Not in Progress Not in Progress In Progress In Progress Not in Progress In Progress Not in Progress |
| Design Standards No. 4: Electrical Infrastructure – Plants and Switchyards | |
|
Chapter 1, General Considerations for Power, Pumping, and Pumped-Storage Plants Chapter 2, Electrical Rotating Machinery Chapter 4, Transfomers Chapter 5, Switchyards Chapter 6, Powerplant Control and Station Service Equipment Chapter 9, Grounding Methods |
In Progress In Progress In Progress In Progress In Progress In Progress |
| Design Standards No. 5: Field Installation Procedures | |
|
Chapter 1, Electrical Standards for Equipment Installation |
In Progress |
| Design Standards No. 6: Hydraulic and Mechanical Equipment | |
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Chapter 1, Hydraulic Turbines Chapter 2, Pump-Turbines Chapter 3, Large Pumps (Monograph 40) Chapter 4, Steel Pipe Chapter 5, Gates Chapter 7, Valves Chapter 8, Commercial Pumps Chapter 9, Hydraulic Turbine and Pump-Turbine Governors Chapter 10, Fish Handling Equipment Chapter 13, Elevators Chapter 15, Handling Equipment Chapter 17, Tanks Chapter 19, De-icing Systems |
In Progress Not in Progress Not in Progress Not in Progress In Progress In Progress In Progress Not in Progress Not in Progress Not in Progress Not in Progress Not in Progress Not in Progress |
| Design Standards No. 9: Buildings and Other Structures | |
|
Chapter 1, General Structural Design Procedures and Standards Chapter 2, Structural Design Data and Criteria Chapter 3, Concrete Design and Details Chapter 4, Steel Design and Details Chapter 5, Architectural Design Chapter 6, Timber Design Criteria Chapter 7, Masonry Design Criteria Chapter 10, Plant Types Chapter 11, Special Structural Materials Chapter 12, Site Design Chapter 14, Accessibility Design Chapter 15, Design for Life Safety Chapter 16, Security Assessment and Design Criteria for Buildings Chapter 17, Selective Withdrawal Structures Chapter 18, Sustainable Design |
In Progress Not in Progress Not in Progress Not in Progress Not in Progress Not in Progress Not in Progress In Progress Not in Progress Not in Progress Not in Progress Not in Progress Not in Progress Not in Progress Not in Progress |
| Design Standards No. 10: Transmission Structures | |
Chapter 1, Steel Design and Details Chapter 2, Concrete Footing Design Chapter 3, Oil Spill Containment Chapter 4, Example Drawings - Steel Substation Structures |
Not in Progress Not in Progress Not in Progress Not in Progress |
| Design Standards No. 13: Embankment Dams | |
|
Chapter 22, Seismic Loading |
Not in Progress |
| Design Standards No. 14: Appurtenant Structures for Dams (Spillways and Outlet Works) | |
|
Chapter 5, Hydraulic Considerations for Spillways and Outlet Works Chapter 6, Structural Considerations for Spillways and Outlet Works Chapter 7, Mechanical and Electrical Consideration for Spillways and Outlet Works |
In Progress Not in Progress In Progress |
