A second-story condo balcony with several people on it collapsed Wednesday evening, leaving one person with minor injuries, according to a statement by the Mountain View Fire Department.
The balcony of the home, located on the 50 block of East Middlefield Road, reportedly gave way around 9 p.m. on Sept. 11. The balcony separated from the exterior wall of the building and fell to the ground, fire officials said, leaving hanging debris at the scene.
The balcony occupants were able to get back inside the home during the collapse prior to the fire department's arrival, and no additional victims were found under the balcony.
One person was treated for minor injuries by declined to be transported to the hospital.
The cause of the collapse is still under investigation, fire officials said.
Comments
Cuesta Park
on Sep 12, 2019 at 10:45 am
on Sep 12, 2019 at 10:45 am
Great no one was killed!
Old balcony construction and maintenance is a continuing homeowner problem. Even when the homeowner lives in a condominium community, rather than a large commercial rental property. The Berkeley residential balcony collapse several years ago showed the problem (unfortunately with a loss of life) - and there was a legislative response with a new law.
HOWEVER, it is the condo association (a type of non-profit corporation) that has the legal responsibility to monitor the safety of it's buildings (exterior balconies are 'elements' under the association). This means hard core building inspection and hard core rules enforcement (no large heavy planting pots & posted restrictions on Max # of People). These must be paid for by the association - out of the yearly HOA fees. Many HOAs do not run efficiently or responsibly.
If the HOA in this case did their due diligence (I was on a board where we inspected and replaced external stairways = Lakes of Mountain View on Sterling) then no problem. Otherwise - they should expect the city Building Dept will be all over them (with inspectors and red tape and etc.)
Registered user
Cuesta Park
on Sep 12, 2019 at 10:51 am
Registered user
on Sep 12, 2019 at 10:51 am
I am so glad everyone got back inside in time!
Another Mountain View Neighborhood
on Sep 13, 2019 at 8:30 am
on Sep 13, 2019 at 8:30 am
I've seen plenty of rot in the wood of 20-30 y.o. homes, esp wood exposed to outdoor elements.
Landlords, how old is your building?
*You are liable. Better get an inspection on record for your own protection
Cuesta Park
on Sep 13, 2019 at 12:48 pm
on Sep 13, 2019 at 12:48 pm
Here is a link to the 2018 inspection law (signed by Gov Brown) caused by the Berkely incident.
press www.irishtimes.com/news/world/us/california-passes-balcony-inspections-law-in-response-to-berkeley-tragedy-1.3633641
Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkeley_balcony_collapse
It is reported in the Irish Times because 6 Irish students related to UC Berkeley were the ones killed in that (avoidable) accident. I haven't read the law - it casually seems related only to multi-family rentals and not condo associations (HOA).