Columns in a parking garage
Columns in a parking garage
(OP)
I wonder if it is necessary to consider a horizontal point load of certain magnitude to account for the possibility of impact due to a car crash into a column in a parking garage?
I'd like to know the code has considered this point.
Thanks
I'd like to know the code has considered this point.
Thanks






RE: Columns in a parking garage
It would seem prudent to check for an impact load. I have a design guide for steel parking structures at home. I'll check it and get back to you. Seems to me that steel columns would be more vulnerable than concrete.
RE: Columns in a parking garage
I would also be interested if you find any code requirements for parking garage columns. I know you have to design guardrails for impact force, but have never seen a requirement for columns, or other structural members.
RE: Columns in a parking garage
Anyway, they recommend an impact design load for barriers, what I jokingly refer to as a "drive live load", of 10 kips applied on a 1 SF area at a height of 18 inches. They quote the National Parking Association as the source of the recommended load. National Parking Association? I guess there's an organiziation for everything. They may have more info for columns.
Good Luck
RE: Columns in a parking garage
Yes, this must be considered in the design if women will be parking in the facility. Fun aside, the column must be designed to resist vehicular impact unless there is no way for a vehicle to hit the column. You will find that tightly spaced column ties are required in the lower half of the column to resist the Code force cited by Damstructural. One way around this is to add bollards in front of the column to resist stray vehicles.
Good luck!
RE: Columns in a parking garage