Maintaining A Safe Parking Lot: small costs, BIG SAVINGS

Maintaining A Safe Parking Lot: small costs, Big Savings

Your parking lot is often the first thing people notice when approaching your property.

Not only do you want to maintain your parking lot,

but you also want it to be SAFE.

It’s important to understand how your parking lot can go from this…

…to this.

The first step is to understand what happens to your parking lot’s asphalt pavement. But first…

What Is Asphalt Pavement?

Asphalt Pavement is also known as asphalt concrete, AC, hot mix asphalt, or black top.

Asphalt is made up of a combination of crushed rock (aggregate) and asphalt binder.

Asphalt provides a smooth surface, reduces sound, and should have proper drainage.

Asphalt should be flexible. Flexibility is extremely important so that asphalt can take great loads and bounce back to its original condition.

What happens to pavement if it’s not

maintained?

UV radiation will break down the asphalt binder and weaken it so that the binder can no longer hold the rocks and sand, thus gradually loosening the top surface.

The first and most obvious sign of oxidation is the gradual change in color of the asphalt from black, to brown, and finally to gray.

Next, your parking lot begins to look rough and piles of sand and seem to appear in the low areas of the parking lot.

In the later stages of degradation raveling takes place and the parking lot is rough and extremely dirty because dirt and grass fill the spaces where rocks were.

Due to oxidation, your pavement loses its flexibility. As asphalt loses its flexibility, it becomes brittle and begins to crack and break.

When it rains, water seeps into the cracks, creating larger cracks in your pavement.

If left unprotected, your pavement will eventually need to be repaved.

Review: Asphalt Pavement Breakdown

First, the top layer breaks down (due to exposure to the elements and UV)

Review: Asphalt Pavement Breakdown

First, the top layer breaks down (due to exposure to the elements and UV)

Next, the asphalt binder breaks down

Review: Asphalt Pavement Breakdown

First, the top layer breaks down (due to exposure to the elements and UV)

Next, the asphalt binder breaks down

Without the binder, aggregates come unglued & start raveling

Review: Asphalt Pavement Breakdown

First, the top layer breaks down (due to exposure to the elements and UV)

Next, the asphalt binder breaks down

Without the binder, aggregates come unglued & start raveling

Surface cracks develop (water seeps in & starts to damage base)

Review: Asphalt Pavement Breakdown

First, the top layer breaks down (due to exposure to the elements and UV)

Next, the asphalt binder breaks down

Without the binder, aggregates come unglued & start raveling

Surface cracks develop (water seeps in & starts to damage base)

Cracks widen (further damaged by water)

Review: Asphalt Pavement Breakdown

First, the top layer breaks down (due to exposure to the elements and UV)

Next, the asphalt binder breaks down

Without the binder, aggregates come unglued & start raveling

Surface cracks develop (water seeps in & starts to damage base)

Cracks widen (further damaged by water)

Base and Sub-base courses are damaged (load carrying capacity is lost)

Review: Asphalt Pavement Breakdown

First, the top layer breaks down (due to exposure to the elements and UV)

Next, the asphalt binder breaks down

Without the binder, aggregates come unglued & start raveling

Surface cracks develop (water seeps in & starts to damage base)

Cracks widen (further damaged by water)

Base and Sub-base courses are damaged (load carrying capacity is lost)

End of Pavement Life

So what can you do to maintain your

pavement?

Here’s 6 tips to maintain (&protect) your

pavement

#1: Control load on pavement

Have large vehicles access your property only if it is necessary. For example, move garbage cans near an entrance so garbage trucks don’t drive on your pavement.

#2: Proper drainage

Proper drainage is the key to prevent water from penetrating your “roof” and destroying your base.

#3: Treating oil spots

Gasoline and oil break down asphalt because they are petroleum-based.

If left untreated, your asphalt will soften and the surface will eventually corrode.

#4: Sweeping & blowing

Sweeping your parking lot on a regular basis keeps it free from hazards like loose aggregate and glass.

If your parking lot is not cleaned regularly, debris may hide cracks and damaged asphalt leading to failures that seem to appear suddenly.

#5: Crack Filling

Fill existing cracks to stop water penetration into the base. Water can enter cracks at gallons per minute.

#6: Sealcoating

#6: Sealcoating (the preferred method to maintaining &

protecting pavement)

Sealcoating seals the surface of your asphalt, protecting it from the elements and preventing water seepage.

Sealcoating also fills surface voids, reducing exposure to oxygen, moisture and UV rays.

Lastly, sealcoating provides a smooth, even surface, making it easy to maintain.

Cost Comparison: Sealcoating is about 10x less expensive than paving.

Cost Comparison: Sealcoating is about

Keep your good pavement good! 10x less expensive than paving.

Cost Comparison: Sealcoating is about

Keep your good pavement good! 10x less expensive than paving.

And remember…

“The number one fault of agencies is that they wait until a problem develops before

Larry Galehouse, P.E., executive director of National Center for PP (NCPP) at Michigan State University

they address it.”

Now let’s talk about how to keep your parking lot safe.

Pavement Marking & Striping

Proper pavement markings and striping direct motorists safely through your parking lot and helps pedestrians to the nearest walkway.

Accessible Parking Spaces

You need to have the minimum number of accessible parking spaces.

A full copy of the parking rules is on the DCAB web site at: www.hawaii.gov/health/dcab/.

You also need to make sure those accessible parking spaces are the correct size. A full copy of the parking rules is on the DCAB web site at: www.hawaii.gov/health/dcab/.

Finally, you need to have the correct signs.

A full copy of the parking rules is on the DCAB web site at: www.hawaii.gov/health/dcab/.

Parking Lot Signs

Don’t forget that parking lot signs are important to help guide visitors safety to their destination.

Regulations

Regulations What are they and where do we find them?

MUTCD (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices) general principles and standard traffic control device designs should be used in parking facilities.

Sign Lettering and Legibility- 30 feet of legibility for each 1 inch of letter height.

Standard Regulatory and Warning Signs must meet a minimum reflectivity.

Let’s review.

Parking Lot Maintenance

• Control Load • Proper Drainage • Treat Oil Spots • Sweep/Blow • Crack Fill • Sealcoat

Parking Lot Safety

• Striping & Marking • Accessible Parking

Spaces • Parking Lot Signs

If you have any questions, or would like us to give you a free consultation, feel free to contact us.

If you have any questions, or would like us to give you a free consultation, feel free to contact us.

www.GPMaintenanceSolutions.com/content/contact-us

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