How To Build Concrete Parking Lots: New ACI Guide Focuses On Techniques

How to build
concrete parking lots

New ACI guide focuses on techniques
BY RICHARD O. ALBRIGHT
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
INDIANA CONCRETE COUNCIL
CARMEL, INDIANA
“Guide for Design and Construction

of Concrete Parking Lots,” was pub-
lished for use and public comment.
The guide summarizes accepted
practices for designing and con-
structing many categories of con-
crete parking lots. These range from
corner convenience stores to large
truck terminals. Technical back-
ground discussions are included.
Special design required

Although concrete parking lots
are similar to other pavements,
there also are important differences.
Most current pavement design
methods are based on repetitions of
moving loads. But parking lots use
half their areas for storing static ve-
Concrete parking lots carry mostly static loads and slow-moving traffic. Design hicles; moving load repetitions
criteria are different from those for streets, which primarily have moving load a re n’t the only design criterion.
repetitions. Streets and highways are con-
structed to accommodate mixed
traffic, from residential to heavy
commercial. Parking lots usually
serve a specific type of traffic, such
efore the Arab oil embargo saves owners money in life-time
B
as all cars or all interstate trucks.
in the late 1970s, concrete costs. They also open up a new job Parking lots for facilities expecting
parking lots were a rare market for contractors (read “How a range of vehicles often have con-
sight. Even though they are to Exploit the Concrete Parking Lot trols separating heavy vehicles from
now more cost-competitive with Ad va n t a g e,” Concrete Co n s t ru c- light ones.
asphalt, they still aren’t common. tion, May 1988, page 459). On highways and streets, most
Large concrete paving contractors To encourage good construction vehicles travel along the pavement
usually aren’t interested in small of concrete parking lots, the Ameri- edges. But parking lots, like floors,
p ro j e c t s, and smaller contractors can Concrete Institute (ACI) formed have most loads imposed on interi-
are content with floors or curbs and Committee 330, Parking Lots, in or slabs that are supported on all
gutters. But parking lots are a cost- 1982. Last December, the commit- sides by load transfer to adjacent
effective alternative to asphalt that tee’s first document, ACI 330R-87, slabs. Howe ve r, like streets, parking
Figure 1. To form a band that confines a
parking lot slab, the ACI parking lot
committee suggests installing deformed
tir bars across the first longitudinal joint
from the psvement edge
tor to bid on a different pavement

thickness. It’s not economical or ef-
ficient to handle the job this way. In-
tegral curbs make much more sense
for a concrete job than do separate
curbs and gutters. Fewer lights and
thus fewer poles are needed for con-
crete lots. Slopes for drainage don’t
have to be as steep for a concrete
lot; this affects the amount of earth-
work required. Also, jointing crite-
ria should be developed so the con-
tractor can design a jointing pattern
that is economical for his equip-
ment and crew.
Jointing guidelines
The ACI guide details jointing and
how steel works in the pavements.
Narrow, closely spaced joints con-
trol cracking, reduce slab curling,
and enhance load transfer. De-
formed tie bars are suggested across
lots are subjected to the environ- for a chosen concrete strength. the first longitudinal joint from the
ment. Te m p e ra t u re and moisture Remember that a parking lot is pavement edge to form a band to
gradients cause differential volume much more than a slab to park cars confine the slabs. This keeps interi-
changes. Because of these similari- on. It’s a system of slabs, joints, or joints from opening. Adding tie
ties, ACI’s guide borrows construc- curbs, islands, light poles, and bars at all longitudinal joints,
tion and design methods from drainage facilities. In the most eco- though, restricts contraction and
floors and streets. nomical project, these components expansion too much and adds to
must function together efficiently. material and labor costs.
Think concrete from the start Too often, engineers design a The guide also recommends us-
By covering all phases of parking parking lot with asphalt in mind, ing tie bars across longitudinal
lot construction in one publication, then put it out for alternate bids, joints in entrance driveways where
the ACI guide helps planners to start simply asking the concrete contrac- spreading can be a problem. If
thinking concrete at the beginning
of the design process. The guide in-
cludes tables and figures needed to
establish soil support conditions
and choose predicted traffic cate-
g o ri e s. These allow the designer to
determine required slab thickness
Figure 2. Integral curbs around the

perimeter of a concrete parking lot
provide structural stiffness.
perimeter curbs are built, the earth Who should use the guide?
p re s s u re against the curbs may be The guide is useful for planning,
enough to confine the slabs and designing, choosing materials for,
p re vent joint openings. In t e g ra l constructing, inspecting, and main-
curbs are strongly recommended taining concrete parking lots. Al-
to provide structural stiffness . though it stresses economy and ser-
The guide doesn’t recommend viceability, it never suggests
using smooth dowel bars for load short-changing quality.
transfer, except for the very heaviest Guidelines given are especially
load categories in combination with helpful for designers and contrac-
poor soils. It’s hard to align dowels tors having limited experience with
properly in slabs less than 7 inches concrete parking lots:
thick. Closely spaced joints provide
aggregate interlock, and extra thick- ■ Architects and engineers who
ness to control deflections probably haven’t made a practice of speci-
costs less than devices used to as- fying concrete for light-duty
sure dowel alignment. pavements
Joint and slab smoothness is crit-
ical for pavements carrying fast- ■ Concrete contractors and finish-
moving traffic, but parking lot traffic ers whose only experience is with
is slow moving. Provided roughness floors, driveways, and streets
doesn’t interfere with surface
drainage, parking lots don’t have to ■ Paving contractors who usually
be as smooth as streets. Committee work in the public sector on high-
330 is considering tolerances for ac- way or airport projects with tight
ceptable parking lot smoothness, specifications and detailed plans
but no consensus was reached be-
fore this first committee document ACI Committee 330, Parking Lots,
was published. welcomes comments and sugges-
tions from users of the guide. You
Subgrade preparation may order a copy of ACI 330R-87 by
and slab thickness sending $13.50 to the American
The committee recommends Concrete Institute, P.O. Box 19150,
close control of subgrade prepara- Detroit, Michigan 48219; tele-
tion and fine grading operations. phone 313-532-2600. Ask for Mate-
Deviations from design subgrade el- rials Journal, November-December
evations change slab thickness. The 1987; the guide appears on pages
change will reduce load-carrying 532-58.
capacity (thinner slab) or increase
material quantities (thicker slab).
Neither is desirable. Controlling the
grade and compaction also reduces
soil volume changes that make PUBLICATION #C880663
pavements uneven and rough rid- Copyright © 1988, The Aberdeen Group
ing. All rights reserved

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How to build

concrete parking lots

“Guide for Design and Construction

Special design required

tor to bid on a different pavement

Figure 2. Integral curbs around the

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