The City of Berkeley will consider stricter rules for building and inspection of balconies after city inspectors determined that badly rotten beams caused a balcony collapse that killed six people and injured 7 others last week.
City officials proposed the new rules Tuesday. They would require owners of multi-unit housing complexes to inspect balconies, decks, and stairwells at least once every 5 years. They would also prohibit the use of untreated engineered wood which is more prone to dry rot, while also requiring the installation of vents under balconies, stairs, and decks.
The new rules “would prevent the dry rot from advancing so quickly” and “are designed to deal with water intrusion no matter how it happens,” according to Berkeley planning director Eric Angstadt. Some experts, however, have said the problem apparently lies with faulty waterproofing and that the city should work to determine why that waterproofing failed.
State officials, meanwhile, have said they too will look into any possible changes that should be made to California’s building code.
“We need to look at all contributing factors, including possible dry rot and the building code to determine the best possible solution,” said Evan Gerberding, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Housing and Community Development.
The new rules could be introduced to the Berkeley City Council as early as July 15. If passed, complex owners would have six months to perform the required inspections.
Read more about the proposed changes here.