Category Archives: building code

building code, construction defects, Recommended Reading, Uncategorized

California Adopts Emergency Regulations Governing Balconies and Walkways

January 28, 2017 Bill Leys

6 died and 7 seriously injured when the Berkeley balcony collapsed. Inspections may have caught the problem before the tragedy occurred. REUTERS/Elijah Nouvelage Photo used under Fair Use Doctrine-education.

Following the collapse of the balcony in Berkeley, that killed 6 and seriously injured 7 others, the California Building Safety Commission adopted me regulations on building and waterproofing Elevated Exterior Elements EEE for short.

The adoption of these emergency regulations will increase balcony safety standards by increasing load design, using decay resistant wood and Inspections of waterproofing before covering with other materials, such as a concrete overburden.

Testimony from the Irish families and victims has helped cause these changes. Jackie Donohue, mother of one child killed in the collapse has been leading the charge in bringing changes to balcony construction along with requiring inspections.

After Berkeley adopted ordinates requiring inspections, over 800 balconies in that city alone have been found to be deficient.

https://www.dgs.ca.gov/dgs/Newsroom/tabid/72/ArticleID/146/California-Adopts-Emergency-Building-Standards-Regulations-Aimed-at-Preventing-Repeat-of-Berkeley-Balcony-Tragedy.aspx  REUTERS/Elijah Nouvelage photo used under Fair Use Doctrine-education

building code, deck inspection, deck maintenance, Uncategorized

American Society of Home Inspectors Publishes Draft Document-Standard of Professional Practice for Deck Inspections-Wants Your Input

October 12, 2016 Bill Leys

ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors, has posted a draft standard for deck inspections on their website and is seeking input from it’s members and non members alike.

From ASHI’s website- ”

The Standards Committee is accepting comments about the proposed ASHI Standard of Professional Practice for Residential Deck Inspections. The committee encourages members to read this proposed standard and provide comments to the committee. Please direct comments and questions to Bruce Barker at Bruce@DreamHomeConsultants.com Bruce@DreamHomeConsultants.com Bruce@DreamHomeConsultants.com Bruce@DreamHomeConsultants.com. The comment period ends on 30 November 2016.

Click the link below to read the draft document.

proposed-deck-inspection-standards

The objective of this proposed standard is to provide the public with a valuable additional service that can improve deck safety. The intent of this standard is that members will provide this service to homeowners who want a thorough inspection of their deck using the most current deck construction guidelines.Date : 10/11/2016

Berkeley deck collapse, building code, construction defects, deck failures, NADRA

San Francisco Chronicle & Los Angeles Times Utilize Our Expertise in Understanding the Berkeley Deck Failure

June 24, 2015 Bill Leys

Building & waterproofing decks isn't hard, but the devil is in the details and proper design and sequencing the construction is essential to a successful job.

No one wants to see a headline like this, with 6 dead & 7 others seriously injured.
Both the LA Times & San Francisco Chronicle have used us as a source
on their investigative articles.

DeckExpert.com provides consumers with information, videos articles and more for buyers to make informed decisions on deck systems. We also provide articles to major trade magazines for the HOA, Construction and Architectural industries.

Now we are pleased to say our expertise is helping reporters understand the problems that caused the recent Berkeley deck tragedy where the a waterproofed balcony, only 7 years old, failed catastrophically and thirteen people plunged to the ground, killing six and seriously injuring the other seven survivors.

Both the the Los Angeles Times and the San Francisco Chronicle have interviewed us for their investigative articles into the how and why this tragedy occurred.

From the Chronicle article-“This is all a vicious combination,” Leys said. “The penetrations, the drainage and lack of ventilation underneath — they all combined in a catastrophic failure.”
Read the SF Chronicle article by award winning reporter Jaxon Van Derberken here http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Blueprints-show-Berkeley-balcony-was-designed-for-6336566.php

From the LA Times article- “Balconies just don’t fall off a building like what we saw without having a few years of deterioration,” said Bill Leys, a former deck waterproofing contractor who now inspects decks in San Luis Obispo for his company, DeckExpert.com.

Read the LA Times articles here. http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-berkeley-balcony-collapse-20150623-story.html

building code

Re blog of home inspection post on new code changes for residential construction in CA

January 16, 2011 Bill Leys

I subscribe to a home inspection forum. This was posted for the HI ‘ s but concerns anyone building in 2011 in California. California Residential Code 2010 -14 Significant Code Changes – InspectionNews – Home Inspection

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DeckExpert.com – Your Source For Waterproof Deck Information & SB 326 SB 721 Balcony Inspections