Fatal balcony collapse turns into Irish national tragedy (Michelle's Response)

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fatal-balcony-collapse-turns-into-irish-national-tragedy/

After reading the article, I want to point out a few different things. The tragic balcony collapse in Berkeley, California, in 2015 helped spur the passage of Senate Bill 721, legislation intended to ensure that exterior elevated elements in multifamily apartment buildings (such as balconies, decks, walkways and stairs with load-bearing wood components) are regularly inspected and maintained in a safe condition.

There is sometimes a misconception that the Berkeley balcony collapsed simply because too many people were standing on it. The FEMA investigation, however, determined that dry rot and severe deterioration of the structural wood framing were the primary causes of the failure. Had the structural components remained in sound condition, the balcony was designed to support substantially greater loads than the deteriorated framing was capable of carrying at the time of the collapse.

One of the most important lessons from the Berkeley tragedy is how moisture can become trapped inside an enclosed wood-framed balcony.

Construction of the Library Gardens apartment complex occurred between October 2005 and August 2006. During that period, Berkeley received more than 38 inches of rain. The balcony's wood framing and sheathing were exposed to significant moisture during construction. The assembly was subsequently enclosed and waterproofed, leaving moisture trapped within the structure with inadequate opportunity for the wood to dry.

Investigations following the collapse identified substantial water damage, moisture saturation and dry rot in the balcony's structural supports. Investigators also identified problems with the materials and waterproofing methods used during construction. Once enclosed, the wet wood created an environment where fungal decay could develop largely unseen.

California Building Code requirements now address ventilation and moisture management within enclosed exterior elevated elements. Ventilation at the underside of enclosed balconies allows airflow through the concealed framing cavity, giving moisture an opportunity to escape rather than becoming trapped within the wood framing. This is particularly important because trapped moisture creates the conditions for fungal growth and dry rot, which can severely deteriorate structural components while remaining completely hidden behind stucco and waterproofing.

Perhaps most troubling, there were warning signs before the collapse. Reports associated with the subsequent litigation alleged that residents had complained about mushrooms growing on or around the balcony, an indication that significant moisture was present where it should not have been.

The Berkeley tragedy demonstrated why simply looking at the finished surface of a balcony is not always enough. A balcony can appear serviceable from the exterior while the structural framing concealed beneath waterproofing and stucco is severely deteriorated.

That is ultimately the purpose behind SB 721: to identify hidden deterioration before an exterior elevated element reaches the point of structural failure.