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

| Aug 30, 2012

OSHA plans new crane-safety standards for demolition and underground work

The new rule will streamline OSHA’s standards by eliminating the separate cranes and derricks standard currently used for underground and demolition work.

| Aug 30, 2012

Federal government cancels defense contracts worth $2.15 billion

This action may foreshadow federal spending cuts scheduled for year's end if Congress takes no action on the federal budget.

| Aug 30, 2012

Public comment period is open for CRRC-1 standard

The CRRC-1 standard covers specimen preparation and test methods for measuring the initial and aged solar reflectance and thermal emittance of roofing products.

| Aug 30, 2012

LEED system's footprint reaches 2 billion sf, with 7 billion sf in the pipeline

About 7 billion more sf of commercial space is expected in the pipeline.

| Aug 30, 2012

Georgia drops LEED wood source standard on state projects

Currently, LEED green building standards only accept timber products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

| Aug 21, 2012

AGC offers second edition of the Federal Government Contractor: Ethics & Compliance Programs manual

This publication helps contractors appreciate the grounds for an alleged violation of the expected standards of business conduct and ethics, and to develop, implement, and document an effective ethics and compliance program.

| Aug 21, 2012

Federal Safe Building Code Incentive Act’s bipartisan support, no notable objection, bodes well for passage

The Safe Building Code Incentive Act would give states a little extra post-disaster federal funding if they enacted and enforced nationally recognized building codes for businesses and residences before disaster strikes.

| Aug 16, 2012

New York’s Barclays Center project accused of ignoring noise, pollution regulations

Construction crews racing to finish the Brooklyn Barclays Center are ignoring strict regulations to reduce noise and pollution, a new report by critics has found.

| Aug 16, 2012

Harness saves life of worker cleaning Washington state Capitol

Fall-protection equipment helped save the life of a worker who was cleaning the Washington state Capitol building in Olympia, after the platform he was using gave way.

| Aug 16, 2012

CSI webinar on August 21 focuses on electronic energy control

The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) is sponsoring a free webinar on August 21 at 2:00 p.m. (EDT) on electronic energy control.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category




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