Civil Engineering Association

This project on Parking Structures Durability Guidelines was proposed by Technology Development and Demonstration and was funded by the Real Property Program and the Panel on Energy Research and Development (PERD). This research was conducted in collaboration with Halsall Associates Limited. The objective of this project was to develop specific guidelines for the design, construction, repair and maintenance of parking structures.
Every year, Public Works & Government Services Canada (PWGSC) spends vast sums of money on the repair and maintenance of parking structures. While it is generally accepted that a certain degree of garage maintenance is inevitable, the design and construction practices in past failed to provide adequate protection against the increasing amounts of chloride based de-icing chemicals which are being used in present in-service environments. The salts carried into garages by cars migrate through the concrete to the steel resulting in corrosion of the embedded steel components.
For the past five years, Technology, A&ES Services, Headquarters, in conjunction with the Institute for Research in Construction (IRC) at National Research Council Canada (NRC), have been monitoring the performance of several parking garage structures and evaluating various repair strategies in an attempt to develop techniques for effective rehabilitation and maintenance of indoor parking garages. Much of the knowledge gained from this multiyear research study was used in the development of these guidelines. This document will serve as a very useful tool for builders, operators and property managers. However, it must be emphasized that decisions in design, construction, repair and maintenance must be the responsibility of qualified professionals. If proper procedures are followed, the life of parking garages will be greatly enhanced.