Several recent tragedies involving the collapses of decks and balconies have builders, owners and authorities working to determine just what went wrong and how such incidents can be prevented.
The collapse of a fourth-floor apartment balcony in Berkeley, California in June killed six students and injured seven. The Berkeley Building and Safety Division reported that the ends of deck joists protruding from the exterior wall appeared to be extensively rotted. The Berkeley Design Review Committee reportedly approved the balcony and building design in 2001.
In July, a residential deck collapse in Emerald Island, North Carolina sent 16 people to hospital after a fall of more than three metres. A report by the Cataret County Building Codes Administrator indicates the collapse resulted from corroded fasteners. The report also says it appears that construction methods followed common practices outlined in the North Carolina Building Code when the home was built in 1986.
Emerald Island saw another deck collapse in August when nine people were injured. The cause: both rotted wood and deteriorated fasteners.
In response, various jurisdictions are moving to update building codes covering deck and balcony construction. Stakeholders are also calling for more frequent inspection, both by authorities and owners.
"Decks and balconies are one of the only load-bearing structures in a building that are under constant exposure to the elements, yet owners often overlook inspection," says John Ogilvie, president of Duradek, manufacturer and supplier of a sheet vinyl waterproofing membrane for pedestrian decks and balconies. "Even when an owner is conscientious, in many cases deterioration of the membrane or what’s underneath it isn’t easy to spot by visual inspection alone. The best assurance is to know that work is done right in the first place."
As authorities grapple with the problem, contractors and specifiers can take immediate action to protect the integrity of concrete and wooden deck surfaces, balconies, joists, posts and metal fasteners. However, it’s critical to choose the most appropriate solution from a range of temporary and long-term options that protect against water infiltration.
Contractors using a liquid-applied waterproofing membrane on a deck should alert customers that the surface must be re-coated periodically. If they fail to re-coat, cracks can develop, allowing water to invade and cause further structural damage. Wood sealants also have limitations. Simply applying a sealant to a wood deck will not waterproof the entire structure.
The use of membrane sheeting to weatherproof deck surfaces and the structures and fasteners beneath provides considerably longer-lasting protection. Duradek’s approach incorporates a hot air-welded PVC membrane to provide extensive waterproofing performance requiring no maintenance other than seasonal cleaning. The product was developed in British Columbia in 1974 specifically to protect decks and balconies from invasive—and sometimes relentless—precipitation.
Available with an option of thicknesses and a wide variety of colours, Duradek’s 60 mil vinyl is also approved by CAN/CGSB and ICC as a pedestrian traffic roofing membrane.
"We’ve been around 40 years and gone through several warranty cycles," says Ogilvie. "Duradek has proven its longevity and durability in both residential and commercial applications, whether on decks, balconies or rooftop sun decks."
Unlike some membrane products, Duradek is installed only by trained professionals for warrantied waterproof protection.
"Successful deck waterproofing involves good product and attention to details and requires very specialized training," says Ogilvie. "By hiring experienced contractors who use only approved roofing quality products, general contractors can be assured that they have performed their due diligence and that their customers will be well protected."
This content is sponsored by Duradek in collaboration with CMD Media. To learn more about Duradek, click here.
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