Review - columns and beams, Basement Parking

The Engineering

Whether your basement columns and beams are made of steel or wood or RCC they were designed to support the weight of the building above. These columns literally support tons of weight from above so you can’t just move move a basement column without some thought.  

The basic structural principle behind the beams and columns is this…the weight of the furniture and people rest on the floor. The weight from the floor are then transferred down to the basement beams and foundation walls. The beam is then supported by the foundation and the columns below. The columns rest on a concrete footing pad below the basement floor. This pad then transfers the weight down to the ground.

Depending on your building design, there are probably other point loads coming down from the floor above.

So, your basement beam was sized based on the combination of floor loads and point loads from above. Based on the material, weight and depth of your beam, columns are placed along it’s length to provide support. The heavier the beam, the greater the span can be between columns. In theory, the depth of the beam can also be increased to provide a stronger beam. However, most designers don’t consider this as it will decrease the headroom in a basement.

 

 

 

Some Examples - Basement Parking

 

1.

1.     3 floors of spacious parking to contain 112cars (plus 7 on ground floor)

2.     178 + motorbikes

3.     Parking Area per floor 16,112 SFT

4.     Total area on 3 floors: 48,336 SFT

5.     Valet assisted parking

	2.     3.   Relevant Codes and Standards The following agencies and organizations have developed codes and standards affecting the design of outdoor surface parking. Note that the codes and standards are minimum requirements. Architects, engineers, and consultants should consider exceeding the applicable requirements whenever possible: ·      P-100, Facilities Standards for the Public Buildings Service, GSA ·         International Building Code ·         Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (ANSI D 6.1e)—provides guidance on pavement marking and signage ·         Recommended Practice Manual: Lighting for Exterior Environments (RP-33-99), Illuminating Engineering Society of America (IESNA) ·         UFGS 32 17 24.00 10 Pavement Markings



 



 

How High Winds Damage Buildings

 

Contrary to popular belief, few houses are blown over. Instead, they are pulled apart by winds moving swiftly around and over the building. This lowers the pressure on the outside and creates suction on the walls and roof, effectively causing the equivalent of an explosion.

Whether or not a building will be able to resist the effects of wind is dependent not so much upon the

materials that are used but the manner in which they are used. It is a common belief that heavier buildings, such as those made of concrete block, are safer. While it is true that a well-built and properly-engineered masonry house offers a better margin of safety than other types of buildings, safe housing can be and has been provided by a variety of other materials including wood and many others.