COASTAL DECK DANGERS
DECK INSPECTION CHECKLIST FORM
As Decks Age, Dangerous Collapses Are on the Rise
Many people are relishing their time outdoors, grilling and lounging with friends and family on outdoor decks. Given the season, it is important for people to be aware of their surroundings and take proper precautions when it comes to deck safety.
The number of deck collapses has been increasing rapidly in recent years, often resulting in personal injuries and even death.
According to the North American Deck and Railing Association, or NADRA, at least 30 people died between 2000 and 2008 as a result of a deck collapse. Typically, when a deck collapses, more than 75 percent of the people on the deck are injured or killed.
Some attribute the rise in deck collapses to the number of older decks in need of repair in the United States. NADRA estimates that there are 40 million decks in the U.S. that are over 20 years old. The concern with older decks is:
Occasionally, decks are attached to houses using only nails, rather than a more substantial attachment, such as screws or bolts. Surprisingly, it was permissible to use only nails to attach decks to buildings until 2003. Even when an appropriate screw is used to attach a deck, problems arise when they are not attached to a solid portion of the building.
The worst deck collapse in the United States occurred in Chicago in the summer of 2003. A third-floor porch collapsed, destroying the porches on the floors below as well. Almost 50 people were standing on the deck when it collapsed, and 13 people were killed. The owners of the building had to pay over $100,000 to settle claims against the property and over $4,000 because of code violations discovered on other properties thereafter.
Take Steps to Ensure Your Deck Is SafeExperts suggest a number of ways to ensure a deck is properly secured and maintained, including:
Many people are relishing their time outdoors, grilling and lounging with friends and family on outdoor decks. Given the season, it is important for people to be aware of their surroundings and take proper precautions when it comes to deck safety.
The number of deck collapses has been increasing rapidly in recent years, often resulting in personal injuries and even death.
According to the North American Deck and Railing Association, or NADRA, at least 30 people died between 2000 and 2008 as a result of a deck collapse. Typically, when a deck collapses, more than 75 percent of the people on the deck are injured or killed.
Some attribute the rise in deck collapses to the number of older decks in need of repair in the United States. NADRA estimates that there are 40 million decks in the U.S. that are over 20 years old. The concern with older decks is:
- Many were built before new code regulations were established, which made decks uniformly safer.
- Many are weaker after experiencing the weather for many years.
- Some have not been properly maintained over the years.
Occasionally, decks are attached to houses using only nails, rather than a more substantial attachment, such as screws or bolts. Surprisingly, it was permissible to use only nails to attach decks to buildings until 2003. Even when an appropriate screw is used to attach a deck, problems arise when they are not attached to a solid portion of the building.
The worst deck collapse in the United States occurred in Chicago in the summer of 2003. A third-floor porch collapsed, destroying the porches on the floors below as well. Almost 50 people were standing on the deck when it collapsed, and 13 people were killed. The owners of the building had to pay over $100,000 to settle claims against the property and over $4,000 because of code violations discovered on other properties thereafter.
Take Steps to Ensure Your Deck Is SafeExperts suggest a number of ways to ensure a deck is properly secured and maintained, including:
- Inspect the deck regularly, particularly if it is older
- Examine support posts, looking for parts that are rotting or splitting
- Check all fasteners, such as screws and bolts, for rust or corrosion
- Look at the attachment points between the deck and the house
Deck collapses after group takes photo on Pawleys Island
http://www.live5news.com/story/25716531/deck-collapses-at-oceanfront-inn-on-pawleys-island
Posted: Jun 06, 2014 7:48 PM EST
Updated: Jun 09, 2014 12:35 PM EST
By Brooke Holden
PAWLEYS ISLAND, SC (WMBF) - A deck has collapsed at an oceanfront inn on Pawleys Island, after more than 30 people took a group photo.
The deck collapsed at around 6:15 p.m. Friday, according to Murrells Inlet-Garden City Fire Rescue members. The deck fell 10-12 feet, collapsing in on itself.
The guests at the inn were gathering in the dining room for supper, when some noticed a double rainbow and suggested the group go out and take a picture on the deck, according to a statement issued on the Sea View Inn Facebook page.
The statement reads:
"The best indication that we have is that there were over 30 people on the deck for this photo. This deck was not in disrepair or in a compromised state. It was waterlogged from the recent deluge of rain and simply could not hold the weight."
Thirteen people were treated for non-life threatening injuries, according to Georgetown County Emergency Management.
Those injured were treated at three nearby hospitals. A medical helicopter was called, but no one was airlifted. In total, 18 people were hurt but five of them refused medical treatment.
The couple who posted the Facebook message, thanked first responders and expressed their compassion and sympathy.
"We feel a great deal of sadness for everyone injured and traumatized by this event. But we also have to thank the many emergency and fire personnel that responded so professionally and efficiently to this scene."
Building inspectors deemed the building safe within hours of the collapse. The building has been turned over to the owner, and the inn is operational.
Copyright 2014 WMBF News. All rights reserved.
http://www.live5news.com/story/25716531/deck-collapses-at-oceanfront-inn-on-pawleys-island
Posted: Jun 06, 2014 7:48 PM EST
Updated: Jun 09, 2014 12:35 PM EST
By Brooke Holden
PAWLEYS ISLAND, SC (WMBF) - A deck has collapsed at an oceanfront inn on Pawleys Island, after more than 30 people took a group photo.
The deck collapsed at around 6:15 p.m. Friday, according to Murrells Inlet-Garden City Fire Rescue members. The deck fell 10-12 feet, collapsing in on itself.
The guests at the inn were gathering in the dining room for supper, when some noticed a double rainbow and suggested the group go out and take a picture on the deck, according to a statement issued on the Sea View Inn Facebook page.
The statement reads:
"The best indication that we have is that there were over 30 people on the deck for this photo. This deck was not in disrepair or in a compromised state. It was waterlogged from the recent deluge of rain and simply could not hold the weight."
Thirteen people were treated for non-life threatening injuries, according to Georgetown County Emergency Management.
Those injured were treated at three nearby hospitals. A medical helicopter was called, but no one was airlifted. In total, 18 people were hurt but five of them refused medical treatment.
The couple who posted the Facebook message, thanked first responders and expressed their compassion and sympathy.
"We feel a great deal of sadness for everyone injured and traumatized by this event. But we also have to thank the many emergency and fire personnel that responded so professionally and efficiently to this scene."
Building inspectors deemed the building safe within hours of the collapse. The building has been turned over to the owner, and the inn is operational.
Copyright 2014 WMBF News. All rights reserved.
25 People Try to Take Selfie with Rainbow on Deck; Deck Collapses
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/2014/06/07/people-try-take-selfie-with-rainbow-deck-deck-collapses/AxddYOTCZ7GUv8XHsXKjeL/story.html
By Justine Hofherr
Boston.com Staff
June 7, 2014 5:48 PM
A deck at an oceanfront inn collapsed this morning after 25 people tried to take a selfie in front of a rainbow in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
According to ABC News, 13 people were taken to the hospital with “non-life-threatening” injuries after the deck gave out.
Apparently, a beautiful rainbow appeared on Pawleys Island after a summer storm, and the group of tourists were inspired to step outside for a selfie.
Things took a turn for the worse, however, when the deck they were standing on “buckled like a trap door.”
Witness Rich Regan told ABC News that “it was pretty horrific,” and that there was a lot of “wood and splinters and nails and blood and people screaming.”
Ten ambulances, six fire trucks, and a helicopter were sent to the scene.
Investigators are still trying to determine the exact cause of the collapse.
Justine Hofherr can be reached at justine.hofherr@globe.com. Follow her @Jhofherr29
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/2014/06/07/people-try-take-selfie-with-rainbow-deck-deck-collapses/AxddYOTCZ7GUv8XHsXKjeL/story.html
By Justine Hofherr
Boston.com Staff
June 7, 2014 5:48 PM
A deck at an oceanfront inn collapsed this morning after 25 people tried to take a selfie in front of a rainbow in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
According to ABC News, 13 people were taken to the hospital with “non-life-threatening” injuries after the deck gave out.
Apparently, a beautiful rainbow appeared on Pawleys Island after a summer storm, and the group of tourists were inspired to step outside for a selfie.
Things took a turn for the worse, however, when the deck they were standing on “buckled like a trap door.”
Witness Rich Regan told ABC News that “it was pretty horrific,” and that there was a lot of “wood and splinters and nails and blood and people screaming.”
Ten ambulances, six fire trucks, and a helicopter were sent to the scene.
Investigators are still trying to determine the exact cause of the collapse.
Justine Hofherr can be reached at justine.hofherr@globe.com. Follow her @Jhofherr29
Expert: Collapsed NC deck may have been damaged
http://www.wect.com/story/22799111/expert-collapsed-nc-deck-may-have-been-damaged
Posted: Jul 09, 2013 9:16 PM EST
Updated: Jul 13, 2013 9:16 PM EST
By: WECT Staff - email
OCEAN ISLE BEACH, NC (WECT/AP) – A building expert says the collapse of a second-story deck at a house in Brunswick County indicates the deck may have sustained storm damage. About 25 people were on the deck at the time. One of the people staying at the house said the family went onto the deck to take a picture when the wood buckled under them.
North Carolina Building Inspectors Association President Glenn Batten says the deck should have held that many people, but suddenly, the second floor patio collapsed onto a first story concrete patio. Someone staying at the house said the victims ranged in ages from children to adults.
"Our porch at our beach house just fell thru," one of the girls said on a 911 call. "We were all taking a family picture and it just fell and a couple people are hurt. It just fell."
Batten says the fact it collapsed tells him the deck may have suffered hurricane damage. He says if the house had been through the winds of a couple of hurricanes, some of the fasteners may have been pulled and stretched to their limits.
With 25 people on the deck, that could mean it was holding 4,000 pounds or more when it collapsed.
The accident sent 21 people to the hospital Tuesday night with traumatic injuries ranging from broken bones to cuts. As of Wednesday night, at least five were treated and released. Emergency officials expect all of the victims to survive.
Neighbor Ray Weir said he could hear the wood breaking and people screaming as the deck fell to the ground. He said it was terrifying and it was lucky that no one died.
One of the people staying at the house said he was relieved that no one was killed in the accident.
Following the accident, Anthony Marzano, Brunswick County's Emergency Director, said 21 people were taken to the hospital.
One was flown by helicopter to New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington.
Several others were taken to Grand Strand Regional Medical Center in Myrtle Beach.
According to Amy Myers from Brunswick Novant Medical Center, five of the victims taken to that hospital have been treated and released. Myers said two others remain in the hospital.
Weir said he saw a man come home from the hospital with a cast on his leg who seemed to be in a lot of pain and shaken up by the incident.
Now, officials in the beach town are trying to make sure this doesn't happen again.
"I've actually had a long-standing opinion of this situation," said Ocean Isle Beach Mayor Debbie Smith. "These oceanfront decks need to be held to a higher standard than North Carolina laws require."
The home was last inspected in 2003 when construction of the property was complete, in accordance with state law. The law also states there is no need for another inspection on a property unless there is a complaint or additional construction.
According to Smith, municipalities are not allowed to enforce a stricter building code than the state building code.
Both the mayor and mayor pro tem believe decks for these types of oceanfront homes should be built to hold more weight because of the amount of people who rent out the properties for vacation.
According to Williamson Realty, the home where the deck collapse happened has six bedrooms and six bathrooms, sleeping 19 people.
Smith said at the next council meeting, town leaders plan to talk about what can be done to make these structures safer. They're considering asking state leaders to allow local municipalities to have more power when it comes to creating and enforcing building codes.
Workers with Deans Home Improvement were at the house Wednesday to clean debris. One employee said they hope to have building permits soon so they can rebuild the deck by Saturday.
The investigation into the cause of the collapse continues.
Copyright 2013 WECT. All rights reserved. The AP contributed to this report.
http://www.wect.com/story/22799111/expert-collapsed-nc-deck-may-have-been-damaged
Posted: Jul 09, 2013 9:16 PM EST
Updated: Jul 13, 2013 9:16 PM EST
By: WECT Staff - email
OCEAN ISLE BEACH, NC (WECT/AP) – A building expert says the collapse of a second-story deck at a house in Brunswick County indicates the deck may have sustained storm damage. About 25 people were on the deck at the time. One of the people staying at the house said the family went onto the deck to take a picture when the wood buckled under them.
North Carolina Building Inspectors Association President Glenn Batten says the deck should have held that many people, but suddenly, the second floor patio collapsed onto a first story concrete patio. Someone staying at the house said the victims ranged in ages from children to adults.
"Our porch at our beach house just fell thru," one of the girls said on a 911 call. "We were all taking a family picture and it just fell and a couple people are hurt. It just fell."
Batten says the fact it collapsed tells him the deck may have suffered hurricane damage. He says if the house had been through the winds of a couple of hurricanes, some of the fasteners may have been pulled and stretched to their limits.
With 25 people on the deck, that could mean it was holding 4,000 pounds or more when it collapsed.
The accident sent 21 people to the hospital Tuesday night with traumatic injuries ranging from broken bones to cuts. As of Wednesday night, at least five were treated and released. Emergency officials expect all of the victims to survive.
Neighbor Ray Weir said he could hear the wood breaking and people screaming as the deck fell to the ground. He said it was terrifying and it was lucky that no one died.
One of the people staying at the house said he was relieved that no one was killed in the accident.
Following the accident, Anthony Marzano, Brunswick County's Emergency Director, said 21 people were taken to the hospital.
One was flown by helicopter to New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington.
Several others were taken to Grand Strand Regional Medical Center in Myrtle Beach.
According to Amy Myers from Brunswick Novant Medical Center, five of the victims taken to that hospital have been treated and released. Myers said two others remain in the hospital.
Weir said he saw a man come home from the hospital with a cast on his leg who seemed to be in a lot of pain and shaken up by the incident.
Now, officials in the beach town are trying to make sure this doesn't happen again.
"I've actually had a long-standing opinion of this situation," said Ocean Isle Beach Mayor Debbie Smith. "These oceanfront decks need to be held to a higher standard than North Carolina laws require."
The home was last inspected in 2003 when construction of the property was complete, in accordance with state law. The law also states there is no need for another inspection on a property unless there is a complaint or additional construction.
According to Smith, municipalities are not allowed to enforce a stricter building code than the state building code.
Both the mayor and mayor pro tem believe decks for these types of oceanfront homes should be built to hold more weight because of the amount of people who rent out the properties for vacation.
According to Williamson Realty, the home where the deck collapse happened has six bedrooms and six bathrooms, sleeping 19 people.
Smith said at the next council meeting, town leaders plan to talk about what can be done to make these structures safer. They're considering asking state leaders to allow local municipalities to have more power when it comes to creating and enforcing building codes.
Workers with Deans Home Improvement were at the house Wednesday to clean debris. One employee said they hope to have building permits soon so they can rebuild the deck by Saturday.
The investigation into the cause of the collapse continues.
Copyright 2013 WECT. All rights reserved. The AP contributed to this report.
Rotting Decks Threaten Lives, Leave Homeowners Unhappy
by lporter 13. June 2012 12:16
The story of last month's deck collapse in Atlanta inspired me to do a bit more digging into deck collapse occurrences.
Deck collapse as a result of failure of the deck-to-house ledger connection
Ten years ago the Environmental Protection Agency began a process to restrict the use of Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA), a chemical preservative that has been in use since the mid-1930s to treat the majority of lumber used for outdoor purposes. The preservative was widely utilized in the treatment of decks and playground equipment because of its availability, low cost and ability to keep wood preserved up to 30 years. However, a preliminary study conducted by the EPA in 2001 and in-depth risk assessment studies in 2003 and 2005 showed that, given enough time and acidic erosion, arsenic can leach from CCA treated wood, potentially finding its way into the water supply. This posed a serious health risk to families and the environment, prompting action from government regulators to ban the wood-preservative from use in all residential applications in late 2003. CCA is still allowed for commercial and industrial use.
With the phasing out of residentially used CCA, a new preservative has been introduced by the name of Alkaline Copper Quaternary (ACQ). While lacking the health risks associated with CCA, ACQ only lasts a maximum of 10 years, after which there is noticeable wood rot and decay. Others have complained about ACQ’s propensity to erode screws and nails far quicker than CCA ever did due its higher percentage of copper material. Numerous class action and individual civil law suits have been announced as a result of fastener corrosion in ACQ treated wood. Additionally, any homeowner who has built a deck or other outdoor wood structure since around 2002 has likely started seeing or will soon see progressive wood deterioration. These revelations have left some homeowners understandably upset.
Richard Kuhn, homeowner and IT professional, says that his deck is just around a decade old and already displays severe dry rot and cracking. “The deck was in bad shape when I purchased the house in 2005,” Kuhn says. “So, I decided to leave it thinking I would rebuild at some point.” However, with the harsh economy in the years following Kuhn says he never got around to it. “Now the side rails are wobbling, and it seems like the deck just wasn’t constructed properly.” Kuhn says he regards the deck as a safety hazard but just can’t do anything about it at the moment. “I think whoever built the deck built it the easy way, not the right way.”
Deck owner Grayson Davis says he’s in a similar situation. “My deck’s only about 10 years old, but the peeling boards and nail pops are coming up out of nowhere.” Davis says that while his deck seems safe now, he’s not sure how much longer that will last.
A study conducted by researchers at Virginia Tech, Professor Joe Loferski and Professor Emeritus Frank Woeste, found that from January 2000 through December 2006, 179 deck collapses were reported in the United States, resulting in 33 deaths and 1,122 injuries. June and July are the months in which deck collapse most frequently occur, the study found. 90% of all reported deck collapses were accounted for by failure of the house-to-deck ledger connection. This connection “involves failure of the rim joist from the house floor joists, the separation of the ledger board from the rim joist, and the separation of the ledger board from deck joists.” This essentially means that the primary connection between the deck and the house weakens over time, leading to eventual structural failure because the deck is unable to stand on its own.
Despite the fact that decks and homes are held to the same building code standards, decks are far more likely to undergo structural failure. The study noted a serious lack of information available to the general public, adding that “Deck collapses are not tracked, nor are reports of collapse available from rescue services, local building code officials, police, national associations, or government agencies.” Disconcertingly, deck collapses are treated as isolated events rather than as a systemic and largely avoidable problem. Most concerning is the study’s find that the number of deck collapses has been on the rise over the past decade. Some maintain that the majority of problems lie in how the decks are built, not only in the problems with ACQ, which are notable in and of themselves.
Homeowners are not the only ones to focus their ire on wooden decks. In an interview with the Connecticut Post, Jim DeStefano of DeStefano & Chamberlain Inc., a structural engineering firm in Fairfield, Conneticut, DeStefano brought to light the shortcomings of exposed, outdoor wooden constructions. “Wood decks have always had dramatically higher failure and collapse rates than any other wood structure,” he said in the interview. The problem, according to DeStefano, is not “just an age issue,” rather he feels it is a combination of factors, including “shoddy construction, weathering, and heavy loads.” Overloaded decks are certainly a key factor; however it is unlikely that the average homeowner, holding a Memorial Day barbecue or other social event, will have the presence of mind to ensure his or her wooden deck is capable of holding family and friends. Precisely for this reason, homeowners should be educated in the dangers of and alternatives to wooden structural supports for residential decks.
The website deckfailure.com compiles stories of wooden deck collapse, often with injuries or fatalities involved, highlighting the need for an overall increase in deck safety. A recent “viral video” found on youtube shows a group of teenagers from Churubusco High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana, taking pictures on a wraparound deck before their high school prom. As seen in the video, the deck collapses very suddenly, but results in no injuries. Such incidents are a microcosm of the dangers of deck collapse to homeowners and their families.
So then the question arises: What can be done to improve deck safety? One company, The Steel Network, claims they have a “Steel Smart” structural solution. Unlike wood, deterioration of steel is generally a nonfactor, and structures made of steel last ten times longer than those made of wood. A steel structure can be topped with concrete or tile and made to look like any other deck and lattice or other coverings can be used to conceal framing underneath. However, manufacturers of steel looking to sell in the residential deck market must overcome the stigma that steel is for commercial or industrial use only.
For now, wooden deck structure remains the most popular, but with fatal and injurious accidents on the rise, as well as the decrease in the average life span of a wood deck because of the use of CCA, consumers may start looking elsewhere. Until then, homeowners are advised to ensure their decks are properly inspected and up to local building codes. The loads decks carry are too important to fall.
by lporter 13. June 2012 12:16
The story of last month's deck collapse in Atlanta inspired me to do a bit more digging into deck collapse occurrences.
Deck collapse as a result of failure of the deck-to-house ledger connection
Ten years ago the Environmental Protection Agency began a process to restrict the use of Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA), a chemical preservative that has been in use since the mid-1930s to treat the majority of lumber used for outdoor purposes. The preservative was widely utilized in the treatment of decks and playground equipment because of its availability, low cost and ability to keep wood preserved up to 30 years. However, a preliminary study conducted by the EPA in 2001 and in-depth risk assessment studies in 2003 and 2005 showed that, given enough time and acidic erosion, arsenic can leach from CCA treated wood, potentially finding its way into the water supply. This posed a serious health risk to families and the environment, prompting action from government regulators to ban the wood-preservative from use in all residential applications in late 2003. CCA is still allowed for commercial and industrial use.
With the phasing out of residentially used CCA, a new preservative has been introduced by the name of Alkaline Copper Quaternary (ACQ). While lacking the health risks associated with CCA, ACQ only lasts a maximum of 10 years, after which there is noticeable wood rot and decay. Others have complained about ACQ’s propensity to erode screws and nails far quicker than CCA ever did due its higher percentage of copper material. Numerous class action and individual civil law suits have been announced as a result of fastener corrosion in ACQ treated wood. Additionally, any homeowner who has built a deck or other outdoor wood structure since around 2002 has likely started seeing or will soon see progressive wood deterioration. These revelations have left some homeowners understandably upset.
Richard Kuhn, homeowner and IT professional, says that his deck is just around a decade old and already displays severe dry rot and cracking. “The deck was in bad shape when I purchased the house in 2005,” Kuhn says. “So, I decided to leave it thinking I would rebuild at some point.” However, with the harsh economy in the years following Kuhn says he never got around to it. “Now the side rails are wobbling, and it seems like the deck just wasn’t constructed properly.” Kuhn says he regards the deck as a safety hazard but just can’t do anything about it at the moment. “I think whoever built the deck built it the easy way, not the right way.”
Deck owner Grayson Davis says he’s in a similar situation. “My deck’s only about 10 years old, but the peeling boards and nail pops are coming up out of nowhere.” Davis says that while his deck seems safe now, he’s not sure how much longer that will last.
A study conducted by researchers at Virginia Tech, Professor Joe Loferski and Professor Emeritus Frank Woeste, found that from January 2000 through December 2006, 179 deck collapses were reported in the United States, resulting in 33 deaths and 1,122 injuries. June and July are the months in which deck collapse most frequently occur, the study found. 90% of all reported deck collapses were accounted for by failure of the house-to-deck ledger connection. This connection “involves failure of the rim joist from the house floor joists, the separation of the ledger board from the rim joist, and the separation of the ledger board from deck joists.” This essentially means that the primary connection between the deck and the house weakens over time, leading to eventual structural failure because the deck is unable to stand on its own.
Despite the fact that decks and homes are held to the same building code standards, decks are far more likely to undergo structural failure. The study noted a serious lack of information available to the general public, adding that “Deck collapses are not tracked, nor are reports of collapse available from rescue services, local building code officials, police, national associations, or government agencies.” Disconcertingly, deck collapses are treated as isolated events rather than as a systemic and largely avoidable problem. Most concerning is the study’s find that the number of deck collapses has been on the rise over the past decade. Some maintain that the majority of problems lie in how the decks are built, not only in the problems with ACQ, which are notable in and of themselves.
Homeowners are not the only ones to focus their ire on wooden decks. In an interview with the Connecticut Post, Jim DeStefano of DeStefano & Chamberlain Inc., a structural engineering firm in Fairfield, Conneticut, DeStefano brought to light the shortcomings of exposed, outdoor wooden constructions. “Wood decks have always had dramatically higher failure and collapse rates than any other wood structure,” he said in the interview. The problem, according to DeStefano, is not “just an age issue,” rather he feels it is a combination of factors, including “shoddy construction, weathering, and heavy loads.” Overloaded decks are certainly a key factor; however it is unlikely that the average homeowner, holding a Memorial Day barbecue or other social event, will have the presence of mind to ensure his or her wooden deck is capable of holding family and friends. Precisely for this reason, homeowners should be educated in the dangers of and alternatives to wooden structural supports for residential decks.
The website deckfailure.com compiles stories of wooden deck collapse, often with injuries or fatalities involved, highlighting the need for an overall increase in deck safety. A recent “viral video” found on youtube shows a group of teenagers from Churubusco High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana, taking pictures on a wraparound deck before their high school prom. As seen in the video, the deck collapses very suddenly, but results in no injuries. Such incidents are a microcosm of the dangers of deck collapse to homeowners and their families.
So then the question arises: What can be done to improve deck safety? One company, The Steel Network, claims they have a “Steel Smart” structural solution. Unlike wood, deterioration of steel is generally a nonfactor, and structures made of steel last ten times longer than those made of wood. A steel structure can be topped with concrete or tile and made to look like any other deck and lattice or other coverings can be used to conceal framing underneath. However, manufacturers of steel looking to sell in the residential deck market must overcome the stigma that steel is for commercial or industrial use only.
For now, wooden deck structure remains the most popular, but with fatal and injurious accidents on the rise, as well as the decrease in the average life span of a wood deck because of the use of CCA, consumers may start looking elsewhere. Until then, homeowners are advised to ensure their decks are properly inspected and up to local building codes. The loads decks carry are too important to fall.
Authorities probe deck collapse at Florida sports bar
By DAVID FISCHER and BILL CORMIER
Associated Press
Jun 13 2013 11:50 pm Jun 14 1:41 pm
Rescue divers search for missing persons after a packed outdoor deck collapsed at popular Miami-area sports bar Thursday June 13, 2013. Lt. Ignatius Carroll of Miami Fire-Rescue said late Thursday that 100 people fell into the water. He said rescuers pulled patrons from the bay, and that divers were searching waters underneath the collapsed deck as helicopters shined spotlights onto the area. (AP Photo/Miami Herald, Walter Michot) NORTH BAY VILLAGE, Fla. -- Authorities were investigating Friday what caused the outdoor deck at a Miami-area sports bar to collapse, causing dozens of fans watching the NBA finals to plunge into a bay in a chaotic scene that sent 24 people to hospitals.
Many of those hurt had cuts and bruises, though one person suffered a fracture and two were in serious condition, officials said. About 100 people were watching the Miami Heat play the San Antonio Spurs when the deck at Shuckers Bar & Grill in North Bay Village, north of Miami Beach, gave way on Thursday night.
The deck was about 8 to 10 feet above the water’s surface, about the same height as a sea wall that runs along the bay.
Griselle Marino, a spokeswoman for Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, said Shuckers had passed a fire safety inspection in January. She said the restaurant’s main structure had a capacity of 74 people, but the rules for the deck would be enforced separately by North Bay Village city officials.
Marino said it’s largely up to restaurant and bar operators to ensure they don’t go over capacity.
"We can’t be policing every restaurant,” she said. Friday morning, a small U.S. Coast Guard vessel was anchored off shore. The dock, which collapsed in a v-shape, was strewn with large potted palms, green plastic chairs and tables, and umbrellas. Some flip-flops and cell phones were scattered among sugar packets, mustard bottles and other condiments from the tables.
Structural engineer Morgan Villanueva said Friday as he arrived to inspect the dock that it appears a main beam on the western edge of the dock buckled, creating the collapse.
Villanueva said Florida building codes typically call for a deck that can support about 100 pounds per square foot.
“If people (watching the NBA finals) were excited and jumping, it’s going to be an additional load,” he said.
Right after the collapse, sports bar customers — and later rescuers — helped people from the water amid yelling, crying and a rush to find people who might be submerged.
One witness, Martin Torres, 42, of Los Angeles, said he was inside the sports bar with family and friends when heard what sounded like a loud explosion. At first, he thought a boat had struck the deck. He said he looked outside and saw people staring up from the water, and then he and others started helping them out of the bay.
“It was shock,” said Torres. “People were yelling. Nobody knew. People came out all wet. They were crying. For a while, nobody knows what was going on.”
Israel Marquez, 37, of Bakersfield, Calif., who like Torres was in Florida because he’s scheduled to board a cruise on Friday, said he “heard a big old snap. Boom. Like a shotgun blast.”
Marquez said he looked out at the deck, and “it all came down in slow motion.”
Many people seemed in shock, with cuts and gashes on their faces. He said he went to the edge and helped five or six people from the water before rescuers arrived.
“A lot of people were just shaken up,” added Eric Williams, 42, of Atlanta. He rushed to the scene with his son, and they jumped in to help people after they heard a loud noise from their room at the adjacent Best Western.
He described the scene as “pandemonium,” with people scrambling to get out.
There was initially some concern that people might have been trapped in the water beneath the crumpled deck. But divers searched the waters as helicopters overhead shined spotlights onto the scene, and Downey said later that everyone was accounted for.
“There were a lot of TVs and everybody was in celebration and it was loud. So when it started happening, some people didn’t even realize what was going on,” said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue spokeswoman Griselle Marino.
Heat player Dwyane Wade said after the game that his thoughts were with the injured fans.
“I’d like to share our concerns as an organization and our gratitude to our fans back in Miami, but share our concerns for all that were injured tonight at Shuckers restaurant,” he said.
North Bay Village is a small island in Biscayne Bay with a strip of restaurants, hotels, houses and condos that is attached by causeways to the mainland and also to Miami Beach. Pouring rain fell early Friday near the Shuckers site, where a reporter later observed pilings sticking out of the water where the deck once stood. Wood, chairs and palm trees were piled together in the water in a scene like after a hurricane.
Although not as trendy as South Beach, North Bay Village is one of the many tourist spots in and around Miami where locals and visitors converge.
Cormier reported from Atlanta. AP photographer Alan Diaz and Associated Press writers Curt Anderson in Miami, Jackie Quinn in Washington and AP Basketball Writer Jon Krawczynski in San Antonio contributed to this report.
By DAVID FISCHER and BILL CORMIER
Associated Press
Jun 13 2013 11:50 pm Jun 14 1:41 pm
Rescue divers search for missing persons after a packed outdoor deck collapsed at popular Miami-area sports bar Thursday June 13, 2013. Lt. Ignatius Carroll of Miami Fire-Rescue said late Thursday that 100 people fell into the water. He said rescuers pulled patrons from the bay, and that divers were searching waters underneath the collapsed deck as helicopters shined spotlights onto the area. (AP Photo/Miami Herald, Walter Michot) NORTH BAY VILLAGE, Fla. -- Authorities were investigating Friday what caused the outdoor deck at a Miami-area sports bar to collapse, causing dozens of fans watching the NBA finals to plunge into a bay in a chaotic scene that sent 24 people to hospitals.
Many of those hurt had cuts and bruises, though one person suffered a fracture and two were in serious condition, officials said. About 100 people were watching the Miami Heat play the San Antonio Spurs when the deck at Shuckers Bar & Grill in North Bay Village, north of Miami Beach, gave way on Thursday night.
The deck was about 8 to 10 feet above the water’s surface, about the same height as a sea wall that runs along the bay.
Griselle Marino, a spokeswoman for Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, said Shuckers had passed a fire safety inspection in January. She said the restaurant’s main structure had a capacity of 74 people, but the rules for the deck would be enforced separately by North Bay Village city officials.
Marino said it’s largely up to restaurant and bar operators to ensure they don’t go over capacity.
"We can’t be policing every restaurant,” she said. Friday morning, a small U.S. Coast Guard vessel was anchored off shore. The dock, which collapsed in a v-shape, was strewn with large potted palms, green plastic chairs and tables, and umbrellas. Some flip-flops and cell phones were scattered among sugar packets, mustard bottles and other condiments from the tables.
Structural engineer Morgan Villanueva said Friday as he arrived to inspect the dock that it appears a main beam on the western edge of the dock buckled, creating the collapse.
Villanueva said Florida building codes typically call for a deck that can support about 100 pounds per square foot.
“If people (watching the NBA finals) were excited and jumping, it’s going to be an additional load,” he said.
Right after the collapse, sports bar customers — and later rescuers — helped people from the water amid yelling, crying and a rush to find people who might be submerged.
One witness, Martin Torres, 42, of Los Angeles, said he was inside the sports bar with family and friends when heard what sounded like a loud explosion. At first, he thought a boat had struck the deck. He said he looked outside and saw people staring up from the water, and then he and others started helping them out of the bay.
“It was shock,” said Torres. “People were yelling. Nobody knew. People came out all wet. They were crying. For a while, nobody knows what was going on.”
Israel Marquez, 37, of Bakersfield, Calif., who like Torres was in Florida because he’s scheduled to board a cruise on Friday, said he “heard a big old snap. Boom. Like a shotgun blast.”
Marquez said he looked out at the deck, and “it all came down in slow motion.”
Many people seemed in shock, with cuts and gashes on their faces. He said he went to the edge and helped five or six people from the water before rescuers arrived.
“A lot of people were just shaken up,” added Eric Williams, 42, of Atlanta. He rushed to the scene with his son, and they jumped in to help people after they heard a loud noise from their room at the adjacent Best Western.
He described the scene as “pandemonium,” with people scrambling to get out.
There was initially some concern that people might have been trapped in the water beneath the crumpled deck. But divers searched the waters as helicopters overhead shined spotlights onto the scene, and Downey said later that everyone was accounted for.
“There were a lot of TVs and everybody was in celebration and it was loud. So when it started happening, some people didn’t even realize what was going on,” said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue spokeswoman Griselle Marino.
Heat player Dwyane Wade said after the game that his thoughts were with the injured fans.
“I’d like to share our concerns as an organization and our gratitude to our fans back in Miami, but share our concerns for all that were injured tonight at Shuckers restaurant,” he said.
North Bay Village is a small island in Biscayne Bay with a strip of restaurants, hotels, houses and condos that is attached by causeways to the mainland and also to Miami Beach. Pouring rain fell early Friday near the Shuckers site, where a reporter later observed pilings sticking out of the water where the deck once stood. Wood, chairs and palm trees were piled together in the water in a scene like after a hurricane.
Although not as trendy as South Beach, North Bay Village is one of the many tourist spots in and around Miami where locals and visitors converge.
Cormier reported from Atlanta. AP photographer Alan Diaz and Associated Press writers Curt Anderson in Miami, Jackie Quinn in Washington and AP Basketball Writer Jon Krawczynski in San Antonio contributed to this report.