Department of Veterans Affairs
VA Space Planning Criteria (Chapter 206)
Washington, DC 20420
December 2006
1. For Out-Patient Clinics increase the retail store, retail storage, food service and
food storage by 50%. Multiply sum of retail store, retail storage, food service and
food storage by 1.50.
Stand alone Outpatient Clinics have a larger customer base than Medical
Centers.
2. For Out-Patient Clinics reduce the FTE factor by 30%. Multiply FTE factor by
0 .70
Fewer employees are required to treat out-patients than in-patients.
6
PLANNING AND DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
A. Net-to-department gross factor (NTDG) for Canteen Service is 1.20. This number
when multiplied by the programmed Net Square Foot (NSF) area, determines the
Departmental Gross Square Feet (DGSF).
B. The Chief, Canteen Service must be notified if a joint VCS / DoD operation is being
considered.
C. The Canteen Services are a major traffic generator in the Medical Center and
therefore should be located on the main floor and be easily accessible from the
passenger elevators.
D. The customer areas, Retail Store, entry to the Cafeteria, Vending, and the Barber and
Beauty shop, shall have direct access from a main corridor.
E. On all new construction projects, consult Central Office in consideration of
combining the Canteen Cafeteria with Nutrition and Food Services. In remodels, the
two areas should be collocated, when possible.
F. All areas must comply with VA's Barrier Free Design Guide PG-18-13 and ADAAG,
current accepted version.
G. Automatic doors should be provided to aid access of non-ambulatory patients.
H. Emergency power shall be provided for Canteen Retail Stores and Cafeteria.
I.
Exhaust hoods shall be located, where possible, to avoid or minimize horizontal duct
runs.
J. Walk-in refrigerator and freezer floors shall be constructed in a recess in the slab,
where possible.
K. Randolph-Sheppard requirements
1. The Randolph-Sheppard (R-S) Act requires the Secretary of the Department of
Education (DOED) to promulgate regulations establishing a national program to
place visually impaired vendors in vending operations (including vending
machines) within facilities owned by the Federal government. Pursuant to the
Act, the DOED Secretary must also designate an agency in each state to license
Canteen Service (Chapter 206): Page 13 of 18
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