Introduction

This manual was developed to provide a comprehensive reference for the design, construction, and maintenance of free-standing, cast-in-place concrete parking structures. The emphasis of the manual is on design, construction, and maintenance practices that will ensure long-term durability and minimize life cycle costs. Most of the material in the manual is also applicable to cast-in-place concrete parking structures constructed as part of hotels, condominiums, apartment and office buildings and other facilities. Design of these types of parking structures requires consideration of the design requirements of the basic facility, however. These considerations are beyond the scope of this manual.

This chapter of the manual includes discussion of the advantages of post-tensioned parking structures, discussion of the relationship between structural and functional design, representative examples of post-tensioned parking structures, and an analysis of how the various components of a parking structure impact the economics of the project. The example projects illustrate the range and variety of applications of cast-in-place concrete parking structures. A brochure jointly developed by PTI, NRMCA and CRSI ¹ contains twenty additional projects.