Operating Rationale (Basis of Criteria)

August 22, 1991

VA HANDBOOK 7610 (824)

Conventional

Modular System

(2) Office, Technicians/ Clerical Personnel ........................................ 7.4 NSM ( 80 NSF)

6.7 NSM ( 72 NSF)

(Including work-study students, veteran students, etc., based

on MTOT)

(3) Office, Workstation ............................................................................. 3.7 NSM ( 40 NSF)

3.7 NSM ( 40 NSF)

These ADP workstations are for joint use by employees that

do not have or not sharing (e.g., located on lazy Susan) ADP

equipment at their desks. Therefore, care must be taken when

determining the number of these workstations.

(4) Files, Central Area

(a) File Cabinet, Letter Size..................................................................... 0.7 NSM ( 7 NSF)

0.7 NSM ( 7 NSF)

per cabinet

(b) File Cabinet, Legal Size ..................................................................... 0.8 NSM ( 9 NSF)

0.8 NSM ( 9 NSF)

per cabinet

5. OPERATING RATIONALE (BASIS OF CRITERIA)

These criteria were developed in concert with the Veterans Benefits Administration. They represent an input from the

field, program officials and central office personnel. They also represent a distillation of many factors: existing VBA facilities,

correction of space inadequacies, technological innovations and projected program requirements.

It is recognized that VBA functions, requirements and the physical variations of buildings will cause deviations in

determining the amount of space assigned and its division into private, semiprivate, open areas, or other uses.

6. DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

a. Provide a private office for the Division Chief, Assistant Division Chief and the Agent Cashier. All other areas will

utilize the open office planning concept.

b. In the design and construction of the Agent Cashier's room, adequate security measures should be taken to safeguard

both the Government's assets and the employee(s) involved in the function. The cashier cage should include a counter set

into an alcove for serving veterans, in order to reduce congestion in the corridors. See VA Construction Standard CD-49 and

VA Handbook H-08-4, SD-67.

c. The Storage area will utilize cabinets and shelving units as part of the open offices area, in lieu of a separate room.

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