BY BRIAN BENNETT, Ph.D.
Concrete parking decks pose some unique challenges to firefighters. These decks are becoming more common as our towns are developed and builders are forced to find more room for vehicle parking. The parking deck is the obvious solution for providing large vehicle capacity in a small footprint. These structures are built using concrete that usually is precast at a remote facility and assembled at the construction site. To understand these challenges, it is helpful to understand how concrete parking decks are built.
Concrete is a cementitious material produced by a chemical reaction of Portland cement and water, to which inert materials (such as stone), called aggregates, are added. Concrete is favored for its low cost and ease to produce, high strength, durability, sound control, fire safety, and ability to carry large loads.
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