Open-sided car parks definition and requirements

A car park may be regarded as an open-sided car park for the purposes of Table 4.2 [i.e. Purpose Group 7(b)(i)] where, in addition to complying with paragraph 4.49 – (a) it has no basement storeys; (b) it is naturally ventilated by permanent openings, at each car parking level, having an aggregate ventilation area of not less than 5% of the floor area at that level, with not less than half that ventilation area equally divided in two opposing walls and distributed to provide effective cross-ventilation; and (c) where the building is also used for any other purpose – that part forming the car park is a separated part.