flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Berkeley, Calif., adopts balcony inspection program following deadly collapse

Codes and Standards

Berkeley, Calif., adopts balcony inspection program following deadly collapse

Regulations call for three-year inspections, new construction standards


By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor | July 16, 2015
Berkeley, Calif., adopts balcony inspection program following deadly collapse

Photo: Berkeley City Hall. Almonroth, Wikimedia Commons.

Apartment building balconies in Berkeley, Calif., will be subject to inspections every three years under new regulations adopted following a deadly collapse.

The city council also adopted a measure to require new balconies to be made of corrosion-resistant material and be ventilated to prevent a buildup of moisture.

Six students were killed and seven others were hospitalized when the apartment balcony collapsed during a birthday party in June.

Inspectors said the balcony was supported by wooden beams that rotted from water damage. Prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into the collapse.

Related Stories

Codes and Standards | Oct 30, 2018

San Francisco plans tougher seismic building codes

Recommendations include addressing geotechnical issues like those faced by Millennium Tower.

Codes and Standards | Oct 26, 2018

Tall Mass Timber code proposals approved at Intl. Code Council public comment hearings

Proposals now go to online voting; final outcome expected in December.

Codes and Standards | Oct 25, 2018

Low-income neighborhoods could benefit most from green roofs

Those areas face the biggest risk from extreme heat.

Codes and Standards | Oct 24, 2018

Building design critical to prevent school shootings

Safety must be balanced with welcoming environment.

Codes and Standards | Oct 23, 2018

Codes in Florida Panhandle made buildings vulnerable to Hurricane Michael

Less stringent codes in northern parts of state linked to devastation.

Codes and Standards | Oct 19, 2018

Global Green Tag production certification standard will launch in U.S. at end of year

Australian program recognized by WELL, claims compliance with LE.

Codes and Standards | Oct 18, 2018

Federally-backed rebuilding of public buildings often leaves them vulnerable to future storms

FEMA dollars pay for reconstruction, but local decision-makers ignore climate change impacts.

Codes and Standards | Oct 17, 2018

Philadelphia plumbing code will now allow for more use of plastic pipes in high rises

Of the 50 largest U.S. cities, Philadelphia is one of just six that still require metal pipes.

Codes and Standards | Oct 16, 2018

New Disaster Recovery Reform Act will support adoption of updated building codes

Provides incentives for communities to modernize and enforce codes.

Codes and Standards | Oct 12, 2018

Boston ‘housing emergency’ prompts regional initiative for new residential construction

Mayors of 15 cities set goal of 185,000 new homes by 2030.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category

Sustainability

Grimshaw launches free online tool to help accelerate decarbonization of buildings

Minoro, an online platform to help accelerate the decarbonization of buildings, was recently launched by architecture firm Grimshaw, in collaboration with more than 20 supporting organizations including World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), RIBA, Architecture 2030, the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) and several national Green Building Councils from across the globe.




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021