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How to Choose the Right Speed Hump for Your Parking Lot
A speed hump that is too tall gets complained about. One that is too short gets ignored. Getting it right comes down to four variables: height, material, width, and how it is anchored.
Start with the target speed
Speed humps are not one product — they are a family, and the height determines what speed drivers will actually slow to.
| Profile | Height | Target speed | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed cushion | 50–65mm | 25–30 km/h | Emergency routes, bus roads |
| Speed hump | 70–80mm | 15–25 km/h | Car parks, residential |
| Speed table | 75–100mm | 10–20 km/h | Pedestrian crossings |
Do not put a 100mm hump where ambulances need to pass. Speed cushions exist precisely for this reason — they span most of the lane width but leave gaps that let wide-track emergency vehicles straddle them.
Material: rubber vs. PVC vs. asphalt
Rubber is the default for car parks. It comes in modular interlocking sections, so you can build any width, and it can be unbolted and moved if the layout changes. Recycled rubber compound handles UV, salt, and oil without degrading.
PVC is lighter and cheaper but less durable under heavy loads. Fine for a small private lot, not for a distribution centre with daily truck traffic.
Asphalt is permanent and cheap per metre, but you cannot move it, and it needs the right substrate.
Width: match it to the lane, not the parking space
A hump should span the full lane. If drivers can put one wheel over the edge, they will — which defeats the purpose and damages the hump end cap. Standard modular rubber sections are 250mm, 300mm, or 500mm wide; buy end caps for both sides so the ramp tapers safely.
Common mistake: ordering the hump in the wrong length and cutting it on site. Modular rubber is designed to be assembled in whole sections — cutting a section usually voids its load rating and leaves a sharp edge.
Anchoring: what is underneath matters
- Concrete: M10 or M12 expansion bolts, 80–100mm embedment. Cleanest install.
- Asphalt: Longer bolts (120mm+) or a dedicated asphalt anchor sleeve. Standard expansion bolts work loose in asphalt within a season.
- Temporary / seasonal: Bolt into a portable base plate, or use the heavier rubber profile unanchored for short-term deployment.
Do not forget the markings
A speed hump you cannot see is a liability. Specify integrated reflective strips — yellow or white — moulded into the rubber rather than painted on top. Painted markings wear off in six months; moulded ones last as long as the hump.
Quick checklist before you order
- Target speed (which sets the height)
- Lane width in metres (which sets how many sections)
- Substrate: concrete, asphalt, or pavers
- Emergency vehicle access (cushions vs. full-width hump)
- Permanent or removable
- Reflective marking colour required by local code
Spec Out Your Car Park
Send us lane widths, substrate, and target speed. We will work out the sections, bolts, and end caps you need — with a full bill of quantities.
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