5 SPECIAL FUNCTIONS
5.1 ANIMAL RESEARCH FACILITY (ARF) / VETERINARY MEDICAL UNIT (VMU)
A. Veterinary Medical Unit, a part of Research and Development, has many
special requirements. They range from HVAC, electrical, and plumbing, to
equipment and finishes. If automatic cage washers are used, they require
large floor depressions, which will affect the structural design. (See
Paragraph 2.4, "Floor Slab Depressions", above.)
B. See VA Design Guides, Research Series, for a comprehensive graphic
consolidation of VA Design Criteria for VMUs, including room-by-room guide
plates.
C. For complete criteria and standards, see "Research and Development"
sections of the documents described in Paragraph 1.2 above.
5.2 AUDIOLOGY SOUND SUITES
A. Sound suites (prefabricated audiometric suites or booths) are the key
elements of Audiology and Speech Pathology Clinics. They require slab
depressions for level access. (See Paragraph 2.4, "Floor Slab Depressions",
above.)
B. See VA Space Planning Criteria (VA Handbook 7610), Chapter 204, "Audiology
and Speech Pathology Service", for numbers, sizes, and (under "Design
Considerations") detailed requirements for sound suites.
5.3 COMPUTER ROOMS (CENTRAL)
See Design and Construction Procedures, Topic 10, "Computer Systems", for
guidelines on design of Central Computer Rooms.
5.4 DENTAL
A. VA criteria for dental spaces are very detailed and specific in many
aspects, and especially so with regard to equipment, utility requirements,
and furnishings.
B. See Space Planning Criteria, Chapter 222, "Dental Service", for number and
size of spaces, design considerations, and functional relationships. Note
that the standard operatories have doorless openings, and that minimum room
dimensions, as well as areas, are given for some spaces.
C. See Equipment Guide List (PG 7610) for guidelines on specialized
equipment, utilities, and furnishings.
D. In addition, room guide plates for many dental spaces are available from
the Facilities Quality Service of the VA Office of Facilities Management.
E. Also see Room Finishes, Doors and Hardware Schedule (PG-18-14).
5.5 ELECTROMAGNETIC SHIELDING
5.5.1 GENERAL
Attenuate electromagnetic interference (EMI) to insure satisfactory operation
of electroencephalography (EEG) suites, electromyography (EMG) suites,
neurosurgical operating rooms and other functional spaces housing
EMI-sensitive instrumentation, as described below.
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN MANUAL
5-1
SPECIAL FUNCTIONS
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