max. parking lot grades!
max. parking lot grades!
(OP)
I am looking for what other designers consider maximum parking lot grades for comfort and safety. This particular case is for an office building - no shopping carts or loading necessary.
I have been looking to hold a maximum cross-slope and forward slope of 5%, which results in a net slope of over 7%. I have however, been keeping my drive aisles to a maximum cross-slope of 4%. Any thoughts? I'm dealing with an extremely steep site, so I want to max out the grades but not be pushing the envelope of comfort. Thanks!
I have been looking to hold a maximum cross-slope and forward slope of 5%, which results in a net slope of over 7%. I have however, been keeping my drive aisles to a maximum cross-slope of 4%. Any thoughts? I'm dealing with an extremely steep site, so I want to max out the grades but not be pushing the envelope of comfort. Thanks!





RE: max. parking lot grades!
Typical standards in mountains in Colorado include 5% parallel and perpendicular grades, which results in 7% cross-slope you mentioned. We deal with ice/snow so people slipping while getting out of their car is a problem, but may not be for you. I think the biggest design concern across the nation is that if you get too steep you will have to hold your door open to keep it slamming back onto you. I've visited friends in San Fran and they park on 15% streets and holding your door open can be done, but it's not the best design, or very convenient.
Besides, that I can't think of any other major reasons for limiting your parking grades.
RE: max. parking lot grades!
RE: max. parking lot grades!
RE: max. parking lot grades!
RE: max. parking lot grades!
Tom
RE: max. parking lot grades!
I couldn't test the 8% as cross slope yet, but I will do a little more testing and report back later.
RE: max. parking lot grades!
i'm ok parking spots that you have to open the door 4 or 5 times while you're putting in the groceries. i dislike parking spots that open the doors wider for you and make you look around to see if anybody was watching.
on a real note:
We start off with a default of a 2% cross-slope for all pavement and walks on the plans we develop. we've had bad experiences with contractors messing up with slopes less than 2% and giving us birdbaths.
RE: max. parking lot grades!
RE: max. parking lot grades!
8% is not ADA compliant; around ADA spaces, the max slope in any direction is 2%. (2% forward plus 2% cross-wise is 2.8% total and not allowed.)
8% is too steep for a cross slope; car doors won't stay put at that slope.
8% works only as a forward or reverse slope for non-ADA parking space. And I might not use it for a downward facing space (too much weight on door just as it gets to the dangerously open point)
I hope that sounds better.
Tom
RE: max. parking lot grades!
September 4, 2007 7:26 a.m.
7601 E Main ne corner, cross 8% lay notice, door will hold @ notches not heavy
Drive Entrance break 9.2%(6')+9.2%(long), scary, but no scrape
7715 E Main, cross 7.5% back, 9.6% front, very noticeable feel and look, doors somewhat heavy but hold at notches, unassisted close, unassisted open halfway.
9% down forward, no door trouble, seems steep for clutch & tran
Comments:
The main disadvantages of the tested slopes seemed to be
-18.4% drive entrance grade change was scary and my Honda Accord probably would have scraped bottom if the short side of the break (the sidewalk) were much wider than 6'
-Parking slope of 9% seemed a little much in the forward direction due only to clutch/transmission awareness, though there was no real absolute "problem".
-Parking cross slopes I tested are in the gray area where doors could possibly barely skip over their stops and gently tap neighboring cars on their own, but possibly no more likely than a hurrying and insensitive person to cause damage on a flat space.
Just because I have 15 years experience avoiding such steep slopes, I will probably still not exceed 8%, especially since at that slope a lot of elevation can be covered quickly.
I hope this is helpful.
Tom