Design Criteria
In order for the Parts and Service Equipment to interface with the building effectively, pre-planning and allowances must be made for the equipment and operations. The architectural firms that specialize in new car dealership construction are familiar with the basics and need only to know the particulars for each individual project. Architects and builders new to the specifics of automotive equipment are faced with a large task of educating themselves on the building-equipment interface with regards to space, utilities, structural requirements, functionality, etc. We offer assistance to all architects with regards to the layout and requirements for the parts and service departments. While our services are usually limited to our area of operation, which covers Arizona, California and Nevada. We also offer general equipment and department design criteria for auto service and parts departments, this is most helpful for the first time service facility design by an architect. Typical design criteria is available via fax or mail by request. The following is a partial list of some of the finer details to consider with regards to the equipment. We can not list the details because the requirements vary for each particular job and the individual types of equipment.
AUTOMOTIVE LIFTS:
Electrical utilities: location, voltage, load, future expansion, interlocking for power savings.
Structural requirements: seismic anchoring (concrete slab-thickness, reinforcement and strength), impacting of footing integrity (in-ground lifts), floor slope maximums.
Space Allowances: Stall dimensions (width and depth), clear ceiling heights.
LUBRICATION EQUIPMENT:
Structural requirements: Seismic anchoring (overhead reels - wall or ceiling mounted)
Space allowances: coordinate reel locations with sprinklers, lighting, ductwork, heaters, piping trapezes.
Miscellaneous: Anchoring inserts (post tension construction) or additional framing (wood joist)
AIR COMPRESSOR AREA:
Space allowances: room size for compressor(s), after cooler and optional refrigerated air dryer, door sizes for access.
Electrical Utilities: voltage, phase and loads for comp(s), after cooler and dryer (optional).
Miscellaneous: floor sink for condensation, ventilation for heat build up, insulation / isolation for noise considerations.
WORK BENCH/TOOL STORAGE SYSTEMS:
Space allowances: Wall space must be allowed for work benches, storage cabinets, Lift controls, Electronic repair order computer work stations and possible parts identifier stations.
Electrical Utilities: convenience outlets must be coordinated with bench layout, as well as circuits provided for E.R.O. computer work stations, intercoms and miscellaneous equipment located along front wall listed below.
TANK STORAGE AREA:
Possible Products: Waste Oil and Coolant, Motor Oil, Gear Oil, Automatic Transmission Fluid, Used Oil Filters and Chassis Grease. (Gasoline tanks may also be located aboveground or in-ground in most jurisdictions.)
INSIDE STORAGE AREA:
Space allowance: Room and door sizes for storage tanks, distances from exits and property lines.
Occupancy classifications/requirements: S-3 versus H-4, product classifications.
Electrical requirements: Overfill alarm voltage and load.
Miscellaneous: Overspill containment, tank venting (breather and emergency), drains, fire extinguishers and sprinklers, signage.
OUTSIDE STORAGE AREA:
Space allowance: Tank and enclosure footprints, distances from building, openings into the building and property lines.
Electrical requirements: Overfill alarm voltage and load, gas pump and monitoring voltage and load.
Miscellaneous: Overspill containment dike, venting, guard posts, security fencing and screening.
TAIL PIPE EXHAUST SYSTEMS:
Requirements: Code requirements for mandating dedicated system, S-3 versus H-4 occupancy requirements, allowances for partial coverage and aboveground systems versus underground systems.
Space Allowances: Coordinate ductwork systems with sprinklers, lighting, HVAC ductwork, heaters and piping trapezes. Space and location of fans with regards to discharge distances from property lines, openings into the building, grade and adjoining grade.
Electrical requirements: Exhaust fan voltage, phase, loads and timer/time clock options.
Miscellaneous: Fan platforms (wood frame building), penetrations for ductwork, fire separations for penetrations.
PNEUMATIC TUBE SYSTEM:
Typical locations for stations are dispatch, service writer, cashier, technician parts and service bays.
Space allowances: Receiver box sizes (surface or flush mounted), blower locations and carrier tube line locations.
Electrical requirements: Blower voltage and loads.
PARTS DEPARTMENT:
Space allowances: Parts conveyor or vertical lift, night drop, warranty return, special order, shipping and receiving, wholesale, mezzanine layout-access-interface, floor to ceiling clearances from bins and square footage required for estimated inventory dollars.
Electrical requirements: Parts conveyor or vertical lift voltage and loads.
MISCELLANEOUS:
Space allowances: Special tools storage room, unit repair room, cabinet style parts washer, detail and wash operations, dynamometer, filter crusher, brake lathe, tire changer and balancer.
Electrical requirements: Circuits maybe required for the following; wheel balancers, tire changers, grinders, brake lathes, lubrication fluid management systems, parts washers, parts lift or conveyor and drop lights. Dedicated circuits may also be required for the following: tune up, alignment, smog scopes and dynamometer.
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