Parking Garage Structural Rating (Inquiry)

[Sempervirens]

I recently was informed by my building management team (property management) I may not park a Rivian above the ground floor in an above ground parking structure due to the excessive weight of EV Trucks (CT, R1, Ford, GM, etc.) This is bound to create confusion when EV charging is on L2+.

It appears that many if not most modern garage structural designs are only rated for 6,000lbs. (This specific garage was constructed in 2019-2021).

Does anyone have experience with this. I of course have seen older garages with much lower ratings have issues and in some cases failures, but this was news to me with regard to newer construction.

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[shamoo]

It is more likely a liability thing.

I'm sure there is no danger of the structure collapsing because you drove your Rivian onto the upper floors unless the garage is very old or hasn't been properly inspected/maintained which means it could happen with other vehicles too.

If you take weight numbers alone, then there are even many streets and bridges you shouldn't be driving a Rivian across. Seems infrastructure policies and requirements need to get updated. EV technology is passing them. Whether it involves new building strategy/materials or just a redefine of the limits, I don't know.

 

[EVTrukHog]

I've seen many rural bridges with posted 3-ton weight capacities... and in many areas it is a misdemeanor offense to knowingly exceed the structural capacity of a bridge (or parking structure?) with your vehicle...

 

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

I drove over the scales at my local scrap yard recently. With just myself and some tools, the vehicle topped 7,400 lbs. But I know plenty of contractors who drive heavier vehicles, including vans full of tools >9,000 lbs. Seems like this is a small amount of legitimate concern mixed with a whole lot of "anti-EV hysteria". Are they going to make everyone who drives into their garage go over a scale? Or just singling EV owners out specifically? ?

 

[mkg3]

Most structural designs have factor of safety built in. FS is usually 1.5x. Some higher.

For an example, if there is a 3 ton limit, (6klbs), the design is made to withstand 9klbs, or 1.5x6klbs.

In the case of any parking structure, it's not any single vehicle weight. It's the total aggregate weight on any given floor. Unless everyone is driving 7klbs+ EVs on the floor, there is no real danger.

I, too, am guessing that its liability concerns with a heavy dose of ignorance.

 

[Polar]

In the case of any parking structure, it's not any single vehicle weight. It's the total aggregate weight on any given floor. Unless everyone is driving 7klbs+ EVs on the floor, there is no real danger.

Yeaaaahhhhhh ?

 

[SANZC02]

Just curious, do people see a lot of weight limit signs at parking structure entry points?

I see height limit signs all of the time but do not recall ever seeing a weight limit sign.

 

[Sparty]

Just curious, do people see a lot of weight limit signs at parking structure entry points?

I see height limit signs all of the time but do not recall ever seeing a weight limit sign.

There aren't because these "issues" are relatively new. We did not design and build garages assuming every car would be 5000+ lbs. But because of EVS, cars weigh a lot more in the aggregate, newer builds have to account for it. Some parking stricture in England completely collapsed because of heavy EVs.

https://cleantechnica.com/2023/10/1...llapse-multi-story-car-parks-parking-garages/

 

[MIG]

I'm calling BS on the building management. ICE vehicles in the 1960's were plenty heavy and the ICE Hummers and current large pickups (Dodge Ram, etc.) are as heavy as the Rivian.

 

[Proxy]

The parking structure at the Janss mall in Thousand Oaks has a 6,000 pound weight limit posted at the entrance. I’d say about 5% of the vehicles exceed that weight that are parked there. Like a Tundra fully outfitted for overlanding with a family of 4. If you see 4 adults hop into a heavy SUV it would be over 6,000 pounds (Land rover, BMW X7, etc.).

Edit: Specified which mall

 

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Some parking stricture in England completely collapsed because of heavy EVs.

https://cleantechnica.com/2023/10/1...llapse-multi-story-car-parks-parking-garages/

Did I miss where in that article it showed parking structures "completely collapsed"?

 

[ThisIsMyHandle]

As has already been stated plenty of ICE trucks roll off the line over 6k - we have no charging in our garage, but also no first floor parking, so I'm curious to know if they decide to say/do anything with me and the few other trucks and Rivians that are over.

 

[Dirtman16]

A bit of light googling about building codes and design standards yields uniform design live loads of 40-50 psf for parking garages. A Rivian R1S is around 60-65 psf, if you consider just its footprint. Obviously, that would be too much if every open space and lane in the parking deck was occupied. There are also load factors on the design load which give some additional factor of safety (wiggle room). So, it's probably fine until the garage is full of all heavy vehicles and lanes are occupied.

Honestly, I'm surprised at how low the design value is. I'll bet this gets bumped up a bit in later code revisions. I'm also not a structural engineer, so take this with a grain of salt.

 

[Count Orlok]

I've seen many rural bridges with posted 3-ton weight capacities... and in many areas it is a misdemeanor offense to knowingly exceed the structural capacity of a bridge (or parking structure?) with your vehicle...

here in God's Country those rates are per axle.

 

[Count Orlok]

A bit of light googling about building codes and design standards yields uniform design live loads of 40-50 psf for parking garages. A Rivian R1S is around 60-65 psf, if you consider just its footprint. Obviously, that would be too much if every open space and lane in the parking deck was occupied. There are also load factors on the design load which give some additional factor of safety (wiggle room). So, it's probably fine until the garage is full of all heavy vehicles and lanes are occupied.

Honestly, I'm surprised at how low the design value is. I'll bet this gets bumped up a bit in later code revisions. I'm also not a structural engineer, so take this with a grain of salt.

are you sure about those numbers? The Royal workshop is 5,500 pounds per square INCH.

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