Article: Don't Inspect Another Deck Until You Read This!

[John Bowman]

For anyone involved in the inspection, design, construction, remodeling or repair of decks, a comprehensive study relating to the occurrence and reporting of deck collapses from January 2000 to December 2006 has been released by DeckLok Bracket Systems, LLC. Some noteworthy examples from the report include:
The percentage of reported collapses that occur during “collapse season”.
The percentage of people who are on a deck when it collapses that are injured or killed.
How many deaths since 2000 as a direct result to a deck collapse.

Don't inspect another deck until you read this! http://bcodes.infopop.cc/groupee_fil...ort-012907.pdf

DeckLok Bracket Systems, LLC
West Branch
9401 54th Ave NW, Bldg 1B,
Gig Harbor, WA 98332
Toll Free: (866) 617-DECK (3325)
www.deck-lok.com

[tdietrich1]

guest login?

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by tdietrich1

guest login?

You can read it here...
Deck-Collapse-Report.pdf

[klott]

Thanks John

[Joseph Burkeson, CMI]

The guys who pioneered the study were from Virgina Tech, professor Joe Loferski and biological systems engineering professor emeritus Frank Woeste.

Make Sure Your Deck Is Safe

In an effort to improve deck safety, Virginia Tech wood science and forest products professor Joe Loferski and biological systems engineering professor emeritus Frank Woeste have been conducting research for nearly six years on the structural engineering of decks and balconies. Their research and subsequent recommendations have directly led to changes in the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.

Loferski and Woeste have identified two major points of failure for decks and balconies. Decks commonly fail due to the connection between the deck and the house, which typically causes a sudden and total collapse of the deck. Research has shown that many cases of deck collapse occur at loads that are much smaller than what the design should have supported. Loferski said, “If a deck is designed and constructed to carry the intended loads, very few failures would occur. Decks can be built to handle many people, but past design and construction standards weren’t always adequate.”

Until recently, building codes have offered little guidance on how to produce connections that are capable of safely supporting the deck’s design load. By reconstructing various types of deck to house connections, using the resources in the Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources’ Wood Engineering Laboratory at the Brooks Forest Products Center, Loferski and Woeste were able to measure the load needed to break the connections. They also identified safe connections using bolts and lag screws for a variety of joist spans. The Virginia Building Code has adopted new standards based on the results of Loferski’s and Woeste’s testing.