Curb & Gutters on Parking lots

[castiglian]

I have a question on curbs for parking areas, I usually use single curb (with no gutter ) for me is better on parking areas , because sometimes you want to slope away the stormwater from the curb, but I saw so many poeople use gutters on parking, it works good? I agree that gutters are great on street design (I love it), but it works good on parking lots?

Any help willl be appreciated

Tahnks
Francisco

 

[designteam1]

There's nothing to say that the gutter pan can't tip away from the flow line of the curb and gutter. When water must be shed away from the curb use an inverted gutter pan. Basically the gutter pan tips away from the flow line at 1" per foot. This allows the use of curb and gutter throughout a parking lot.

 

[roberttx]

Hi,

Most of city ordinances here at Texas mandate curb&gutter because of the use of the gutter as a swale, helping to avoid deterioration of the asphalt pavement.

Roberto.

 

[Peggynorthrop]

Many sites in Florida use what's called reverse curb, that is instead of sloping in toward the face of the curb it slopes outward toward the edge of pavement. In this instance the curb and gutter is not really a conveyance in itself (as is typically the case for roadways), the curb slopes out toward the pavement to either sheet flow or directed to an inlet in the parking area. We often place what is referred to here (FL DOT) as a ditch-bottom inlet in inverted-crown circulation areas.

 

[sc]

Another advantage of the kerb and gutter is that they act as a wheel stop that cannot rotate under impact. This is due to the tyres sitting on the edge of the gutter when the top of the kerb is impacted by the tyre. Have a look at how many kerb only installations have rotated over time.

regards
sc

 

[jheidt2543]

A disadvantage to both a single curb and the curb & gutter for parking lots is they make snow removal more difficult and hard on equipment, particularly when used around planting islands. Just something to keep in mind in SNOW country!

 

[JimatDPR]

Francisco,

I am a bit late with a response, but here are my two cents.

As a matter of economics I use both styles.

If a slope is away from the curb, I use a regular 6" wide vertical curb (6" above grade and 8" below grade). The extension of the curb below grade can be deepened if desired to reduce percolation / infiltration from landscape irrigation from entering the base material. Over-irrigating is common. The below-grade portion also provides stability. Another less expensive option in this case is to pave, and then extrude a curb on epoxy adhesive. This is sometimes used, but more appropriate for long runs of curb due to equipment considerations.

I always use curb and gutter section where runoff will concentrate against a curb. Infiltration of water at the curb/paving interface will lead to water intrusion and premature failure of the base. Also, your curb and gutter slope can be in the 1/2% range, and that reduces the undulation effect in the drive aisles where the curb is parallel with the drive aisles.