Building Safety Month: Check Your Deck
By Andy McDonald
Deck safety is an often-overlooked facet of home maintenance, and failure to build a deck correctly or to keep it in good working order can result in property damage, injury and even death. For that reason, the City of Berea Codes and Planning Department is educating local residents and contractors by emphasizing deck safety during May, which has been designated as Building Safety Month by the International Code Council. The state of Kentucky has led the nation in Building Safety Month Proclamations for the last three years.
A deck incorrectly built or maintained can have serious consequences. Within the last year in Madison County Circuit Court, there have been two lawsuits filed involving deck accidents. One complaint was filed against a property owner after a tenant fell as the result of a deck in disrepair. The other case was filed against a general contractor who built a deck in Richmond where an infant drowned. In both cases, owners were accused of building or maintaining unsafe decks.
City of Berea Codes and Planning Administrator Dale VanWinkle suggests decks should be regularly inspected and properly repaired before family and guests are allowed to use them. VanWinkle recalled a case in recent years in which a student was killed after a deck rail gave way. With some basic inspection, that tragedy might have been averted, VanWinkle said. “People can have serious problems with their decks and not know it, especially on the second floor. In May, we’re trying to get people to think about deck safety.”
To give residents an idea of how to inspect an outdoor deck, the Codes and Planning Department suggests the following tips, which can be remembered with the words BE SAFER:
Boards: Are the boards of your deck splintering, mildewed or warped?
Every Connection: Check every connection including the deck connections to house, stairs and rails.
Structure: Assess the deck’s structure for sagging, tilting or other obvious structural problems.
Attachment: How does your deck attach to the house? Ensure that the method used to connect the deck to the house is still doing its job.
Foundation and Footings: Check your deck’s foundation for any areas that may be sinking.
Exits: How do people leave your deck? Check all exit points including stairs to insure they are safe and clear.
Rails: Wiggle your handrails; are they secure? Check to insure guards are installed no more than 4” apart.
If the deck is found to be damaged, worn, and in need of fixing, city officials urge property owners to get them repaired. “If they are having problems, they should definitely consult a contractor,” said Assistant Codes Administrator Amanda Haney.
Even if the deck is structurally sound, using them in the wrong way can make them hazardous. Making sure the deck is kept free of clutter is an easy but sometimes overlooked precaution, and clutter near the entry and exit points of a deck can cause falls and injuries. Additionally, people shouldn’t be too careless with barbecue grills by placing them too close to the building. “There have been a few fires here in town after barbecue grills on decks were set too close to the house,” VanWinkle added.
Contractors have a special responsibility in making sure a deck is built safely, and city officials are hoping they’ll stop into the Codes and Planning Department when they pull the building permit on the property, then receive some helpful tips on how to avoid problems. “In the past, we’ve had some decks that weren’t built as they should have been, and once they are built, it’s hard to get them corrected,” VanWinkle said. For that reason, investing time consulting codes officials at the beginning of the process can save contractors trouble later.
For more information, contact the City of Berea Codes Enforcement Office at 859-986-8528.