Department of Veterans Affairs
VA Space Planning Criteria (Chapter 279)
Washington, DC 20420
December 2006
1
PURPOSE AND SCOPE
A. This document outlines Space Planning Criteria for Chapter 279: Police Service. It
applies to all medical facilities at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
B. These criteria support the functions of the service including implementation of of
policies and law enforcement operations for the protection of patients, visitors, and
employees, and the protection of property and the maintenance of law and order on
property under the charge and control of the Veterans Health Administration.
2
DEFINITIONS
A. Concept of Operations: A user-developed guide to the functional operation of the VA
healthcare facility. It defines the function of the facility and the scope of medical or
optometric services to be provided in the new or remodeled space.
B. Departmental Net to Gross (DNTG) Conversion Factor: A parameter, determined by
the VA for each space planning criteria chapter, used to convert the programmed Net
Square Foot (NSF) area to the Department Gross Square Foot (DGSF) area. The
DNTG Departmental Conversion Factor for Police Service is 1.30.
C. Full-Time Equivalent (FTE): A staffing parameter equal to the amount of time
assigned to one full time employee. It may be composed of several part-time
employees whose total time commitment equals that of a full-time employee. One
FTE equals a 40 hours per week.
D. Functional Area: The grouping of rooms and spaces based on their function within a
specific service. Typical Functional Areas for Police and Security Service include Duty
Areas and Staff and Administrative Areas.
E. Input Data Statement: A set of questions designed to elicit information about the
healthcare project in order to create a Program for Design (PFD) based on the criteria
parameters set forth in this document. Input Data Statements could be Mission
related, based in the project's Concept of Operations; and Workload or Staffing
related, based on projections and data provided by the VHA or the VISN about the
estimated model of operation. This information is processed through mathematical
and logical operations in SEPS.
F. Police Service: Formerly Police and Security Service, implements policies and
procedures related to facility security and law enforcement operations. Functions of
the service include the protection of patients, visitors, and employees. It also
includes the protection of property and the maintenance of law and order on property
under the charge and control of the Veterans Health Administration.
G. Program for Design (PFD): A space program based on criteria set forth in this
document and specific information about Concept of Operations, workload projections
and staffing levels authorized.
H. 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
Police Service (Chapter 279): Page 2 of 8
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