Department of Veterans Affairs
VA Space Planning Criteria (Chapter 206)
Washington, DC 20420
December, 2006
R. Seating Inefficiency Factor: A factor that accounts for the fact that all seats at one
dining table are not utilized. Based on industry standards and historical data, this
factor is 0.85.
S. SEPS (VA-SEPS): Acronym for Space and Equipment Planning System, a digital tool
developed by the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans
Affairs to generate a Program for Design (PFD) and an Equipment List for a VA
healthcare project based on specific information entered in response to Input Data
Questions. VA-SEPS incorporates the propositions set forth in all space planning
criteria chapters. VA-SEPS has been designed to aid healthcare planners in creating
a space plan based on a standardized set of criteria parameters.
T. Serving Area: Area of the Cafeteria associated with customer service including food
shops, serving counters, display equipment, customer circulation space and cashier
stations.
U. State Licensing Agency (SLA): The United States Department of Education has been
designated as the State Licensing Agency for implementation of the Act commonly
known as the "Randolph-Sheppard Act". The SLA shall issue licenses to blind
persons who are qualified to operate vending facilities in accordance with the Act and
administer the vending facilities on behalf of the state.
V. Visitor Factor: Number of visitors, volunteers, contractors or guests expressed as a
percentage of the total dining population. If no value is given, a default value of 1.15
will be used.
W. Veteran's Canteen Service: Veterans Canteen Service (VCS) includes the following
service areas: Retail Store, Optical Shop, Barber and Beauty Shop, Vendor
Concession, Cafeteria, Coffee Shop and Vending Area.
X. Workload: Workload is the projected number of meals, Full Time Equivalents (FTEs),
total facility employees, or visitors.
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OPERATING RATIONALE AND BASIS OF CRITERIA
A. Workload projections for planned services for a specific VA medical center, hospital,
or outpatient clinic project are provided by the VA Central Office (VACO) / VISN
CARES Capacity Projection Model. These projections are generated by methodology
based upon the expected veteran population in the respective market / service area.
Space planners working on new or renovation projects for VA medical centers,
hospitals, or satellite outpatient clinics shall use those projections in conjunction with
the criteria parameters set forth herein to generate a space program.
B. Space Planning criteria have been developed on the basis of an understanding of the
activities involved in the functional areas of Canteen Services and its relationship with
other services of the medical facility. These criteria are predicated on established
and/or anticipated best practice standards, as adapted to provide environments
supporting the highest quality heath care for Veterans.
Canteen Service (Chapter 206): Page 233-4 of 18
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