What this guide covers
Combine car wash functions, vehicle circulation, the technical container and installations on one plan. Follow the customer's and maintenance team's routes. Then agree the scope with the designer and suppliers. TIXE's initial concept provides material for further design work.
What should the concept show?
The concept should explain how the site will operate on the specified land. Show wash bays, the technical container, the additional services area and vehicle circulation. Include access to equipment, materials deliveries and space needed for servicing.
Start with the right base plan. Mark the boundaries of the area under consideration, known utility networks, existing features and restrictions to check. Record which data is confirmed and which is assumed for option comparisons. Anyone viewing the drawing should immediately understand its status.
Attach a short list of assumptions to the concept: vehicle types, number of bays, equipment at opening and any planned direction for expansion. This lets you compare complete solutions, rather than just the appeal of the drawings.
How should I plan the number of bays and traffic flow?
Consider the site's scale alongside local demand and the plot's shape. Every extra bay also needs vehicle access. Check the layout during a quiet period and when several activities happen at once.
- 1. EntryThe driver identifies the entrance and follows the correct direction of travel.
- 2. WaitingCars wait in a planned area, leaving vehicle routes and access to other functions clear.
- 3. WashingEntering and leaving a bay allows neighbouring bays to remain in use.
- 4. Additional servicesThe customer can move on to vacuuming or bypass this area and head for the exit.
- 5. ExitReturning to the road does not require crossing areas where equipment is being used.
This is a functional outline that must be adapted to the specific drive-through or non-drive-through layout. The designer assesses the manoeuvring space needed for the intended vehicles. Also analyse staff access and servicing while the rest of the site remains in use.
Technology and appearance: what do we choose separately?
These choices are connected, but serve different purposes. At TIXE, Rapid and Express describe the technology and technical-container solution. Enclosure names define the site's architectural form. Additional equipment and payments refine how the car wash is used.
Technology and technical container
Match the option to programmes, equipment and operation. Include technical space and the installation requirements of the specific configuration.
Canopy style
Define the form, materials and colours. Example TIXE styles include SIMPLE PREMIUM, QUADRA, MODERNA and FUTURA.
Equipment
Plan payments, vacuuming and other services. Every device needs operating space, service connections and maintenance access.
The drawing should reflect the current equipment list. If equipment is planned for a second phase, mark the reserved space and agree how the installations will be prepared. The possibility of later installation is confirmed for the selected solution. A useful reference is the comparison of technology and enclosures.
Who is responsible for each stage of the work?
Before passing the concept to the next stage, establish who supplies the data, who checks it and who makes the decision. The role map below structures the discussion. Detailed responsibilities and scopes are set out in the contracts.
| Participant | Typical contribution to preparation | What to agree |
|---|---|---|
| Investor | Requirements, site materials, selection of designers and organisation of work outside the scope of supply. | The decision-maker, budget and change approval process. |
| TIXE | The concept and data for the chosen technology option within the agreed scope. | Current specification, site preparation requirements and supply boundaries. |
| Designer | Assessment of constraints, documentation and coordination of the relevant disciplines. | Documentation scope, list of approvals and information needed from suppliers. |
| Surveyor | Appropriate surveying materials and measurements within the commissioned scope. | Type of base plan, currency of data and timing of necessary work. |
| Contractors and operators | Agreed works, connections and information about supply parameters. | Interfaces between works, schedules, acceptance conditions and handover to the next stage. |
Describe the interfaces between scopes particularly carefully: equipment foundations, service penetrations, connections and site readiness for assembly. Assign one coordinator to each task. This prevents questions from falling between two contractors.
What can change the concept?
New connection conditions, more precise ground data, road approvals or equipment changes may require components to be moved. Check each change against the layout, specification, scope of work and budget together.
Commercial and design work can run in parallel. Before construction, however, the layout, scopes, schedules and required procedures must be agreed consistently. Once these are established, it is easier to plan assembly and acceptance of successive works.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is the concept a complete construction design?
No. TIXE's initial layout is material for further design and verification for the specified site. The designer prepares the documentation within the appropriate scope.
Can I choose the enclosure's appearance first?
You can establish a visual direction. Coordinate the final choice with technology, vehicle circulation, site restrictions and budget.
Does increasing the number of bays always improve the layout?
It must be assessed alongside demand, queuing space, vehicle routes and additional functions. Fitting a bay footprint onto a drawing alone does not confirm that the whole site will work efficiently.
Sources and materials
Prepared by TIXE. The diagram shows site functions, and the table shows a typical division of topics to agree. They do not replace the design or scopes defined for a specific project.
- TIXE — concept and equipment
- GUNB — construction procedures and documentation
- GUNB — questions and answers about electronic documentation
- Geoportal — spatial planning
Prepared: 13 October 2026. Photos and illustrations from TIXE materials.
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