Department Of Veterans Affairs
VA Space Planning Criteria (Chapter 261)
Washington, DC 20420
December 2006
chapters data for Lockers, Lounges and Toilets, and program space in Chapter 410-
EMS Lockers, Lounges, Toilets and Showers. Either/or do not duplicate space.
4. Lounge, Staff (SL001) ..........................................................160 NSF (14.9 NSM)
Provide a minimum of 160 NSF; or 15 NSF for each FTE position authorized,
whichever is greater.
5. Locker Room, Staff (LR001) ....................................................80 NSF (7.5 NSM)
Provide an additional 6 NSF per FTE position authorized for whom office space is
not provided greater than thirteen.
6. Toilet, Staff (TLTU1) .................................................................50 NSF (4.7 NSM)
Divide the total number of FTE positions authorized by 15. Provide one toilet for
each whole increment. Minimum of 5 authorized FTE positions to provide a toilet.
6
PLANNING AND DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
A. Net-to-department gross factor (NTDG) for Day Treatment Center is 1.45. This number
when multiplied by the programmed net square foot (NSF) area, determines the
departmental gross square feet.
B. Configure patient waiting area with partitions to provide clustered seating and privacy, in
order to reduce large waiting spaces and to improve patient environment and reduce
noise and confusion. A Women Veterans sub-waiting area may be provided within
Waiting, and located adjacent to the patient care spaces.
C. Plan to minimize walking distances for patients from building main entrance to clinical
destination and from clinical waiting area to clinical exam or procedure space.
D. Centralize check-in/check-out for more efficient use of staff.
E. Day Treatment Centers may be adjacent to other outpatient mental health services such
as Mental Health Clinic.
F. Day Treatment Centers should not be located adjacent to in-patient hospital facilities.
G. Consider location of Travel Office (See Chapter 265) in vicinity of main check-in /
checkout or other central location. Use comparable criteria for administrative office /
reception areas. (If these programs are part of a larger outpatient facility).
H. To create flexibility, provide patient care space to handle the widest range of patient
visits, reduce, to the extent possible, the amount of space customized for a single patient
visit type.
I.
Co-locate groups of exam and office rooms so other service teams can use rooms, as
the demand fluctuates.
J. Create clinic modules with connecting corridors to allow internal circulation of patients
and staff; avoid crossing public circulation patterns to the greatest extent possible.
K. Design corridors a minimum of six (6) feet in width, to accommodate passage of two (2)
wheelchairs.
Day Treatment Center (Chapter 261): Page 300-8 of 10
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