Nottingham carpark partial collapse

no its a valid part of the available/usable floor space.
It really isn't, nothing past the vertical columns is load bearing and shouldn't have had vehicles parked on it (note: over it is fine, just not on it). This can easily be seen by comparing the collapsed section to the one above:

carpark.jpg


Look how the section is so much thinner than the inner ones where vehicles will be and how they have reinforcement underneath. That section was obviously designed as both a walkway for pedestrians exiting or returning to their vehicle and a rain shield, not an area to take the weight of a vehicle. If it never had kerb/bollard/barrier to prevent vehicles doing so that's a fail by the company that designed it, if it had them but they were removed to extend the parking space that's a fail by whoever decided that, but either was it's a fail and complete ineptitude by whoever made that decision.
 
It really isn't, nothing past the vertical columns is load bearing and shouldn't have had vehicles parked on it (note: over it is fine, just not on it). This can easily be seen by comparing the collapsed section to the one above:

carpark.jpg


Look how the section is so much thinner than the inner ones where vehicles will be and how they have reinforcement underneath. That section was obviously designed as both a walkway for pedestrians exiting or returning to their vehicle and a rain shield, not an area to take the weight of a vehicle. If it never had kerb/bollard/barrier to prevent vehicles doing so that's a fail by the company that designed it, if it had them but they were removed to extend the parking space that's a fail by whoever decided that, but either was it's a fail and complete ineptitude by whoever made that decision.

The weight of the wall placed on the edge of the slab will greatly exceed the load of a car slightly extending beyond the pillar. It's probably crappy concrete with rebar that's corroded over time that's caused it.
 
There's no reason why that slab shouldn't be able to take the weight of a vehicle simply based on looking at how thick it is. We know nothing about how it's tensioned, for example.
 
The collapsed part isn't thiner than the rest of the floor plate (which is coffered) you're just looking at the concrete beam that the floor is cantilevered over.

Nothing has been extended it was designed like that and has never been pedestrian access walkway. The layout of this is a large rectangular floor plate that is hollow in the middle. Cars park along the exterior and interior wall and then drive round the inside bit, it's not a large car park. All you are seeing is just rebar errosion that has happened over time.

Mount Street as well as many of the other 60's concrete carparks in Nottingham are in a bit of a state, several have had extensive concrete repair contracts carried out, some have been closed, others are currently being demolished.

I used to park in this one years ago and it wasn't in such good nick then.
 
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Another factor to consider (Just off the top of my head) Cars are a lot bigger and heavier than they were in the 60's. Particularly the "Smaller" ones.

Eg. Classic Mini 600Kg, BMW Mini nearly 1100Kg

A multi story today might well have a floor loading half as much again (Or even double) as what it was originally designed for back in the 60's..
 
The two acrows are a bit of a sticking plaster though. If the slab does decide to let go, they will support FA.
 
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