Five dead in California balcony collapse

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Five people were killed and eight others injured after a balcony collapsed in California, authorities said.

The Irish foreign ministry in Dublin said some of those who died were young Irish citizens.

Police received a call about the incident in Berkeley shortly before 1am local time on Tuesday. Officers arriving on the secene found that the balcony on the fourth floor of an apartment building on Kittredge Street had collapsed, the Associated Press reported.

Police said many of the wounded have critical, life-threatening injuries, while a number of Irish people were said to be among the dead and injured.

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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/16/five-dead-california-berkeley-balcony-collapse

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Associated Press
Tuesday 16 June 2015 12.56 BST

[SpankMe]

1. I hear about balcony collapses all the time, now.

Last year we had something like two collapses in Isla Vista (UC Santa Barbara). No deaths, though. But, overloaded with students.

I think its time for some special attention and inspections and regulations for balconies on buildings.

[yeoman6987]

3. At least post a sign saying how many people can

Be on them safely. If it is a small balcony 15 may be too many.

[Codeine]

5. Or people could use some damned common sense.

If you're drunk and stupid enough to cram a bunch of people onto a balcony you're likely too drunk and stupid to be dissuaded by a capacity sign.

[Mz Pip]

25. The support beams were rotten

Not the kids fault.

[Codeine]

29. 13 people on that tiny little balcony was stupid, stupid, stupid, rotten joists or not. nt

[KeepItReal]

2. Local reporting with video here

http://kron4.com/2015/06/16/5-dead-after-berkeley-balcony-collapse/

Terrible accident.

[TexasBushwhacker]

4. Common sense isn't so common

They really need to post a sign on every balcony wirh a weight and person limit, just like they do on elevators. With 5 dead and 8 injured, it's obvious it was overloaded.

[former9thward]

8. And a bunch of drunks are going to pay attention to a sign?

They would laugh at it. A waste of time.

[EL34x4]

10. When you do the math,

It's not a crazy amount of weight.

I read there may have been up to 14 people on this balcony. Figure 160 lbs/each times 14 people is only 2240 pounds.

I'm no structural engineer but I would think the balcony would be designed to handle far more weight than that. To avoid liabilities, things like balconies are designed to handle far more weight than the number of people you could possibly fit on it. An elevator may have a "maximum occupancy" but you bet it was engineered to handle 3 or 4 times that, at least.

I'd bet money when the investigation is complete, we'll learn these balconies weren't built to code.

[jcamp27]

24. Dancers could explain this disaster

2240 is the static load. If they were all dancing as might be the case at a party it becomes a live load and is much more force. If they were all dancing to something like "Jump Around" the impacts of those people jumping simultaneously could easily prove catastrophic to a balcony designed for only a few people.

[CreekDog]

13. Look closely at the wood where it sheared

No wonder the city is inspecting for dry rot, it appears the wood was not in serviceable condition.

[kirby]

21. Actually...

According to reports, all the balconies in the complex were red-tagged and deemed unsafe before the accident.

[TexasBushwhacker]

22. Yeah, I saw the picture

It was really just what they call a Juliet balcony or balconet. They have them on a lot of hotels so people can have a cigarette without leaving their room.

[Codeine]

6. At least 13 people on this little balcony?!

?w=575

Dumb.

[CreekDog]

30. They interviewed a structural engineer and he said that load was likely within the code limits

In fact, he estimated it was significantly below the code limit.

And the apparent dryrot of the supporting beams has been noted by many experts.

In other words, it should have held.

[Codeine]

33. That's still remarkably stupid behavior.

Who does shit like that?

[CreekDog]

34. People that age, which is not unexpected in an apartment adjacent to a college campus

but engineer after engineer is saying it should have held.

[Skittles]

32. I think it is crazy now

but I think back to when I was 21 and partying and........

[Bosonic]

7. Five Irish killed in California balcony collapse

Five Irish killed in California balcony collapse

Los Angeles (AFP) - Five young Irish people died and eight more were injured overnight when an apartment balcony collapsed in the college town of Berkeley, California, authorities said Tuesday.

Some of the injured were in critical condition, local media reported.

The cause of the collapse was not immediately known.

Irish Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan said in a statement: "It is with great sadness that I confirm that a number of young Irish citizens have lost their lives while a number of others have been seriously injured following the collapse of a balcony in Berkley, California earlier today."

http://news.yahoo.com/california-balcony-collapse-kills-five-001945307.html;_ylt=AwrC2Q4oJoBVESwA0i3QtDMD;_ylu=X3oDMTByOHZyb21tBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--

[SoapBox]

9. I hate balconies...

And don't trust any of them.

[shenmue]

27. Me too

They kinda creep me out.

[PatrynXX]

11. Replying to a locked thread is getting annoying

it's happening more and more. SFGate has the news. wish there was a way if we could get it from america first that should be it. then now combine the comments on this threat..

[Jesus Malverde]

23. My Bad, I should have looked for it before posting.

[Camelback]

12. Meanwhile the GOP continues to gut funding for infrastructure upgrades.

Totally disgusting.

[LuvLoogie]

26. This is a privately owned building

that was not properly maintained. Bzzzzt....

[IcyPeas]

14. the balcony looks like it was more decorative than functional....

look at the picture of the building. they are the only 2 balconies -- the other apartments don't have them. almost like they were an afterthought -- and they just stuck 'em on.

[Liberal_in_LA]

31. u called it

[AngryAmish]

15. For years Chicago has a huge problem with porch collapses.

The Building Department is completely corrupt and almost every inspector will take a bribe to look the other way.

But after a bunch of people died 10 or so years ago, the porch inspections got real. Cannot rebuild a porch without architectural plans or structural engineer plans. It has helpd.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

17. Yes. We had ours done a year or two after the big collapse.

Supposedly, you could use the City's canned plans on the city website for a 3 or 6 flat - but no builder would want to take responsibility. So we had to pay for an architect.

It was one big ass-covering scheme that cost us $3000 dollars.

The architect scheme was a bit of a fuck-job because the builder just decided to build it his way anyway. We had to stop the builder because they disregarded the hours we spent with the draftsman on the placement of the stairs - "oh those plans are just for the city" we were told. Umm, no.

[CreekDog]

16. this article mentions inadequate waterproofing near the support beams:

Gene St. Onge, an Oakland civil and structural engineer, reviewed a picture of the detached balcony at the request of The Chronicle.

While stressing that his assessment was preliminary, St. Onge said, “This appears to be a classic case of there being inadequate waterproofing at the point where the deck meets the house. If the waterproofing is substandard, rainwater can enter the building, causing dry rot, which can destroy the wood members within a short time, i.e. only a few years from construction.”

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Five-dead-8-hurt-in-Berkeley-balcony-collapse-6329902.php

[riderinthestorm]

18. Oh no!!! Awful tragedy nt

[wordpix]

19. I was at a 1969 Rolling Stones concert when the balcony collapsed

it was scary but luckily the balcony didn't crash down, it sort of slid but held at one end. Everyone kept on dancing like nothing had happened.

[Beacool]

20. Unfortunately, one more person died.

The count is up to six and there are several injured, some with life threatening injuries. Poor kids, my condolences to their families.

[shenmue]

28. Very sad

[Cha]

35. Oh no.. sad. :(