High-quality commercial parking lot design and construction begins with compliance with local building codes and ordinances. Once you have an idea of what commercial parking lot paving standards entail, you can begin to determine what type of design will suit your business the best.
Assess the amount of space you have to work with and try to estimate how much traffic flow your parking lot will get. Consider whether your parking lot will be used for mainly commercial or industrial purposes or both and design it based on that. Functionality, efficiency, durability, longevity, and aesthetic appeal are all important factors that need to be taken into consideration when designing and constructing a new parking lot.
Whether you’re constructing a new parking lot or repaving an existing one, here are some tips for ensuring your structure is in compliance with commercial parking lot design standards and regulations in your area.
Install a High-Quality Drainage System
Proper drainage is an important commercial parking lot paving standard in most regions. To prevent interior and exterior flooding on your property, your parking lot pavement should have at least a 2% slope that goes in the direction of your drainage system. Regular drainage and catch basin cleaning and maintenance are also vital to preventing flooding on your property.
Furthermore, if the rainwater and water from melted snow don’t drain from your property or have nowhere to go, then this results in standing water. When left alone for long periods of time, standing water—otherwise known as puddles—can cause big and expensive structural problems for your asphalt pavement.
One way to help offset this problem and prevent your drainage system from being overworked is by using a porous asphalt paving aggregate that can safely and sustainably absorb some of the excess water on your property. This is especially important and useful during the rainy season.
Install a Storm Water Detention Area
A well-designed and maintained asphalt parking lot should also have a proper storm water detention area. Storm water detention areas, which are also known as retention areas, are structures that are connected to local waterways such as ponds, rivers, or tributaries. Sloped parking lots can direct water toward the detention area where it’s collected and then allowed to flow back into a local waterway rather than staying on your property.
Storm water detention areas prevent flooding and erosion caused by standing water, but they take a lot of real estate on your property. Design and installation of storm water detention areas needs to be strategic enough to maximize whatever space you have left without compromising the efficacy of the system. Losing a few parking spaces is a small price to pay when it comes to protecting your investment, though.
Durability and Weight Capacity Requirements
Durability and weight capacity are vital factors when constructing, remodelling, or repairing commercial asphalt parking lots. Consider the amount and types of vehicles you want your parking lot to accommodate. Industrial businesses such as factories, warehouses, and distribution centers typically utilize heavy-duty vehicles such as delivery trucks, cargo trucks, forklifts, cranes, and more. Not only do these vehicles weigh a lot on their own, but once they’re loaded with various items to be delivered or transported, their weight capacity increases. Your parking lot needs to be built up to code to be able to handle all of that excess weight.
Commercial parking lots for grocery and retail stores also need to have a significant weight and durability capacity. Although transport trucks still make an appearance on commercial properties to make deliveries, the bulk of the vehicles on these parking lots are typically SUVs, sedans, vans, pickup trucks, or sports cars. However, commercial parking lots are typically larger in size and require greater durability to manage more traffic flow than industrial properties. A stable parking structure should be able to handle whatever weight capacity you throw at it without compromising the strength or integrity.
Calculate the Adequate Thickness Level of the Asphalt
Asphalt is one of the most reliable and durable parking lot paving materials on the market. One of the main reasons for this is because of its unmatched flexibility and ability to conform to whatever external elements to which it’s exposed.
Like weight capacity, the thickness of the asphalt depends largely on the amount of traffic flow you expect your parking lot will get on a regular basis. The types of vehicles that will frequent your parking lot also make a difference. Strictly industrial parking lots require a much thicker subbase aggregate that can handle copious amounts of pressure from heavy vehicles.
Since commercial parking lots typically cater to smaller vehicles for the most part, they can get by with a thinner subbase as long as it’s been properly compacted. Just to be on the safe side, however, your asphalt contractor may recommend applying a thick layer of asphalt for additional protection, but it’s up to you as the property owner to use your discretion.
Striping for Accessibility and Maximizing Space Capacity
Faded parking lot stripes can cause a lot of chaos on your property. Since there are no visible parking parameters, motorists tend to park wherever they want, sometimes leaving larger than necessary gaps in between vehicles or parking in spots that are typically designated for handicapped drivers and other specifications.
Maintaining a striped parking lot isn’t just part of building code compliance, it can actually improve the functionality and organization of your parking lot, which makes for more positive customer experiences and increases safety standards.
Minimal Maintenance Requirements
Top quality parking lot design and construction result in minimal maintenance requirements. When you start off with a strong foundation, basic maintenance like patching small cracks, cleaning, and sealcoating your asphalt parking lot regularly are sufficient to maintain its functionality, strength, and aesthetic appeal.
Guarantee High Commercial Parking Lot Paving Standards for Your Commercial Property
When commercial property owners are looking for top-notch asphalt pavement installation, maintenance, and repair services in Toronto, there’s only one name they trust: Sure-Seal Pavement Maintenance Inc. We do everything from asphalt line striping to milling, installing overlays, patching cracks and potholes, and so much more. As a BBB-accredited business, we also offer a comprehensive seven-year parts and labour warranty to give you further peace of mind. Contact us today to take advantage of our award-winning asphalt services.