TECHNICAL FOCUS
ANALYSING THE NEXT LEVEL FOR THE UK CAR PARK INDUSTRY There are an estimated 6000 multi-storey car parks (MSCPs) dotted around the UK, with some dating back as far as the early 1900s. A standard and well-used part of modern Britain, these facilities have slowly had to adapt to the evolving needs of drivers and surrounding areas. the discussion of where car parks N ow, will head in the future, how they are constructed, repaired and maintained has become more relevant than ever as the need to consider the changing requirements associated with larger vehicles, electric vehicles, fire safety and aged/sensitive structures increases. With more than 30 years’ experience in the sector, Adrian Baker, Associate at multi-disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard, weighs in on the conversation. Car parks rarely make headlines. The external structures remain largely untouched and unchanged from when they were first built and, instead, simply become another part of the skyline in their location. The intensity and damage caused by the Kings Dock MSCP fire in Liverpool in 2017 was an exception, creating headlines and starting the debate about how car park fires start and how design and materials used in construction could contribute to fire spread. Last year’s fire at the Luton Airport MSCP served as a further reminder
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of the risks and issues that still surround such structures. A less newsworthy but equally relevant issue relating to car park design, usage and safety is the size and weight of modern cars. The emergence of electric vehicles adds further to this, having implications in respect of both weight and fire. It is, however, noted at this point that neither of the car park fires noted above were started by electric vehicles. The issue of monitoring and maintaining aged structures is no less important than it has been since the partial collapse of Pipers Row car park in 1997. This instance saw a 120-tonne section of its top deck collapse, luckily causing no injuries despite the car park being in use at the time. However, with the continued increase in weight of modern vehicles over recent years, there is no doubt that weight and load considerations have continued to compound. These evolving issues resulted in the IStructE starting a review of existing
design guidance in 2020. This led to the publication in 2023 of the IStructE Car Park Design Guidance Report, which made recommendations for the design and operation of car parks to meet changing and future needs – revising best practice guidance at a time of great change. Its publication represents a defining moment in the design and construction of MSCPs, in a similar way that the partial collapse of Pipers Row resulted in the publication of the ICE Recommendations for the Inspection, Maintenance and Management of Car Park Structures.
Regulations and recommendations Fire safety requirements contained in Building Regulations Approved Document B are intended primarily to ensure the structure retains its integrity long enough for persons to evacuate. Subject to height and ventilation limitations, this is generally for 15 minutes for the main car park structure.