June 2006
Modular:
● Having commensurable dimensions.
● Capable of arrangement with exact fit in more than one sequence or direction.
● Composed of or containing predetermined dimensional and/or functional units; such as re-
petitive structural bays or service modules.
Modular Coordination: Dimensional coordination utilizing commensurable dimensions.
Module:
● The common divisor of a set of commensurable dimensions.
● A dimensional pattern restricting the location of a specified building component.
● A unit of space defined by a special set of dimensional and/or functional characteristics.
● See also Planning Module, Service Module, Space Module
Non-integrated: Outside the design scope of a particular building subsystem.
Non-system: Non-integrated.
OFM: Office of Facilities Management.
Optimize:
● To maximize desirable characteristics and/or minimize undesirable characteristics.
● To establish functional and economic balance among the performance characteristics or
two or more systems or components.
Planning Module: A one-story high unit of building volume with specific dimensional and func-
tional characteristics.
Plan Zone: A plan area of constant width extending from end-to-end, or side-to-side, of a build-
ing or planning module. See Bedroom Zone, Sanitary Zone, and Service Strip.
Platform: See Interstitial Platform.
Prefabrication: The on-site or off-site advance manufacture of building systems and compo-
nents traditionally fabricated in-place during installation.
Primary Subzone: A horizontal subdivision of the service zone reserved exclusively for distri-
bution of systems or services oriented in a specific direction to the structure.
Product: A material, component, or system manufactured off the construction site.
Prototype System Design: A basic system design establishing the performance and dimen-
sional limits within which alternative detailed designs may be produced to accommodate specific
conditions at various times and places.
Red Book: VAHBS Research Study Report, Project 99-R047; U.S. Government Printing Office
Stock No. 051-000-00 112-5. The Red Book is available from the VA Technical Information Li-
brary (TIL) at http://www.va.gov/facmgt/standard/bsds.asp.
Reserved Zone: A specified region within a building volume assigned to the exclusive use of
one subsystem, or limed step of subsystems, or to a specific function. See Functional Zone,
Service Zone, Primary Subzone, and Secondary Subzone.
Sanitary Zone: A plan zone in a nursing unit, such as between the patient bedrooms and the
corridor, sized to accommodate lavatories, toilet facilities, etc.
Secondary Subzone: A vertical subdivision of a primary subzone reserved exclusively for the
distribution of a specific service subsystem or group of subsystems.
SUPPLEMENT TO RESEARCH STUDY REPORT
VA HOSPITAL BUILDING SYSTEM
SECTION 1-7
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