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 | Aug 21, 2015

Post-Katrina roofing codes creating more resilient buildings on Gulf Coast

Ten years after storm, notable progress on stronger roofs, IBHS says

Smart Buildings | Aug 21, 2015

Federal Alliance for Safe Homes offers plan to strengthen codes for disaster resilience

Some states losing ground on resilience, group says

Codes and Standards | Aug 21, 2015

After disease outbreak, ASHRAE legionella standard adopted in New York

City Council acts after 12 die of legionellosis

Codes and Standards | Aug 13, 2015

Research indicates major earthquake looming for Pacific Northwest

Most structures built before seismic codes instituted; extreme damage predicted

Codes and Standards | Aug 13, 2015

New York City may allow affordable housing developers to ‘double dip’ in subsidies

New York City may allow affordable housing developers to ‘double dip’ in subsidies

Codes and Standards | Aug 13, 2015

L.A. considers controversial traffic calming measures

Goal is to encourage alternative transportation

Codes and Standards | Aug 13, 2015

Proposed facility smart grid standard open for public review

Goal is common way to describe, manage, communicate about electrical energy consumptions, forecasts

Codes and Standards | Aug 6, 2015

AAMA updates methods for testing of exterior walls

The standard specifies test methods, specifications, and field checks to evaluate structural adequacy of exterior wall systems composed of curtain walls, storefronts, and sloped glazing.

Codes and Standards | Aug 6, 2015

Difference in male-female thermal comfort is due to clothing, ASHRAE says

Women wear lighter clothing in the summer, so they tend to be cooler in air-conditioned rooms, according to the group.

Codes and Standards | Aug 6, 2015

ConsensusDocs releases new CM agency contract standard agreement

For use when owner acts as the construction manager, hires a construction manager, or uses multiple prime contractors

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