PARKING:

A great commercial parking area is the prime convenience advantage of the commercial center
over the central business district. In spite of the repetitive statement of this fact, the shopper,
office worker and visitor may not always find the parking space he wants. The tenant and visitor
want a space he can find easily, with a minimum of difficulty in moving around the parking area,
and one that is located near the store or store group in which he is going to shop.
Parking requirements:
 The minimum height clearance for indoor parking space shall not be less than 2.2m.
 For common parking, area allocated for each car shall not be less than 2.5m X 4.5m.

Minimum area for common

parking
A 2500 mm
B 4500 mm

 Parking area allocated for each bike and scooter shall not be less than 1.25 sq.m while the
same for the cycle shall not be less than 1 sq.m.
 The gradient of ramp leading to parking space for occupancy type other than A1 and A2
shall not be more than 1:5.

 Curve radii:
 The radius of a parking area entry or exit curb return should be at least 4 meters. Interior

radii for perimeter curbing and islands can be reduced to 2 meters. Care should be taken

to provide an inside turning radius of at least 4 meters on all internal vehicle circulation

aisles.

 The access to the basement shall be either from the main or alternate staircase of lift

providing access to the building. No direct entry from the road shall be permitted to the

basement.

One-Way vs. Two-Way Traffic:

Typically, a parking bay for a one-way traffic flow is narrower than for a two-way flow. The
available site dimensions will influence the parking bay width and thus also influence the
circulation pattern.
Advantage of one way traffic flow Advantage of two way traffic flow
Easier for parkers to enter/exit parking spaces. Wider drive aisles allow parkers to pass other
vehicles
Vehicles are more likely to be centered in Wider drive aisles are safer for pedestrians.
angled spaces.
Less circulation conflict and reduced potential Better angle of visibility when searching for a
for accidents. parking space

Types of parking:
i. Off street parking
Off street parking means vehicles are parked off the street itself. This will be usually
controlled by commercial agencies itself.

Here are some of the examples of Off-Street Parking:

I. Parking lots
For efficiency in Parking system; the Parking is divided into three types:
1. Angular Parking
 The vehicles are parked at an angle. It may be a 30°,60° or 45° angle. The vehicles
can be easily reversed if parked at an angle. Hence, proving as an efficient Parking
System in case of vehicular circulation.

II. Perpendicular Parking (efficient Parking Method)

 The vehicles are parked at right angle to the direction of road.  it can accommodate
maximum number of vehicles for a given kerbed length. One-way traffic flow should
never be combined with 90° parking. It is an efficient system of Parking.

III. Parallel Parking

The vehicles are parked along the length of the road. Here there is no backward
movement involved while parking or un parking the vehicle.  However, it consumes
the maximum curb length and therefore only a minimum number of vehicles can be
parked for a given kerbed length.
 DIMENSIONS FOR STANDARD PARKING SPACES

Parking Angle Space Width Space Length

90 9’ 18’
60 9’ 21’
45 9’ 19’10”
30 9’ 16’10”
Parallel 8’ 24”

IV.  On street parking

On street parking means the vehicles are parked on the sides of the street itself. This
will be usually controlled by government agencies itself.
V. Multistorey parking
Multistorey parking is a building designed for car parking and where there are
several floors or levels on which parking takes place.
Multistorey car parks generally fall in to one of a number of basic layout types:

 Flat deck
 Split level
 Sloping deck (or ‘ramped floor’)

The movement of vehicles between floors can take place

by means of:

 Interior ramps – the most common type

 Exterior ramps – which may take the form of a
circular ramp
 End or Centre ramps, or a combination
 vehicle lifts

VI. Automated parking

 Like a multi-story parking garage, an APS provides parking for cars on multiple
levels stacked vertically to maximize the number of parking spaces while minimizing
land usage. The APS, however, utilizes a mechanical system to transport cars to and
from parking spaces (rather than the driver) in order to eliminate much of the space
wasted in a multi-story parking garage. While a multi-story parking garage is similar
to multiple parking lots stacked vertically, an APS is more similar to an automated
storage and retrieval system for cars. It is generally not recommended to use
automated car parks for high peak hour volume facilities.
Additional factors that need to be taken into consideration are:

 Fear of breakdowns (How does the user get the car back)
 Maintenance contracts needed with suppliers.

The paternoster (shown
animated ) is an
example of one of the
earliest and most
common types of APS.
 VII. Basement parking
In recent times, car parks built to serve some business properties have been built as
part of a larger building, often underground as part of the basement.  Especially in
and near commercial buildings, parking demand goes in a frenzy. This inordinately
gives rise to parking violations, a problem that calls for immediate measures. To
tackle this, real estate developers and cities are increasingly taking to basement
parking. Any floor above 1.2m level shall be considered as Semi-basement floor.

Brightly painted directional arrows and columns

help drivers navigate this parking structure more
easily and safely.

Basic requirements:
 The minimum height of the basement floor shall be 2.4m
 Adequate arrangement shall be made such that surface drainage doesn’t enter the
basement. The walls and floors of the basement shall be watertight.

Safety Requirements:
 The staircase of the basement shall have fire resistance value of not less than 2 hours.
 As specified under section 2.2 maximum travel distances to the stairway or exit shall not be
more than 30m beyond which another means of exit shall be provided. Ramps can be considered
as one of the means of access.
Accessible:

Vehicular access:

 Ideally the entry and exit should be close together but separate to one another.
 Considering height restriction

Vehicle entrances should be visible and easily identifiable. Entrances and exits should have clear
lines of sight. Consideration should be given to acceleration/deceleration lanes on busy streets.
Pedestrian Access:

 Specify vandal-resistant lifts, and glazed lobby doors.

 Avoid long passageways.
 Perforated or transparent balustrades aid visibility.

Signage:
The international symbol of accessibility must be placed in front of the parking spaces mounted
certain height above the ground, measured to the bottom of the sign.

Aesthetics:
 Materials and Colors: Parking is as much of a destination as the building. Drivers are
trying to locate the parking garage and the best way to enter it.  Care and attention should
be given to the colors and materials used in the space to create a feeling of safety and
ease of access.
 Graphics: Incorporate visually interesting and informative graphics to relay messages
about directions, activities, and events within the building.

Functional / Operational:
 Additional Structural Requirements:
Below grade extension of the building structure to accommodate basement parking is
required. This involves additional excavation, structural frame, floor slabs above, sloped
vehicle access ramps, and basement perimeter walls and partitions separating parking
from other building enclosed areas.
 Signage and Wayfinding:
Signage should indicate all major internal pedestrian access points as well as external
major roads and buildings. In basement parking, pavement markings are reflective paint
and traffic control signage is usually reflective metal with minimum 5" high letters.
 Ventilation :
 The parking area is generally supplied with unconditioned air utilizing multiple speed
fans, preferably interlocked with carbon monoxide detectors tied into an alarm system.
Requirements:
  Each basement shall be separately ventilated. Vents with cross sectional areas not
less 2.5% of the floor area spread preferably around the perimeter of the basement
shall be provided through stall boards, pavement light or through shafts [in case of
double basements]
 Each basement above 200sq.m shall have minimum of one each system of air
inlets and smoke outlet served through mechanical system. Additional vent
system shall be provided for every 200sq.m of plinth area there on.
 Parking Management:
Pre-manufactured booths with transaction windows and deal trays can be installed at
vehicular entrances/exits to manage entering and exiting vehicles.  Additionally, consider
implementing electronic entry and exit machines, making it easier for users to self-park
and pay.

Secure and safe

Security Protection:
Beyond parking management, several security measures are incorporated into typical basement
parking spaces to ensure the security of visitors. These generally include: uniform lighting
coverage, preferably with energy-efficient light fixtures; closed circuit television (CCTV)
cameras; card reader access control for vehicle entrance doors.
Fire and Life Safety:
Proper notification systems, lighting, and signage are required to facilitate safe and speedy
evacuations during an emergency in the basement parking spaces. This is usually accomplished
with proper fire alarm wiring, pull stations, strobes, annunciators, and exit signage. In addition,
exposed pipe sprinkler system is extended into the basement parking, with a hose bib at every
level.

Drainage and Storm Water Management:

Proper floor drainage is essential for all types of parking structures in all climates. Water runoff
from vehicles is typically dealt with in basement parking spaces by installing trench drains with
cast iron covers at all vehicle entrance/exit points, sand and oil traps at all storms drain discharge
points, and floor area drains at every low point. Floors drain locations are determined by the
circulation system, number of bays, and structural system.

LED technologies can help direct drivers to available parking spaces, increasing safety and
reducing driving time and emissions. The system can track cars coming into and leaving
the parking structure and provide valuable information to drivers such as parking rules and
alerts.
Sustainable

Lighting:
Incorporate energy efficient lighting and lighting controls into the parking areas, entrances, and
exits to improve lighting levels while also reducing energy use.

 Lighting should be even, to eliminate shadows.

 White (or light-colored) walls, floors and ceilings can reduce the quantity of luminaires
needed.
 Anti-vandal cabling.
 Siting of lighting columns to avoid being used as climbing aids.

Parking Priorities: Plan for and provide priority parking for hybrid cars and electric vehicles
(EV). Also provide EV charging stations to contribute to the adoption of EVs. 

Construction Materials: Use durable and sustainable materials with a reduced carbon footprint
or that are locally procured and/or recyclable. Consider the material life cycle in the decision-
making process to reduce the production and consumption of new materials.

Indoor Environmental Quality: Use natural ventilation, heat recovery, and other sustainable
technologies whenever possible. Using exhaust sensors to automatically turn fans on and off can
reduce fan runtime, which will reduce energy consumption without reducing air quality.