Please, do it right.

[anytwowilldo]

Many of us have jobs that affect the safety of others: Architects, Airline pilots, structural engineers, construction workers and train engineers etc. While at work, please take the time to thoroughly understand the job at hand and the consequences of not paying attention to detail. Please "do it right.'

I got home at 11:30 last night after spending the better of 5 days with my dear friends, the families of Ashley Donohoe and her Cousin Olivia Burke who were killed early Tuesday morning in the Berkeley Balcony Collapse. It is difficult to explain the pain this tragic accident has caused not only to their friends and family, but the friends and family of the other four that died and the seven that are seriously injured.

It is very clear that something went wrong in the construction of that balcony. Water was allowed to enter the structure and the supporting members were heavily damaged, allowing it to separate from the building.

If you are working on a project that can affect human life please be present in the moment and pay attention to the detail. Take the time to understand the project and its complexities. Something as simple as not layering one piece of the water proofing barrier correctly could have created this disaster.

 

[Bay Arean]

Many of us have jobs that affect the safety of others: Architects, Airline pilots, structural engineers, construction workers and train engineers etc. While at work, please take the time to thoroughly understand the job at hand and the consequences of not paying attention to detail. Please "do it right.'

I got home at 11:30 last night after spending the better of 5 days with my dear friends, the families of Ashley Donohoe and her Cousin Olivia Burke who were killed early Tuesday morning in the Berkeley Balcony Collapse. It is difficult to explain the pain this tragic accident has caused not only to their friends and family, but the friends and family of the other four that died and the seven that are seriously injured.

It is very clear that something went wrong in the construction of that balcony. Water was allowed to enter the structure and the supporting members were heavily damaged, allowing it to separate from the building.

If you are working on a project that can affect human life please be present in the moment and pay attention to the detail. Take the time to understand the project and its complexities. Something as simple as not layering one piece of the water proofing barrier correctly could have created this disaster.

Agree with all and as a father, with a son of that approximate age living abroad, I can't help but feel we somehow failed by not keeping their sons and daughters safe. But its an abstract, hidden kind of thing. You'd expect it in an old building, but a modern one? We take structural integrity for granted, all the time. This proves we shouldn't.

RIP to those kids and condolences all around to family and friends.

 

[asdfghwy]

Many of us have jobs that affect the safety of others: Architects, Airline pilots, structural engineers, construction workers and train engineers etc. While at work, please take the time to thoroughly understand the job at hand and the consequences of not paying attention to detail. Please "do it right.'

I got home at 11:30 last night after spending the better of 5 days with my dear friends, the families of Ashley Donohoe and her Cousin Olivia Burke who were killed early Tuesday morning in the Berkeley Balcony Collapse. It is difficult to explain the pain this tragic accident has caused not only to their friends and family, but the friends and family of the other four that died and the seven that are seriously injured.

It is very clear that something went wrong in the construction of that balcony. Water was allowed to enter the structure and the supporting members were heavily damaged, allowing it to separate from the building.

If you are working on a project that can affect human life please be present in the moment and pay attention to the detail. Take the time to understand the project and its complexities. Something as simple as not layering one piece of the water proofing barrier correctly could have created this disaster.

"Engineers, in the fulfillment of their professional duties, shall holdparamount the safety, health,and welfare of the public. " - NSPE

 

[ALANRIDER7]

I've seen workplace safety get tossed aside because of ego, pure and simple. When guys feel they are so tough that they don't need to adhere to simple, basic safety practices on the job, it creates situations that are frightening. Whether it's cutting corners during construction, not paying attention or blowing off using personal protective equipment, the downside can be disastrous.


youtu.be/AybUj5FXc6E

 

[V4]

dunno why but some people just have to walk in the path of a moving object....

 

[V4]

as for the balcony incident, i heard all the finger pointing is just starting at who's at fault...

city is blaming the architecture, who is blaming the contractor, who is blaming the sub contractor who is blaming the city who wanted the original plans changed to meet city ordinance ..

 

[Mike95060]

We all remember what PG&E's negligence led to in San Bruno. Well, the house my family and I live in abuts a 6" high pressure gas transmission line. We recently received notices that PG&E will be digging up part of our property to replace and service this line.

Yes I'm nervous about it. On the one hand I am glad they are paying attention to their infrastructure but on the other hand I know that this type of work has inherent risks.
I used to earn a living with a welding torch. I know how challenging the work can be.

I plan on introducing myself to everyone on the crew that comes to work on that pipeline. I know they probably don't need to hear it from some jack off homeowner but I want to let them know exactly what the OP said. Their work matters. My kids life and mine is pretty much riding on them doing it right. And thanks. (I asked the wife to make some cookies too..)

I think as a society we have forgotten how valuable a job done right is. It's really easy to take for granted people who do what they do well.

 

[Mike95060]

as for the balcony incident, i heard all the finger pointing is just starting at who's at fault...

city is blaming the architecture, who is blaming the contractor, who is blaming the sub contractor who is blaming the city who wanted the original plans changed to meet city ordinance ..

Side not on balcony collapses. Where I grew up back east they would pretty much have one a summer. Most residential homes were not designed to have 25 people and a keg on a small balcony. That's what would happen to beachfront rental houses back east. I don't know if it is what happened out here but I was not shocked at all when I heard the news.

Edit, this post was not meant to sound callous. It's reading that way to me now and I apologize.

 

[V4]

Side not on balcony collapses. Where I grew up back east they would pretty much have one a summer. Most residential homes were not designed to have 25 people and a keg on a small balcony. That's what would happen to beachfront rental houses back east. I don't know if it is what happened out here but I was not shocked at all when I heard the news.

i believe kgo news reported the balcony was more like an afterthought and a decor where it was nailed to the wall where a standard balcony is part of the 'foundation wall' that protrudes out a certain bay area measurement ....even with that said, it's not intended for more than 3 people at most...

 

[westie]

Not to be a Debbie Downer but from what I've heard on the news is that there were 13 plus people dancing on said balcony. I'm not an engineer but I'm pretty sure that is overload for a balcony that size. Also not new for Berkeley where an annual balcony/deck collapse happens from having to many people on it and the age/condition of the property. Will the building owner be at fault? Sure. Anything made of wood and out in the elements is prone to dry rot and or termites. I'm a building manager in Alameda and across the east bay. I constantly have a deck under repair. Probably do 4-5 a year. Why? Because I don't want to have to live with what happened in Berkeley. And I don't want my or my companies name in the paper involved in a tragedy such as this. I'm pretty sure that in the coming years I will have to post weight requirements on every deck and balcony under my care. They do it for elevators why not deck and balconies? I'm very sorry for your loss.

 

[TheRobSJ]

Many of us have jobs that affect the safety of others

I often like to compare my job and the skills required to that of a doctor because if I make a mistake it can cost lives. Which more than often gets an eye roll or two. To which I reply with, "I'll try to remember that I'm just an uneducated dolt when I'm working on your brakes."

 

[Ducky_Fresh]

Ban balconies.

 

[clutchslip]

....... I'm pretty sure that in the coming years I will have to post weight requirements on every deck and balcony under my care. They do it for elevators why not deck and balconies? I'm very sorry for your loss.

This should be done. I am not sure it would stop misplaced lawsuits, but it might help. Railings should be done, too. Most residential railings are not designed for multiple people to be leaning against them.

Years ago I was at a Pointer Sisters concert at Universal Studios. We were in the balcony and when they did "Jump", the entire audience jumped and that damn balcony (with wall only support) was very scary. I almost ran out into the hall because the thing was moving so violently.

 

[ALANRIDER7]

You can't fix stupid.

Even with duct tape.

 

[injun]

My last doctor was always on me to address him properly(I called him by his first name)
so one day I said to him think about this, you can kill one at a time but me the lowly mechanic can kill lots at one time as I had just finished a brake rebuild on a van that carried 18 soccer players, he never said a thing after that.



:thumbup

 

[ALANRIDER7]

If you are working on a project that can affect human life please be present in the moment and pay attention to the detail.

:|

 

[Bay Arean]

Not to pound on Mr. Ed some more, but the thing that bugs me is that we are a seismically-active state. We are supposed to lead the way in safe structures and state-of-the-art structural integrity. This was a fairly recent building.

There is so much wrong here. Sure, tons of kids on a balcony. In a college town, where share rentals and 9 months of hyper-activity is normal. And it was 5 stories up fercrynoutloud. As for overloading, since when didn't Americans overbuild on a routine basis in the name of safety?

I have such a confirmation bias to seek the explanation that its neither greed nor stupidity, just a lack of diligence all around and that it reflects on larger standards in our society slipping in many areas. Idiocracy.

 

[Lunch Box]

Tom, I'm so sorry for your loss, and for the pain shared among the other families. Please let us know if there is any way we can help. Your reminder is a good one, and it is one that I have always tried to keep in mind as I work.

 

[enki]

Drunk kids bear some blame ya know.

 

[budman]

Not to be a Debbie Downer but from what I've heard on the news is that there were 13 plus people dancing on said balcony. I'm not an engineer but I'm pretty sure that is overload for a balcony that size. Also not new for Berkeley where an annual balcony/deck collapse happens from having to many people on it and the age/condition of the property. Will the building owner be at fault? Sure. Anything made of wood and out in the elements is prone to dry rot and or termites. I'm a building manager in Alameda and across the east bay. I constantly have a deck under repair. Probably do 4-5 a year. Why? Because I don't want to have to live with what happened in Berkeley. And I don't want my or my companies name in the paper involved in a tragedy such as this. I'm pretty sure that in the coming years I will have to post weight requirements on every deck and balcony under my care. They do it for elevators why not deck and balconies? I'm very sorry for your loss.

Likely is was designed for 100PSF. So the dead load is probably fine.
I would bet that there was a waterproofing issue that led to dry rot as you said. I did not see the deck design so sort of blowing smoke in ways.

I bet a cantilever design vs. post supported, which is the modern way to go.
I look at some of the stuff we design and the engineering that makes it work and say wow.

There are so many safety factors in the design part, that other than acts of God I think most failures like this are just as you said. Weather and human error during the build.

Water is the nemesis of construction.

Really sad deal.. so many young folks just enjoying life and... :cry