What makes a good parking lot? Before you have one built, you need to know the basics. Here’s your guide to parking space dimensions, layout, design, and so on.
Americans love good parking lots and loathe a bad one. The design of a parking lot can make or break the success of a business. This is why it’s so important to make sure that if you’re going to have a parking lot, you do it right.
Designing a new parking lot doesn’t have to be as complicated as it may seem. If you’re interested in learning more, then continue reading and we’ll walk you through how to figure out things like the right parking space dimensions and much more.
Figure Out the Purpose of Your Parking Lot
A lot that is meant for people who are doing busy shopping on the weekend will look much different than one meant to house daily truck-loading.
Based on the purpose of your lot, you will have to consider three things: the size of the lot, the thickness of the pavement, and the angles of the parking spaces.
Some industries have code requirements for how big a lot should be. Your size will also be determined by how many people your business can support at one time.
The thickness of the pavement will depend on how often you expect traffic and how big the majority of vehicles are going to be.
When it comes to the parking angle, 45 and 60-degree angles are common. These are easy to park in but it also means you’ll have to have several rows of parking spaces going in different ways. 90-degree angles are tougher to park in and are usually reserved for employee parking.
Do the Math
The dimensions of your parking lot are going to vary depending on your industry, building type, and the city you’re in. But the first step to determining dimension is figuring out how many spaces you’ll need. Look at how much space you have and any many spaces you would like.
Then, try to calculate the right dimensions to make sure that you fit. You want to try to compromise here as little as possible. By knowing how many spaces you need, you’ll be able to see where you can fit helpful amenities like led parking lot lights.
Design for Safety
Your lot will have to sustain good traffic flow in order to keep things safe. You’re also going to need drainage provisions. You should handle the construction of these provisions as early in the process as possible.
Parking surfaces usually have a slope of at least 2% in order to accumulate water.
Also, if there are changes in elevation in your lot, then you should add access ramps. The more accessible your lot is, the more customers you can accept.
The Importance of Understanding Parking Space Dimensions and More
When designing a lot, it’s crucial to understand how the purpose and size of the lot will affect things like the parking space dimensions, angles, and more. Hopefully, after reading the above, you can walk away feeling more confident about how you’re going to design your lot.
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