Uzbekistan tightens rules for parking lot construction

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan has updated requirements for the design and construction of parking lots, introducing new rules for electric vehicle charging stations, safety, evacuation, drainage and construction in hazardous mountain areas. The amendments were registered by the Ministry of Justice on 11 August.

Under the new requirements, charging stations for electric and hybrid vehicles may be installed in open areas and in parking facilities of certain fire-safety classes. In enclosed parking facilities, such stations may be installed only on the first underground or first above-ground floor.

Separate restrictions apply to mountainous and foothill areas. Parking facilities may not be built on natural waterways or mudflow channels, active landslide areas, locations at risk of avalanches or calculated rockfall trajectories. Engineering and geological as well as hydrometeorological surveys must be carried out before construction begins.

Additional requirements concern the protection of water resources. Near water bodies, contaminated surface runoff from parking facilities must be collected separately and sent for treatment. If connection to treatment facilities is not possible, the runoff must be stored in special tanks.

Surface runoff treatment facilities must be provided at parking facilities with a capacity of more than 100 vehicles. The requirement also applies to facilities where runoff flows into water bodies or drinking-water sources.

The method for calculating parking spaces for tourism facilities has also changed. The required number of spaces must now be determined based on the maximum seasonal number of visitors.

The new standards strengthen requirements for protecting vehicles from falling from height. On open parking floors and other areas where such a risk exists, barriers at least 1.2 metres high must be installed. The structures must withstand a horizontal load of at least 26.7 kN.

Separate parking spaces must be provided for motorcycles, mopeds, scooters and bicycles. They should be located near pedestrian entrances in well-lit and visible areas.

Evacuation requirements for parking facilities have also been clarified.

At underground parking facilities, the distance from the most remote parking space to the nearest emergency exit must not exceed 40 metres, and 20 metres in dead-end sections. For above-ground parking facilities, the corresponding limits are 60 metres and 25 metres.