Archicentre Issues National Red Alert Following Balcony Collapse In Brisbane

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20th November 2008, 07:26pm - Views: 802





                                                              

ARCHICENTRE


20  November 2008 


NATIONAL RED ALERT ON DECKS AND BALCONIES

Archicentre, the building advisory service of the Australian Institute of Architects has issued a

deadly warning on the state of Australia’s balconies and decks following another collapse                    

in the Brisbane suburb of Ascot this afternoon.

Women were attending an end of Year 12 mothers' lunch on a balcony at a house in Upper Lancaster Road

when it plunged to the ground about 1pm, injuring 20 people and trapping several.

Archicentre  says as a safety measure, all homeowners should carefully check the support beams and posts

looking for soft, spongy sections of compressed timber. 

Archicentre's pre-purchase home inspection statistics show that approximately 6% of Australian homes

have a timber balcony or deck and that about 2% of these are potentially fatal. 

These figures indicate around 8,000 balconies in Australia could be life threatening and there is a

need for people to inspect their decks and balconies for rotting timbers and rusty corroding steel fittings

which could lead to life threatening balcony collapses. 

“In the last few years, balcony collapses in several states have resulted in a number of injuries and deaths

with coastal properties in the high risk categories because of the harsh environment and salt damage to

metal fittings.”  

“The balcony and timber deck has become a major part of Australia’s domestic scene as people love to

enjoy the outdoors and add extra living space to their homes with a view.


“However many of the timber decks of the sixties and seventies were built illegally with inappropriate timber

and were rotting and becoming unsafe, especially with extra weight being placed on them.

 

“The dinner or party where people gather on the balcony for a drink or a barbeque are high risk activities.”


Archicentre says  we urge everyone with a balcony or raised deck, whether it’s timber, concrete or

features steel supports, to check it out carefully for safety, including an inspection for rotting

timbers, shaky hand rails and balustrades, rusting bolts and brackets, rust stains and cracking in

concrete  balconies.   


“If people find faults they should take immediate action to repair them and if they are not sure to seek

professional advice.    


“Many home owners often decide to build a balcony themselves and we are urging them to ensure that they

obtain council building approval.” 


Media Enquiries:

Robert Caulfield Managing Director Archicentre 0412 381 306 


Ron Tanton QLD State Manager Archicentre (07) 3846 4957 Mobile: 0421 598 233 


Ron Smith Corporate Communications (03) 9818 5700 Mobile: 0417 329 201

                






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