Loading Dock Standards

Standards

• The design and construction of loading docks in the U.S. is governed by the Facilities Standards for the Public Building Services, Standard P100, established for new construction and, major and minor alterations to commercial buildings. The International Building Code developed by the International Code Council is also applicable to loading docks.

Ramps

• Loading docks are designed with ramps allowing access to trucks and other vehicles by machinery including forklift trucks. Ramps should be built with a gradient of no more than 1:12 and correspond to the Americans with Disabilities act guidelines. Ramps are usually built to 55 inches in height to allow easy access to large trucks.

Security

• The design of a loading dock should include the construction of a loading dock manager's office with a view of the loading dock including entrance and exit points for security reasons. A loading dock is not permissible as a designated emergency egress route from a building.