The news on the morning of June 16 was tragic, concerning an issue that could likely have an impact on our industry. The balcony collapse in the Bay Area in California that ultimately claimed six lives was nothing less than horrific. After spending the better part of two decades entrenched in building envelope issues, investigations and watching changes in industry practices, the news was sobering. The building was a multi-family structure built in 2007 and apparently clad in cement stucco. The waterproof membrane used to protect the wood deck joists was hanging like a symbolic drape of sadness.
I am certain the investigation will be exhaustive. However, it was hard not to notice—even from distant pictures—the joists appeared severely rotted and decayed. Initial reports indicated the building code itself is inadequate and to blame. I had to agree with an engineer who rebutted this issue the next day by stating even with 13 football players jumping up and down, the balcony should have merely deflected. The engineer presumed as I do, something went terribly wrong, and it was not the building code.