SERVICE LIFE PREDICTION AND ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF PARKING GARAGE OPTIONS

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8 th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON DURABILITY OF BUILDING
MATERIALS AND COMPONENTS
May 30 - June 3, 1999 Vancouver, Canada

Parking garage service life and economic performance
A. WISEMAN
Engineering Durability Specialist, Technology, Architectural and Engineering, Real
Property Services Branch, Public Works and Government Services Canada, Hull,
Canada

B.R. KYLE
Facilities Life-cycle Management, Technology, Architectural and Engineering, Real
Property Services Branch, Public Works and Government Services Canada, Hull,
Canada

Abstract

Parking garage configurations in Canada present one of the most adverse climates for reinforced concrete. The historic excessive use of de-icing salts on North American roadways has, by exposing the structural elements to a saline solution at a heightened ambient temperature, enhanced the rate of deterioration in parking structures. Various rehabilitation options may be considered for different circumstances, from simple stripping and repair of affected areas, to the chloride extraction or re-alkalinisation of structural elements, and ultimately to demolition and reconstruction. The emergence of "innovative" materials and methods promising extended or altered in-service performance has left designers without a clear view of the relative benefits of the more traditional approaches. This paper examines the degradation models available for service life prediction of parking structures, in particular methods to evaluate systems using innovative materials. This paper also presents the projected service life extensions provided by design, rehabilitation and material options and evaluates the life-cycle economics of their application to a specific parking garage scenario. The assessment considers the total life-cycle costs, including capital, operations and maintenance costs, re-capitalisation as well as the projected rehabilitation costs for each scenario.

Keywords: service life prediction, total life-cycle costs, life-cycle economics, parking
garages, reinforced concrete, deterioration, fibre reinforced polymers