When designing car park solutions, health and safety considerations are of paramount importance. For car park users, the deck plays a very important role in safety due to the potential of slips and skid risks posed by water and/or slippery automotive oils lying around.
With the increase of vehicles and road users, parking has become a vital part of today’s world. As a result, vehicle owners are looking for safe and secure environments to house their vehicles when they are not with them. In this article, we will explore some key health and safety considerations that should be taken into account when designing multi-storey car parks.
First and foremost, it is important to ensure that the car park is designed to be easily accessible and navigable for all users, including those with mobility impairments. It is also important to ensure that the car park is well-lit and colourful both to improve visibility and to deter crime. This may involve clear marking with bright demarcation lines and signage, to provide a welcoming impression to drivers and help to make the car park a more positive and safer environment.
Slip resistance is another key safety consideration and a must-have for all car park decks. The decking system needs to have suitable slip resistance not only for foot traffic, but also vehicular traffic to ensure safe movement around the car park. Slips, trips, and falls are both painful and costly accidents and vehicle skidding accidents are no different.
For architects and specifiers, when considering safety in car park design, it’s not just the parking bays and main routes that need high performance deck coating. Customer interface areas such as stairwells and walkways should be equally considered with extra attention given to turning circles. Slip resistance is a challenge in these areas and more problematic because car tyres need adequate gripping support, and apply extra torque, and the floor needs to be able to withstand the pressure and abrasion over time. For areas where rainwater can potentially filter into the site, such as exposed ramps, it is harder for a car to grip onto a wet surface.
Finally, it is important to ensure that the car park is regularly maintained and inspected to identify and address any potential hazards. This may involve conducting regular checks for damage or wear and tear, as well as implementing a system for reporting and addressing any issues that are identified.
Designing a safe and accessible multi-storey car park requires careful consideration of a range of health and safety concerns. By prioritizing accessibility, slip resistance, clear marking, lighting, and regular maintenance, it is possible to create a car park that is safe and welcoming for all users.
To improve the whole car park experience, consider Flowcrete’s Deckshield car park protection systems. Deckshield car park systems have been designed with safety in mind. The texture of these systems provides durable slip resistant solutions reducing the potential for health and safety risks for both pedestrians and drivers.
Contact us to find out how we can support your next car park project.
