CAUSE AND EFFECTS OF DEFECTS IN MULTI-STOREY CAR PARKS: OPENING ADDRESS

Defects in multi-storey car parks in the UK have become increasingly important, because many car parks, built around the 1960s with emphasis on speed and economy, are now showing signs of serious deterioration at least in some parts of their structure. The cost of unexpected serious repairs may seriously reduce a park's viability. Some structures have designs that are too dramatic, elaborate, and complex, and then have excessive damage far beyond normal wear and tear. This is even true of some parks which won architectural awards for their 'good' design. The designs of many multi-storey car parks, wanted quickly and cheaply, were often found to be inadequate functionally and structurally. Simplicity of design usually produces the best and most aesthetic designs. The main cause of defects in car parks seems to be human factors leading to poor quality of design in at least one respect. Sometimes, major alterations have had to be made almost immediately. In extreme cases, structures have had to be closed, pulled down, redesigned, then rebuilt. Too often, inappropriate materials or components are used, which deteriorate, or even fail, too easily. Outline briefs and detailed specifications are the most important safeguards against bad design and construction. The standards of multi-storey car parks are now rapidly advancing. For the covering abstract see ITRD E105613.

• Corporate Authors:

  BRITISH PARKING ASSOCIATION

  17 THE CROFT, CHISWELL GREEN
  ST ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE  United Kingdom  AL2 3AR
• Authors:
  • GOLDRING, E G
• Publication Date: 1987

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 10 p.
• Serial:
  • CAUSE AND EFFECTS OF DEFECTS IN MULTI-STOREY CAR PARKS. SEMINAR, 2 DECEMBER 1987, HUDDERSFIELD
  • Publisher: BRITISH PARKING ASSOCIATION

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aesthetics; Building materials; Conferences; Costs; Defects; Design; Deterioration; Failure; Human factors; Loss and damage; Multistory structures; Parking garages; Quality control; Repairing; Specifications
• Uncontrolled Terms: Modifications; Quality
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 9107: Aesthetics; 8525: Conference; 224: Cost; 1614: Damage; 5238: Defect (tech); 9011: Design (overall design); 5255: Deterioration; 5520: Failure; 2257: Human factor; 4555: Material (constr); 9048: Modification; 924: Multi storey parking garage; 9063: Quality; 3635: Repair; 177: Specifications; 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Design; Finance; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00796512
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Aug 2 2000 12:00AM