SCP10 PARKING T


here is generally very little available space for parking, especially in towns and cities and as a result, multi-storey car parks have become an essential part of this country’s


infrastructure. There are over 4,000 MSCPs in the UK, almost all of which have been built since the 1940’s. Many were built during the construction boom in the 1960s. Large out of town (and in town) shopping complex construction has grown extensively over the past 30 years in the UK with a switch from high street shopping to the ease of the ‘one stop shop’ approach to shopping matched with the ease of parking With these complex buildings come particular problems that


require an understanding of not only the forms of distress and remedial measures but the needs of the owners and centre managers/ occupiers. Problems with shopping centres range from water ingress through cladding, atriums and roofs, through to structural issues with car parks. A great many MSCPs are of reinforced concrete construction and


were designed using building standards that are now outdated. Many have a history of early deterioration due to inadequate


design, poor construction and low standards of repair and maintenance. A large proportion of problems are caused by corrosion of the concrete reinforcement, often due to the deposit of de-icing salts from the tyres of vehicles using the car park during winter months. The resulting corrosion eventually causes the concrete to spall and leads to a reduction in the durability of the structure. One notable example of the result of poor maintenance of car


parks was the partial collapse of a 120 tonne section of the Pipers Row car park in Wolverhampton on the night of 20 March 1997.


POST PIPERS ROW The potentially lethal collapse sustained at the Pipers Row MSCP led to the publication in 2002 of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) guide Recommendations for the Inspection Maintenance and Management of Car Park Structures.


This document has been specifically written to address the


important implications of the past performance of car park structures and provides recommendations for good practice for car park owners and operators and their engineering advisors. Divided into two parts, the guide presents practical


recommendations that translate into everyday good practice. Part one is aimed at owners and operators of car park structures and details the recommended principles and approaches to good management. In particular, the development and implementation of a ‘Life Care Plan’ for each car park structure is recommended. Part two of the guide is aimed at the professional engineering consultant and offers more detailed, technical information on the ‘Life Care Process’ for a car park structure, for example: • Inspection • Maintenance • Repair • Rehabilitation • Replacement


The guide also includes four appendices, which contain reference material on design, construction and performance; defects, cracking and deterioration, testing and monitoring; and safety risk and structural appraisal. To produce a comprehensive life care plan, a client should consider the following: • Daily surveillance • Routine inspections • Condition surveys


SHOPPING CENTRE December 2011 www.shopping-centre.co.uk An


A rigorous inspection regime is essential to spot potential structural problems, writes Michael Nugent


inspector


• Maintenance/repair plans with costings • Emergency failure inspections/investigations • Asset management plans • Future feasibility studies


The ICE report recommends that a condition survey should be carried out every eight years, in much the same way that local authorities have a duty to carry out principal bridge inspections every five years. Establishing the cause of deterioration to the structure of a car park is fundamental in ensuring the most appropriate repair and maintenance strategy is developed, not only for the needs of the structure but also for the client’s budget. However, there are varying levels of survey available. An indicative


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