December Deadly Deck and Balcony Dangers

"The dinner or party where people gather on the balcony for a drink or a barbeque are high risk activities which greatly increase the risk of a balcony collapsing .. ."

Archicentre, the building advisory service of the Australian Institute of Architects, has issued a national red alert on deck safety saying Christmas and New Year celebrations are the most dangerous times for deck and balcony collapses. 

Archicentre says anyone planning to hold a Christmas or New Year's Eve function which will see a crowd of people occupying the balcony or deck should check that it is safe and not in danger of collapse.

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

Many of these balconies or decks can be several metres off the ground heightening the danger.

Archicentre ACT & NSW State Manager Ian Agnew said often during pre-purchase housing inspections or specific deck checks, Archicentre Architects discover rotting timbers and rusty corroding steel fittings that could substantially weaken the deck's structure.

"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."

Mr Agnew said 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."

Holidays are also the time when many home owners decide to build a balcony or deck themselves, and we are urging them to do it properly and ensure that they obtain council building approval if required, before commencing building."

Archicentre has information available from the website on how to look out for a Balcony Collapse. To find out more about Dangerous Decks go to Balcony Safety

Media Enquiries:
Ron Smith, Corporate Media Communications, Archicentre - Mobile: 0417 329 201