Parking structures Built to last Chris Whapples, consultant at Stripe Consulting and one of the authors of a new guide on car park design, explains more about the work involved and the changes to the new guidance hen Design recommendations for multi-storey and underground car parks was first published by the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) in 1976, the average family saloon was almost 200mm narrower and 500kg lighter than it is today. Despite significant changes to vehicular size, weight and manoeuvrability (and three subsequent editions of the guide), guidance on parking bay sizes and deck loadings has not, until now, truly reflected these evolutions. Even in the 11 years since the latest (fourth) edition was published, the huge rise in hybrid and electric vehicle (EV) use, together with the need for inclusive design and a far greater emphasis on sustainable solutions, have necessitated a substantial revision to internal layouts and requirements for structural design.* W Perhaps most tangibly, on 31 December 2017, when all 1,360 cars parked at the Kings Dock multi-storey car park in Liverpool were destroyed in a blaze that started as an accidental fire in one vehicle, it brought into question whether the current fire regulations were adequate and whether the construction materials should all be reconfigured to minimise fire spread. So, in 2020, the IStructE carried out a review of the fourth edition. A working group of expert contributors was formed to write new guidance for use by anyone involved in car park design, construction, maintenance and reuse. I am very pleased to have had the chance to be involved in this publication as contributing author and also to represent the BPAs interests in terms of driving up standards. I certainly see this publication as the go-to set of recommendations to follow when designing a car park, it has really brought the recommendations up to date, and is a much-needed relevant reference point. Russell Simmons, managing director, Ballast Nedam Parking and BPA Council Parking Structures representative 32 PN Oct 2022 pp32-33 iStuctE.indd 32 23/09/2022 11:41