As a leading car park marking company in the UK, we stay on top of the latest regulations in road markings and car park lining so that you don’t have to. That said, if you’re planning or refurbishing your car park, here are some points you will need to consider:
This will depend on the size of your car park as to how many bays you can fit. In the UK, a bay size should not be smaller than 2.4mX4.8m for cars, however, with the size of today’s vehicles, you may want these bays to be larger. You will also need to allocate larger spaces for vans, coaches and delivery vehicles, if appropriate. If you plan to include parallel parking bays, the length of each bay will need to be longer than the standard length. As a general rule, white markings signify permitted parking and yellow lines signify no parking.
As a guide, you should aim for 4% of your spaces to be dedicated to disabled parking spaces, and they should be positioned within 50m of the entrance to your building. Disabled bays must be larger spaces with minimum dimensions of 2.4mX12m with a 12m hatched zone at the back of the car for boot access. The bays can be differentiated from other spaces by colour, clear floor markings and blue badge signage.
It is not a legal requirement to reserve wider spaces for parents and children, but you may wish to offer this if you have a retail outlet that attracts families. As a guide, widen the space to the same dimensions as disabled bays.
If your car park is situated in the UK, it is advised that use a one-way flow around the car park. If you have two way traffic, you should keep traffic moving on the left hand side to avoid confusion. You will need clear directional signs and surface arrows that take the drivers along a single, circulatory route.
Way-finding is an important aspect of car park safety for pedestrians. Not only do they need clear surface markings to signal to drivers and them where to walk to find their way to stairs, lifts, entrances and exits – they are also useful for vehicle location. Many businesses use way-finding to add visual interest to a car park as there are no colour restrictions to these markings. Do make sure you use anti-slip paint for safety.
The Government states that car park markings need to be simple and clear so that they can be understood quickly for increased safety and correct usage – but don’t be put off by the word simple. Today, with a variety of materials, resin floorings and finishes available, it’s never been easier to create car park markings that stand out visually for drivers and pedestrians whilst also presenting a strong aesthetic design for your retail outlet or business.
There’s more to car park lining than you may think. From the layout design, space allocation and traffic flow to the coatings, finishes, colours, signage and lighting, you need to make sure your car park meets current legislation and guidelines.
Roadgrip Car Parks can handle all of that for you to ensure maximum safety, surface longevity and a high visual finish that reflects your branding. Contact our friendly team for a quick quote or take a look at our recent projects for inspiration.