Design
FGI Guidelines
FGI Code for Planning and Design of Hospitals (formerly Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals)
Edition last checked against publisher sources:
Scope
The FGI Guidelines are the de facto reference for the physical design and construction of hospital facilities in the United States. They set minimum requirements for room area, clearances, headwall configuration, plumbing, and unit organization, and are adopted by reference into many state health department codes.
Where it applies in the room
- Minimum clear floor area for med-surg, ICU, PACU, and isolation rooms
- Clearances around the head, foot, and transfer sides of the bed
- Single-patient-room defaults in new construction
- Family and caregiver zones within the room
Key requirements at a glance
| ICU minimum area (2022 Guidelines) | 200 sq ft clear floor area for new single-patient ICU rooms. |
|---|---|
| Med-surg minimum area (2022 Guidelines) | 120 sq ft clear floor area for single-patient rooms (new construction). |
| Bed clearances | Minimum clear dimensions are set around the sides and foot of the bed and vary by room type; check the edition adopted in your jurisdiction for exact values. |
| Single-occupancy default | New construction defaults to single-patient rooms unless otherwise justified. |
Summarized for reference. Consult the source document for the definitive text.
Caveats
- Starting with 2026, FGI publishes enforceable minimums as the FGI Code and moves explanatory material to separate subscription Handbooks.
- Area figures shown are from the 2022 Guidelines and have not been re-checked against the 2026 Code text here.
Source & further reading
- · FGI editions — publisher
- · FGI launches 2026 FGI Codes and Handbooks (press release, Aug 31, 2026) — publisher
Also known as
- FGI Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals
- FGI Hospital Code
- FGI Guidelines
- FGI Code
- Facility Guidelines Institute
- FGI
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