Department Of Veterans Affairs
VA Space Planning Criteria (Chapter 291)
Washington, D.C. 20402
February 2007
1
PURPOSE AND SCOPE
A. This document outlines Space Planning Criteria for Chapter 291: Acquisition and
Material Management Service Warehouse. It applies to all medical facilities at the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
B. AMMS -Warehouse is to provide storage and distribution of supplies and equipment.
The total physical distribution systems for warehouse areas only, includes those
areas needed to receive, store and distribute supplies to the consumer unit within a
facility.
1. Warehouse criteria include the space requirements for the following areas: the
storekeeper's office; medical and general storage, including secured and
flammable storage; subsistence, forms and processed stores; equipment and
medical gas storage; excess property storage; receiving and issue area; medical
research storage; unposted stock holding area; dialysis storage; toilets; lockers,
lounge, and dock space.
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 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
Departmental Conversion Factor for this chapter is 1.10.
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 40 hours per week.
D. Functional Area: The grouping of rooms and spaces based on their function within a
clinical or clinical support service. Typical Functional Areas are Reception Areas,
Patient Areas, Support Areas, Staff and Administrative Areas, and Residency
Program.
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. 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.
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