Good practice parking building design Print


​​​​​​​​​​​​​Design Checklist

  1. The parking structure supports an efficient, accessible parking layout​
  2. The structure and layout of the parking building maximises visibility throughout the car park


Overview​​


While there are many different ways to build a car park structure, there are certain fundamental design elements that work across them all.​​  

An efficient parking structure and layout will save in build costs and space, and will also save time for the end user. Here you will find some ‘good practice’ measures that can be followed to help improve the efficiency and economy of a parking structure.​

Better Design Practice

Key Dimensions

A typical nose-in car space is 5m deep. Cars pulling in and out of this space need about 7m of manoeuvring space. Therefore, an efficient structural grid often has a 17m span and a width equivalent to 3 carpark spaces.​

Ramp Design​
  • The most efficient ramping arrangement locates ramps along the short ends of the parking structure (one up, one down).
  • Ramps should be at a maximum gradient of 1:8 – that is, one vertical metre for every eight horizontal metres.
  • Floor-to-ceiling heights in parking garages can be lower than in a typical residential or commercial scenario. 2.1m clearance is an efficient target; be sure to allow for ceiling-mounted building services such as fans and pipes.​

Universal Design
  • Mobility parking spaces require a wider area than a standard space to allow for wheelchair access and manoeuvring.
  • These spaces should be located as close as practicable to accessible routes i.e. within close proximity of the lifts.
  • Mobility parking spaces require a higher clear head height above them, including the route to them i.e. consider the beam heights on the way to disabled bays as well as the height at the bays.
  • Universal design consultants can be engaged to provide guidance and advice on best practice design that caters for all user groups, including the mobility-challenged.​

Electric vehicles​​​
  • ​Plan to allocate a number of charge points for electric vehicles as these are increasing in popularity.
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