In floor pit

[stormin]

Are pits in garages legal anymore? Seem like a safe alternative if plumbed with an adequate ventilator. Pros and cons anyone. Looking for suggestions before pulling the plug when building.

 

[zkling]

I think it would more wise to put the money into a lift vs a pit these days.

 

[Oldb]

Lots of issues, beyond the need for ventilation and some sort of cover or fence to keep people from falling in, is the hassle of going up and down everytime you need something. I think in the long run you would be happier with a good lift.

B

 

[Cyberbear]

Lifts are great if you have the head room, but an old school pit has certain safety advantages ie: not worrying about the car dropping on you. A simple carbon monoxide detector will solve minor fumes issues, although in my many years I never heard of anyone dying in a auto service pit. If you seldom plan on doing tire rotations or brake jobs, a pit can be a good thing. A friend put one in his garage w/o problems.
As far as being legal, I am ever amazed at how we have all finally been absolutely conditioned into believing we must first ask permission before we do anything that will only affect us as individuals, and no one else. First it was mandatory motorcycle helmets, then seat belts, etc., etc... where will it end?

 

[c39er]

I have posted on my in ground service pit on here several times and also don't follow all the rules. Insurance, falling in it dangers that it can inpose. I built it 30 years ago. It still works fine and never have fallen in it nor has anyone else... common sense and safety.
Mine has fresh air and is a very well done pit. I have three other above ground lifts as a back up.

Do a search on here to find all the previous postings on pits.

 

[Malczewski]

I have a pit and would not have it any other way. It has lighting and air outlets and an indented shelf where I can put the tools I use. It's covered with steel plates most of the time. I don't do much auto repair. When I do.....it's kickass. You keep your lifts. This is simplicity.
NOW. If I did cars all day/every day. ? I'd surely change my tune.

 

[d4xycrq]

My property came with one. No headroom for a lift. Interesting thing is, the previous owner never mentioned it. Two car garage had been converted to a big office. I stripped out the office; lo and behold, under this wooden framework, a oil change pit.

In addition to the words written so far, it's nice and cool down there in the summer.

Ray

 

[ynned]

<snip>
In addition to the words written so far, it's nice and cool down there in the summer.

Ray

Damp, too.

 

[muckerbarry]

My house came with one too. I use it a lot but id much prefer a lift, climbing up and down into it if you forget a tool gets to be a real pain, yes you can bring all your tools down with you, trust me you'll forget something.

But a pit is better than no pit, and its way better than lying on your back changing a 150 pound transmission. Thats for sure!

 

[coljar]

There is a pit in my old garage and there was never any problem when I still used it. I keep it covered now, because the room is used for storage.

 

[404]

My property came with one. No headroom for a lift. Interesting thing is, the previous owner never mentioned it. Two car garage had been converted to a big office. I stripped out the office; lo and behold, under this wooden framework, a oil change pit.

In addition to the words written so far, it's nice and cool down there in the summer.

Ray

Never mentioned since most buyers would freak out.

 

[Ajustable]

I'm in Ontario so the legal issues would only pertain to my stiuation. Our mutual insurance company inspects our house garage barn and facitiles every two years. When the inspector first saw my pit he said looks good, keep the covers on when not in use. No one ever told me it was not within code.
That being said I loved the pit over the creeper.

We changed out motors, brake lines, exhaust, washing the crud off of the undercarriage, anything we had to do that required a veiw from underneath we did over the pit.

The biggest negitive was fetching tools.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I once spent a bunch of time going through all the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) code books on this subject; there's a lot of specific regulations for commercial use, but I wasn't able to find anything about home use. That's not to say there aren't local regulations covering them.

In any case, the same concerns should apply - the potential for fumes settling in the pit that could be explosive or cause asphyxiation, and maintaining a path of egress in the event of a fire or entrapment.

 

[Zeke]

I once spent a bunch of time going through all the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) code books on this subject; there's a lot of specific regulations for commercial use, but I wasn't able to find anything about home use. That's not to say there aren't local regulations covering them.

In any case, the same concerns should apply - the potential for fumes settling in the pit that could be explosive or cause asphyxiation, and maintaining a path of egress in the event of a fire or entrapment.

The fact that you need to take down any railings before driving a vehicle over the pit is where the codes may trip you up. The few moments that pit is exposed is where the liability stems from.

Same thing is true if the pit is protected by a cover. I don't think 'temporary' is in the code vocabulary. I could be wrong.

 

[c39er]

Damp, too.

Mine isn't damp. Anytime of the year.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Are pits in garages legal anymore? Seem like a safe alternative if plumbed with an adequate ventilator.

Very dependent on location/local building code.

 

[rburke65]

C39er.....wow....very clean. One could live down there!

 

[kbs2244]

I do not think it is a question of legality as much as insurance liability.
They are very popular in heavy equipment operations due to the cost of the heavy rated lifts.
But that is commercial, government, or industrial insurance.

 

[HOTFR8]

Are pits in garages legal anymore? Seem like a safe alternative if plumbed with an adequate ventilator. Pros and cons anyone. Looking for suggestions before pulling the plug when building.

I put a pit in some time back now. My Shed would not allow a hoist to be fitted so a pit was the way to go. The link below Shedddwellers will tell you more.

 

[Catadj78]

Mine isn't damp. Anytime of the year.

pit is awesome

 

[discochris]

As far as being legal, I am ever amazed at how we have all finally been absolutely conditioned into believing we must first ask permission before we do anything that will only affect us as individuals, and no one else.

While I would agree with that in principle, where it could be an issue is when it comes to selling the place. If in a jurisdiction that an inspection is required before selling, and the pit is not up to code, it could cost the seller a pile of money to fill it in.

 

[FullRaceMerc]

It seems like the requirements for tall retaining walls would come into play in the building of one. Engineering, big footings, shoring depending on the type of soil, etc. could all push the price up.

A buddy had one. He found a dirt strip in his garage that he originally thought was there to catch oil drips. Eventually he realized what he had & dug it out. He loved it. After seeing his I want one.

Our local oil change places use them. They have a sliding safety net that the guy below moves after the car is in place. Like the pic below. It looks like it would be easier to work with than heavy plates or fences.

 

[wssix99]

Our local oil change places use them. They have a sliding safety net that the guy below moves after the car is in place. Like the pic below. It looks like it would be easier to work with than heavy plates or fences.

They also have ventilation systems to pull out gas fumes, which sink to the bottom of the pit. (They are heavier than air.) Way before the levels of those gasses rise to become an asphyxiation hazard, they will be explosive in the pit if not blown out.

 

[broncorick]

c39er-beautiful job! I can see benefits for a combination of lift and pit. Seems like pits are much more common in Europe than here in US

 

[lakeroadster]

Please back the car up.. I can't get out of here...

Lifts are great if you have the head room, but an old school pit has certain safety advantages ie: not worrying about the car dropping on you.

If you have worked on vehicles, on a quality lift, you wouldn't worry about the car falling on you.

But then again even a pit isn't immune to Darwin Award moments...

 

[ford33]

C39er, that's a nice pit.

 

[c39er]

Thanks,
I sure had fun building it!

 

[sberry]

The cost is really more than a lift and you got to crawl in and out. There may be a place for them buy they are pretty much obsolete for auto work.

 

[6768rogues]

CO is not the only problem. Heavier than air combustible vapors can accumulate in a pit. To be properly built, it needs ventilation and every electrical thing mounted in there needs to be explosion proof. Plus it might need a sump and pump.

 

[lakeroadster]

How About An Outdoor Pit...

My grandfather built a 3 sided pit outside at his farm beside his bank barn. It was wide open on the front. Great for oil changes, replacing clutches, etc.

Being open on the end, and outside, meant no issues with fumes. Plus you got the added benefit of the cows and horses being their if you needed a helping hoof.

 

[sberry]

The sost is so high, its so much cheaper and easier to simply install a lift and hok up the wires. The excavation, form work and all the amendments add up and you still have the wheels on the ground. Most modern car/light truck work is to brakes, wheels and front ends of cars.

 

[DekeT]

As far as being legal, I am ever amazed at how we have all finally been absolutely conditioned into believing we must first ask permission before we do anything that will only affect us as individuals, and no one else. First it was mandatory motorcycle helmets, then seat belts, etc., etc... where will it end?

 

[arz71]

Mine isn't damp. Anytime of the year.

That is AWESOME looking!

 

[minimowog]

Mine isn't damp. Anytime of the year.

awesome looking pit, you can build one anytime you like in my garage

i do like your ladder to get in and out, reckon i'll pinch that when i build mine

 

[onewheat]

If I was going to move and a pit was a problem, a load of gravel is pretty cheap.

 

[c39er]

YEP^^^^^^^^Easy

 

[kansei]

As stated by other posters, specific areas of the country will have different codes and restrictions, but as far as Michigan, at least in my county (Montcalm), they are illegal to install/build/dig out/whatever on residential property. I looked into it years ago. The local zoning administrator told me that they were outlawed for any non-commercial use due to insurance regulations, fire codes and past injuries/deaths/lawsuits. He wasn't sure about grandfather clauses (my friend has one) if you were to buy a house that had one, or if the seller would have to have it filled in first.

c39er looks to have the best of all worlds- a large shop, a pit and lifts, too! I'm jealous...


Neal.

 

[kansei]

As far as being legal, I am ever amazed at how we have all finally been absolutely conditioned into believing we must first ask permission before we do anything that will only affect us as individuals, and no one else. First it was mandatory motorcycle helmets, then seat belts, etc., etc... where will it end?

Yep. The nanny state "protecting" everyone- because as we all know, someone else knows what's best for you.

What ever happened to natural selection? I say let the idiots who need and want others to walk them through life do so, but leave the rest of us alone! Being in industrial safety (career), I always think of the old "cowboy after OSHA" cartoon (Google it if unfamiliar). The sad reality is, every part of our lives has been restricted like that... and it gets worse every year!



Neal.

 

[DekeT]

Yep. The nanny state "protecting" everyone- because as we all know, someone else knows what's best for you.

What ever happened to natural selection? I say let the idiots who need and want others to walk them through life do so, but leave the rest of us alone! Being in industrial safety (career), I always think of the old "cowboy after OSHA" cartoon (Google it if unfamiliar). The sad reality is, every part of our lives has been restricted like that... and it gets worse every year!



Neal.

Industrial safety? If you applied your Darwinian logic in your professional life you would be killing off your constituents.

 

[kansei]

Industrial safety? If you applied your Darwinian logic in your professional life you would be killing off your constituents.

There's being safe/protecting workers, and then there's overkill. If you were aware of every last little rule/regulation that companies (and workers) are technically supposed to follow for even the simplest of tasks, you would understand where I am coming from. A lot of the rules are not followed, in part because there are so many that people do not even know about.

And it goes to another poster's point about not letting people build a service pit- at their home, for their own use. Give people safe direction on how to do it, not just outright say no due to fear a few of the people that install them may have an accident.


Neal.