Storage Systems in the U.S. from Page 20


A non-pallet


systemconsists of a dolly that slides under the vehicle. The dolly has steel arms that fold out and grasp the tires of the vehicle. The vehicle is lifted an inch or two off the floor and carried out of the entry compartment onto a horizontal shuttle that takes the vehicle over to a lift and up to a storage compartment. In some systems the horizontal movement and lift mecha-


Figure 2 – Concrete floor design


nisms are provided in a single machine called a stacker crane (see Figure 1). All the machines are controlled by computer with no human intervention. Where the floor area ratio (FAR) is not a consideration, there


also is a trend away from steel storage racks to concrete floors (see Figure 2). The building codes do not adequately address fire pro- tection and firefighter access for these building types, and some steel rack projects are having difficulty getting approved by build- ing officials or firemarshals.Themarshals find it easier to approve


Status of Automated Vehicle


Projects Under Construction:


270 spaces 1504 Coney Island Ave.,NewYork City http://www.aptparking.com/underconstruction.php


300 spaces 123 Beverly St., Boston http://www.aptparking.com/underconstruction.php


409 spaces The Palisades of Towson 212Washington Ave., Towson,MD http://www.parkplusinc.com/projects.php


53 spaces 148 E. 24th St.,NewYork City http://www.automotionparking.com/24th.php


132 spaces 275 Seabreeze Ave., Brooklyn,NY


http://www.automotionparking.com/275Seabreeze.p hp


65 spaces 20Grand St., Brooklyn


a concrete system because those systems have better fire resistance than do steel systems. Where the FAR is a consideration, the open steel stor-


age racks have an advantage in that there are no floors in the storage compartments. The vehicle is supported on a pallet that rests on the steel frame. Therefore, there is no floor area to count against the limit on FAR that is often present in zon- ing codes. The developer is then able to construct more building area. The National Fire ProtectionAssociation is revising its


Publication 88A, Standard for Parking Structures, to include a section devoted entirely toAVSS facilities. It should be avail- able by mid 2010. By that time, 14 or moreAutomatedVehi- cle Storage Systems will likely be in use.


Don Monahan, P.E., a Vice President with Walker Parking Consultants, can be reached at don.monahan@walkerparking.com.


PT See PT three weeks early at parkingtoday.com 22 JANUARY 2010 • PARKING TODAY • www.parkingtoday.com


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