Balconies and decks – is your property up to code?
The Doncaster East balcony collapse this past weekend has been a major eye opener. A Christmas party turned to tragedy when two people died and 17 were seriously injured after the balcony of a rented home gave way under the weight of a refrigerator, and party guests.
This tragic event brings to our attention how important it is that decks and balconies are not only built to code, but also regularly maintained and inspected by professionals trained to assess the safety of such structures.
Although there is now a push for new legislation to be enacted, currently there are no council sanctioned ongoing compliance checks on decks, balconies and balustrades and it is up to the owners of properties to ensure they are safe and well maintained. Regular safety checks on these are as important as smoke alarm checks.
At Buyer Solutions we manage many properties that have outdoor spaces with either a balcony and / or deck and we encourage all of our landlords to get in touch with us to organise maintenance inspections on these early in the new year.
We need to ensure that our tenants are safe by addressing any concerns which may arise from these checks. If your property is new, or you’ve recently purchased a property and have not had a thorough structural inspection conducted on your property with your own trusted builder, please don’t wait to do so.
We strongly believe our tenants would welcome and appreciate the extra effort to ensure their safety, especially coming into the warm summer months where people like to have social gatherings and utilise their outdoor spaces.
The Victorian Building Authority has an information sheet is for any building that has a balcony, deck or balustrades. The VBA strongly encourages all home and property owners to regularly check and maintain their properties.
According to the VBA, a general visual inspection on a yearly basis should identify any problems.
Some risk factors to look-out for are:
• Pooling of water on the balcony surface
• Handrails fixed through the balcony’s top surface
• Tops of solid balustrades and fixings at wall junctions
• Cladding finishing hard against the balcony
• No threshold between the building and the balcony.
Factors which can affect the structural integrity of balconies include:
• Termites
• Wet rot
• Seaside corrosion
• Loading
• Age / general wear and tear.
If there is anything suspicious about a balcony, deck or balustrade’s stability, it’s advised you avoid the area and restrict access. Contact a Structural Engineer or other suitably qualified building practitioner, who will be able to inspect and determine the full scale of the problem.
If you’re a landlord, please reach out to us as soon as possible so that we can help you coordinate a time with the tenants to conduct a special inspection. If you’re a home owner, these checks are equally as important for your safety and the safety of your loved ones.
+61 39816 8555