Egyptian Garage Safety Code

• The study notes cover the Egyptian code of safety requirements for multi-purpose facilities, specifically focusing on garages.

Scope

• The code defines the minimum technical requirements and specifications that must be met during the design and execution of garages, as well as public and private vehicle waiting areas.
• Governs long-term and short-term parking in garages, whether stand-alone or part of other structures, above or below ground.
• The Egyptian code for fire protection design and execution complements this code by defining the requirements for these features in garages.
• Using this code does not remove previously listed requirements in building, concrete, earthquake, electrical, elevator, and other codes.
• Alternative approaches can be used if they provide equivalent performance and are approved by the relevant authorities.

Objectives

• Sets the minimum number of parking spaces needed for various occupancies.
• Provides adequate space for vehicle parking inside the garage.
• Facilitates smooth traffic flow within the garage and surrounding streets.
• Maintains the building's structural integrity.
• Diminishes the chance of a fire and promotes early detection and effective response.
• Secures a safe exit for building occupants.
• Prevents the spread of vehicle exhaust and fire smoke within the building.
• Contains fires and restricts their spread to various sections or adjacent buildings.
• Allows fire and rescue teams easy access to the fire scene to perform their tasks.

Application

• The code applies to garages with a capacity of 50 or more cars.
• Applies to a floor area of at least 1000 m².
• Governs garages with multiple below-ground floors
• Applies to those with one below-ground floor accommodating 25+ vehicles.
• A floor is considered below ground when its floor level is 1.50m+ below street level at the garage entrance.
• For underground garages, construction of more than four stories beneath the surface isn't permitted.
• A split-level is considered one story, and the floor's depth should not exceed -10.50 from street level at the entrance.
• This code applies to all new buildings within its scope for which license requests are submitted.
• Applies to existing buildings needing licensing for modifications that increase parking demand by more than 50 spaces, and the total available is greater than in 1/2/1

Code Exceptions

• Garages not meeting 1/2/1 conditions may be subject to regulations for private vehicle garages within residential and administrative buildings.
• Issued by the Technical Inspection Authority for building works.

Licensing

• Building permits are issued after compliance with this code and Law 106 of 1976.
• Compliance confirmed before granting the building occupancy permit.

Definitions

• Finishing Works: Finishing interior surfaces of walls, ceilings, and floors.
• Vertical Shaft: A vertical space in the building, such as stairwells, elevator shafts, and service openings.
• Internal Cavity: An internal space in the building that extends vertically for two or more floors and has a roof.
• Cross Ventilation: Natural ventilation in a building caused by openings in two opposite exterior walls.
• Mechanical Garages: Garages where car handling is done mechanically via lifts, elevators, and hydraulic systems.
• Enclosed Garages: Garages that don't meet the requirements of open garages.
• Open Garages: A garage that is no more than 60 meters wide where the total area of openings that directly vent to the outside is at least 0.5 square meters per meter for the building exterior. Also if the openings account for 40% of the space or it is open on two opposite sides.
• Occupancy: The type of activity for a building or any part of one.
• High-Risk Occupancy: Load is 100 kg/m² of combustible materials, which releases heat of 2 million kilojoules per square meter of floor. Or materials that could explode.
• Medium-Risk Occupancy: Between 50 and 100 kg/m² combustible materials; heat release between one and two million kilojoules.
• Low-Risk Occupancy: Less than 50 kg/m² of combustible materials, or yields less than one million kilojoules.
• Repair Garage: A garage with a repair shop and are subject to the requirements of the fifth section of this code.
• Fire Barrier: A fire-resistant wall that separates two attached buildings, or divides buildings from a fire protection perspective.
• Opposite Border: Each building face is defined by a an external boundary separated by yards or streets.
• Occupancy Load: Maximum number of people who may be present in that space.
• Fire Load: The amount of combustible content within a space, including furniture, flooring, etc.
• Fire Zone: Distinct area that is separated from the rest of the building using fire-resistant barriers.
• Smoke Zone: Segment of any story separated by smoke-resistant barriers.
• Fire Damper: A device installed inside air ducts to prevent drafts during a fire.
• Smoke Damper: A device installed inside air ducts to prevent draughts during detecting smoke.
• Discharge Floor: A floor with direct access to a open space exterior to the building.
• Fire Stop: A building material to prevent fires with specified rating.
• Non Protected Opening: Doesn't have a fire-resistant means of closing it, that meets the fire rating of the wall it is in.
• Closed Space: Area between building structures like a drop ceiling or wall.
• Fire Resistance Rating: How well a material resists a fire.
• Flame Spread Rating: Speed flames will spread
• Exit: Where one exits to safety.
• Horizontal Exit: Connects 2 fire zones on the same level.
• Floor Area: Not including vertical shafts or service openings.
• Travel Distance: The path from the furthest point to the nearest exit on level floors.
• Capacity Factor: Value per person in calculations.
• Enclosed: A shaft, or other item encased inside fire rated protection.
• Fire Proofing: The ability to withstand the elements of a fire.
• Closing Device: A device that ensures that a door or window stays sealed.
• Approach Surface: Used by fire trucks to approach.
• Dead End: A hall that doesn't lead to an exit.
• Closure Device: Used to close an opening.

Parking Requirements

• Determined by the type and the area of the space around it.
• Can be surface parking or a a parking garage.

Surface Parking

• Open parking at surface or in surrounding roads
• Can be a lot or be along the side of roads.
• Streets width musn't inhibit traffic.
• Garages may be located underneath the apartments.

Minimum Parking

• Residential units require one spot per unit that is less than 200m2
• 1.25 spaces for units between 200-250 m2.
• 1.5 spaces for units between 250-300 m2.
• 2 spots each for units over 300m2
• Administrative offices need one spot per 100m2 in low traffic areas and 2 /100 in high traffic areas.
• Hotels require 0.6 spots per room.
• Theaters need one spot for ever 2 seats.

Layout and Sizing for Parking Spots

• Commercial properties require four spots per 100m2
• Restaurants require 4 spots per 100m2
• Hospitals require 1.5 spots per bed.
• Colleges require .2 spots per student.
• Athletic Clubs require .45 spots /100m2
• Arenas and stadiums the spots per spectator is .2

Parking Spot Dimensions

• The minimum dimensions for spots in structures are
• 3.6 meters wide and 5 meters long for areas where users are familiar with the structure.
• 2.4 meters wide and 5 meters long for buildings with multiple uses where users are familiar.
• 2.5meters wide and 5 meters long for time restricted parking.
• Areas for the handicapped are 3.6 meters wide and 5 meters long
• If columns are involved, they must be 0.5M off of the parking spot. If possible, 1M is better.
• If a wall runs along side a parking spot, must be >25cm from spot dimensions.
• Must install a 1.8 m long , and .15m tall parking stop.

Height and Roadway Requirements

• Minimum height is 2.2m.
• The structure can have a maximum of 5 stories aboveground or 4 basement stories.
• Ramp must not extend more than 10.5 m below street level
• Top floor is not required to be roofed , and 1.1 m barriers must be installed for fall protection.
• Ramps must be made of a skid-resistant material.

Ramp Requirements

• Ramps allow vehicles to transition from ground and above
• Must not be sloped more than 10%

Entryways

• Should be designed for traffic flow.
• Each entrance must be between 2.8 and 3.3 meters wide and have 1.2 meters off the the drivers side.
• All devices such as ticket machines must be .6 meters off this spot.
• Exit routes must accommodate at least 200 cars.