4.8.2 FLOORS
Use non-slip finished floors for showers and contiguous spaces. Depress the
structural floor of patient showers and contiguous spaces in new hospital
buildings 75 mm (3 in.) and place a 75 mm (3 in.) removable fill on the
entire floor area. In new buildings, slope finished floors of patient
bathrooms toward showers to assure drainage to the shower drain. In existing
buildings where standard depression is not feasible, use other means to
ensure positive drainage and water tightness. Floor slopes in and around a
shower shall not exceed 5 percent.
4.8.3 ACCESSIBILITY
Construct all patient showers without curbs, and at least one shower stall in
non-patient shower rooms. Provide grab bars for all showers. (See
Architectural Standard Details 10800-1, 10800-2, 10800-3, 10800-4 and 10800-
5.)
4.9 ROOM NUMBERING
4.9.1 GENERAL
Work closely with the facility to establish the room numbering system to be
used for the new or remodeled space, since change in room numbers late in the
design and construction process is a sure cause of confusion and error. The
VA Environmental Graphics Design Program Guide, dated July 1996, provides
sign types for room numbering.
4.9.2 FLOOR DESIGNATIONS
Designate the main entrance lobby as the first floor level, identified by the
number "1". Identify the level immediately below the first floor by the
letter "B". If there is more than one level below the first floor, designate
them B1, B2, B3, etc., with B1 being the level immediately below the first
floor level. If there are any penthouse floors, continue the floor numbering
system, such as 7, 8, and 9. Designate parking floors in a building the same
way as basement, except using the letter "P" instead of "B".
4.9.3 FLOOR AREA DESIGNATIONS
4.9.3.1 Divide each floor or level into a convenient number of areas
beginning with the letter "A". Determine the size of the areas by the
configuration of the building, the number of rooms in the area, and the
location of main corridors, which should be used as area borders. Since the
size and location of departments may change, use the main corridors, and not
departments, to establish area borders.
4.9.3.2 Once the area designations have been set, each area shall continue
that designation through the entire height of the building. This means that
the area designation on each floor must be coordinated with other floors. The
configuration of the building may be such that the upper floors will contain
only Areas "A" and "D", or "A", "C" and "D". Make an effort, however, to
maintain a continuous area designation such as "A", "B", "C" on the upper
floors.
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN MANUAL
4-7
BUILDING INTERIOR
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