Do balconies ever fall off?

But is this a common thing? Several balcony collapses have occurred throughout the United States over the years. In similar instances of balcony and porch collapses, overcrowding and structural deficiencies often play a role. Both of those were factors in a deadly porch collapse in Chicago back in 2003.

How are balconies attached?

The balcony structure is supported using vertical pillars or posts. The weight of the balcony or balconies (if stacked on top of each other) is supported by these pillars and transferred to the ground where concrete pads are usually cast.

Can a concrete balcony fall?

Balcony safety is a major concern especially when it comes to falling concrete. Prolonged deterioration of the perimeter reinforcing steel can result in the railing deteriorating causing major safety issues. Prevention. There are consequences for neglect.

Are apartment balconies safe?

Even though we do not want to hear it, the awful truth is that balconies and decks present a real safety threat. Even if your deck was built to code, the possibilities of wood rot and other environmental factors can compromise the integrity of the structure. This also can vary in areas with extreme weather.

How are balconies built?

Balconies employ joists, or lateral piece of wood, that run between the primary support beams of the structure. Joists support the floor of the balcony while reinforcing the beams. When adding a balcony to the exterior of a building, you must securely fasten it to the building while providing weight support.

How common are balcony collapses?

While balcony and deck collapses are still relatively rare, there is evidence that they are becoming more frequent. In a recent article civil engineer J. David Gardner wrote that more than 6,000 people suffer injuries every year in incidents involving the structural failure or collapse of a deck or porch.

How does a balcony stay up?

Balconies employ joists, or lateral piece of wood, that run between the primary support beams of the structure. Joists support the floor of the balcony while reinforcing the beams. The juncture between a joist and beam requires special support mechanisms, such as ledger strips or joist hangers.

What are balconies made out of?

Traditional cantilever balconies are made of steel or concrete. But modern designs innovative materials and ways to have these projecting balconies add more aesthetic results. Projecting balconies are usually made to 1500-1800mm depth.

How much weight can a balcony hold?

Overloading a balcony could result in a safety hazard that puts you or someone else in danger. That being said, generally speaking, balconies are load-rated to 50-100 pounds per square foot.

How long do concrete balconies last?

Keep Them Looking Good. Concrete balconies “should last forever with routine maintenance,” Wellinsky says. Without proper maintenance, however, “I’ve seen them develop problems in 10 years or less.”

How strong are apartment balconies?

If designed properly, your balcony can hold at least 50 lbs. (22 kg) per square foot. However, a balcony is built to safely maintain different weights, depending on the design, materials, and time of construction.

How do they make concrete balconies?

There are two kinds of concrete balconies: continuous slab, which is simply an extension of a building’s concrete floor slab and those that are constructed from steel frames that are mounted to the structure. Steel planks extend from the building’s frame and are then filled with concrete.