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 | Mar 5, 2019

Persistent flooding having economic impact on coastal cities

Atlantic City, Annapolis among communities affected.

Codes and Standards | Mar 1, 2019

$1 billion Boston hospital project to include extensive disaster resiliency features

Mass. General expansion will be designed for four days of shelter in place.

Codes and Standards | Mar 1, 2019

U.S. cities have become more dangerous for bicyclists and pedestrians

Reduced speed limits, traffic calming, better education seen as keys to improvement.

Codes and Standards | Feb 28, 2019

High-income renters now the fastest-growing housing market segment

Growth is fastest in mid-sized cities with strong economies.

Codes and Standards | Feb 27, 2019

Katerra launches software platform for ‘entire lifecycle of the building process’

Firm is accepting industry applicants to test the product.

Codes and Standards | Feb 26, 2019

AAMA updates two specifications for test methods related to seismic drift

For evaluating window wall, curtain wall and storefront systems.

Codes and Standards | Feb 21, 2019

Researchers develop software that can calculate potential solar energy yield at any location

Accounts for dynamic shading from trees, buildings and other structures.

Codes and Standards | Feb 20, 2019

Hospitals not making much progress in reducing their carbon footprint

Energy benchmarking survey shows flat emissions pattern over past 20 years.

Codes and Standards | Feb 15, 2019

Super Bowl stadium helps alleviate Atlanta’s flood problems

Capacity to store more than 2 million gallons of storm water on site.

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