Keeping carparks safe and tidy!

Parking kerbs (also called parking curbs, wheelstops, parking stops, rubber curbs, or wheel stops) are an important part of effective parking management, Health and Safety, and generally reducing insurance claims!

Brian Townsend from the TransQuip team has the answers to some of the parking kerb questions we get asked most often. Along with some great tips. Check out his helpful video or read the blog below for more details and links.

What do parking kerbs do?

Basically, they do what it says, ‘on the tin’. They give vehicle drivers a visual, and physical, reminder that right now is the time to stop!

Most importantly, parking kerbs keep vehicles and pedestrians better separated, and significantly reduce damage to nearby vehicles, gardens, lighting tower posts, and other fixtures. They can even help protect shop frontages and buildings. All that makes them well worth having!

Parking kerbs also help formalise parking area layouts. That means parking areas look tidier and the business looks more professional. They also help maximise parking space – which makes financial sense too. So, one car or truck isn’t taking up two spaces.

Tip: Parking stops can be part of a broader vehicle safety and traffic calming management plan. Visit https://www.nzta.govt.nz/assets/userfiles/transport-data/Traffic%20Calming.pdf for more.

How big are parking kerbs?

The usual sizes are 1.6 m and 1.83m long. That means they’ll suit most wheelbases and vehicle widths. At 100mm high and 155mm wide, they’re durable and up to the job. (Drivers will definitely feel it if they hit them!)

TIP: Even ordinary cars today are bigger than they used to be. (By up to a whopping 50%!) That needs to be factored into good carpark planning too.

How are parking kerbs fixed in place?

There are a couple of fairly easy ways.

If the parking kerbs are being laid on a hard, tar-sealed surface, then 12mm steel pins with a flange on one end can be driven through the parking kerb’s three mounting holes.

To make it a bit easier, you might want to drill, with a slightly smaller bit size first (less than the pins’ diameters). The pins can then be driven in until the flange head engages firmly with the rubber parking kerb, so it holds it securely in place.

If parking kerbs are being installed in concrete, dyno bolts are your go to. Always check the manufacturer’s instructions to make sure you’ve got it right – and to determine the depth and size of the hole you’ll need.

Tip: Remember to double-check that the top of the bolt is below the top of the parking kerb.

What are parking kerbs made of?

Rubber parking kerbs are available. They’ve got a few things going for them. They can be recycled at the end of their working life. They can also be moved around a site as needs change. They are robust, very visible, and hardwearing.

There are also other parking kerb options – typically these are made of concrete which is a more permanent but a much less flexible option. They also do tend to get chipped through wear, particularly on the corners which gives them an untidy look and can mean they don’t do as good a job as they should.

Tip: Parking kerbs can be a good way to help keep a distance between vehicles and retail premisses – especially if used with other safety products like bollards.

Talk to the team at TransQuip today if you have any other parking kerb questions, or want to discuss other, related products. Our experts will be happy to help.