Up to 40 party-goers injured after back deck collapses during wedding bash in B.C.

[drawoh]

Breaking news...

https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/up-to...ollapses-during-wedding-bash-in-b-c-1.4387729

--
JHG

 

[JohnRBaker]

They'll never learn, eh?

John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without

 

[drawoh]

JohnRBaker,

The thing looks flimsy. There is no mention yet if this is the work of a contractor or a home handyman.

--
JHG

 

[bridgebuster]

At least no one was killed. Looks like a job for Holmes & Holmes.

 

[Sym P. le]

Global News - Police investigating...

So it seems this house is used as a party rental. I hope the owner has a proper business license and insurance. The renovator surely didn't have a building permit.
From the photos, my guess is that the protruding portion of the deck was enlarged at some point in time and the framer just scabbed onto the stub outs with a boxer.

 

[LittleInch]

Given the very clean cut ends we can see it would appear as if the box frame of the stub out was simply attached to the ends of the beams. The centre beams seem more damaged and maybe rotted first.

Workout more detailed photos difficult to say.

Those strange angles holding up the brick piers look like later additions to prop up or stiffen the extension?

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[zeusfaber]

I'm wondering if the wooden props were added post-accident to preserve the scene.

A.

 

[LittleInch]

Not with the metal tie which goes from the base of the brick pillar to the midpoint of the prop.

Looks original to me.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[pmtrevisan1]

biggest issue with this is the fact that residential constructions falls under part 9 of the building code.
as such said code states ONLY 40 psf for decks and balconies.
I find that ridiculous and always design decks and balconies for assembly area loads.

 

[hokie66]

pmtrevisan1,
Perhaps code live loads need revision, but that is not the "biggest issue". These things almost always fail at the connections. Sometimes the connections are inadequate originally, and sometimes they have deteriorated.

 

[pmtrevisan1]

hokie. completely agree that connections are predominately the weak link on balconies as is maintenance.
quite a few inspections yielded rotted balconies
cheers

p

 

[Sym P. le]

And what are the implications if a residential structure is converted to a commercial venture, such as, say, a party house?

 

[jayrod12]

Honestly the difference between residential construction and commercial shouldn't be that large, however it is and a main contributor is the significantly lower amount of site reviews. At least where I practice a residential building almost never even needs to be seen by the guy with his seal on the foundation. And a seal is only required on the super structure if it falls outside the prescribed code construction.

 

[charliealphabravo]

And what are the implications if a residential structure is converted to a commercial venture, such as, say, a party house?

This incident is a perfect example of the implications. With the uptick in the use of private properties as AirBnB rentals, the intensity of use is increasing inversely proportional to the intensity of design, construction, contractor qualifications, permits, inspections, maintenance, insurance coverage limits, etc. It completely turns the risk calibration of NBC Part 9 and IBC-Residential on its head.

 

[ATSE]

This failure is too common for exterior decks of all building material types - but particularly wood and wood hardware.
Some local jurisdictions in California have adopted 2 measures to reduce the occurrence:
1. Specific and robust corrosion / rot protection details on the submitted dwgs for the joist to primary structure
2. 100 psf live load
The added cost for these two items is small - probably less than 10% of the construction cost. Even a small gov't libertarian would support this.
Jurisdictions could do a little more, considering the fees that they collect. 15 minutes of a moderately experienced county inspector can go a long way toward ensuring minimum safety standards. 99% of (usually drunk) occupants do not have the qualifications to evaluate construction quality or safety, so we cannot put this failure on the drunks. This is clearly an owner responsibility, and there is of course a clear government role. Most local governments don't have a good track record when it comes to execution of their duties related to public safety.

 

[mbullism]

Not with the metal tie which goes from the base of the brick pillar to the midpoint of the prop.

I took that to be a ratchet strap, fwiw...

Analog spoken here...

 

[Sym P. le]

The term "party house" can of course can be pejorative, however there are many legitimate gatherings or functions and many families/groupings cannot justify maintaining expansive properties for occasional celebrations. In that regard, I can see that this property provides a setting for these events. Unfortunately, this incident seems to expose all the issues of corner cutting with regards to planning and oversight.

 

[wayne440]

...99% of (usually drunk) occupants do not have the qualifications to evaluate construction quality or safety, so we cannot put this failure on the drunks. This is clearly an owner responsibility, and there is of course a clear government role...

I claim zero expertise, but will guess that (drunk or not) the average homeowner/renter in my community assumes that his/her residential deck or living room floor will safely hold whatever number of people can be crowded onto or into it.

 

[SnTMan]

...while dancinging to the music

The problem with sloppy work is that the supply FAR EXCEEDS the demand

 

[Sym P. le]

For sure! But the numbers are stacked against doing so every weekend. Many decks have collapsed from unwitting overuse or poor construction/maintenance but rental spaces such as this would not be engaged for morning tea. They are sought out to entertain the crowd.

Unfortunately in this case, a magician would have had better luck at levitating forty people, commercial or not.