Facility Design & Planning Flashcards

Under ASHRAE 62.1, mechanical ventilation in enclosed parking structures is primarily triggered by which parameter?

Answer: Carbon monoxide (CO) concentration levels

ASHRAE 62.1 and most codes allow CO demand-controlled ventilation, activating mechanical fans when CO concentrations reach set thresholds to dilute vehicle exhaust.

A parking facility is being retrofitted for EV charging. Which infrastructure element requires the most significant upfront capital investment?

Answer: Upgrading electrical service capacity and running conduit

Electrical service upgrades—transformers, switchgear, panel capacity, and conduit runs—typically represent 60–70% of EV infrastructure cost, far exceeding the charger hardware itself.

What is the standard angle most commonly used for parking stalls in North American facilities to balance space efficiency and ease of maneuvering?

Answer: 90 degrees

90-degree perpendicular stalls are the most common in North America because they maximize space efficiency and support two-way traffic aisles.

When planning a mixed-use parking structure that serves both daytime office tenants and evening restaurant patrons, which design strategy maximizes operational efficiency?

Answer: Designing for shared parking with peak demand analysis to size the total supply

Shared parking analysis quantifies how complementary peak periods overlap, allowing a smaller total supply to serve both user groups without building excess capacity.

Which foundation type is generally preferred for a parking structure built over soft or variable soils?

Answer: Drilled pier or pile foundations

Drilled piers or driven piles transfer the structure's load down to competent bearing strata below soft soils, preventing differential settlement.

In parking facility design, 'transient' customers differ from 'monthly' (contract) parkers primarily in which way relevant to revenue control design?

Answer: Transients pay based on time parked while monthly parkers pay a flat periodic fee

Transient parkers pay on a time-based rate at exit or via prepay, requiring ticketing and payment equipment, while contract parkers have fixed monthly fees and often use proximity credentials.

Which Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirement governs the maximum slope of an accessible parking stall surface?

Answer: 2% in any direction

ADA Standards require accessible parking spaces and access aisles to have slopes no steeper than 1:48 (approximately 2%) in any direction to prevent wheelchairs from rolling.