Department Of Veterans Affairs
VA Space Planning Criteria (Chapter 110)
Washington, DC 20420
December 2006
E. Residency Program
The spaces below provide programming of educational spaces at
department/service/chapter level. Alternatively, sum all departments/services data for
Residency Program, and program space in Chapter 402-Educational Facilities. Either/or
do not duplicate space.
1. Office, House Staff (OFA01 / OFA02).................................. 120 NSF (11.2 NSM)
Minimum NSF. Provide an additional 40 NSF per each additional House Staff FTE
position greater than two and if in Concept of Operations.
2. Office, Nursing Instructor /
Student Room (OFA01 / OFA02) .......................................... 150 NSF (14.0 NSM)
Provide one per Mental Health and Behavioral Patient Care Unit and if in Concept of
Operations.
3. Conference / Classroom (CRA02) ........................................ 300 NSF (27.9 NSM)
Provide one per Mental Health and Behavioral Patient Care Unit and if in Concept of
Operations.
4. Conference Storage (SRE01) ................................................. 25 NSF (2.40 NSM)
Provide one per Conference / Classroom.
6
PLANNING AND DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
A. Net-to-department gross factor (NTDG) for Mental Health and Behavioral Patient Care
Unit is 1.65. This number when multiplied by the programmed Net Square Foot (NSF)
area, determines the Departmental Gross Square Feet (DGSF).
B. The location of the Nurse Station should afford visibility and control of all visitors to the
patient care unit and visual control of the patients' dayroom. It should be conveniently
accessible to / from any point within the patient care unit with a maximum distance to the
farthest patient room not exceeding 120 linear feet.
C. Corridors should be designed a minimum of 8 feet in width, to accommodate passage of
two stretchers and/or wheelchairs, equipment or beds.
D. One-bed Patient Rooms are provided to respond to increasing patient acuity, isolation
concerns, patient privacy, and patient safety by minimizing patient transfers.
E. Two-bed Patient Rooms are provided for patients whose mental diagnosis and treatment
planning is better served with additional patient interaction.
F. All patient bed rooms will have a private connecting bathroom with toilet, shower and
lavatory.
G. The net square footage (NSF) allowance per bed room does not include the following:
1. An entrance vestibule, including the door swing
2. The service alcove area with lavatory (if provided)
3. Toilet and bathing accommodations
Mental Health and Behavioral Patient Care Units (Chapter 110): Page 110-11 of 13
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