Balcony collapse due to overloading

Dunedin (Monday, 4 April 2016) – An independent report has found the recent balcony collapse in North Dunedin was due to overloading.

The Dunedin City Council launched an investigation after18 people were injured, two seriously, after a balcony collapsed during a concert at 598 Castle Street, a property with student flats, on 4 March.

DCC General Manager Services and Development Simon Pickford says DCL Consulting has concluded the cause of the collapse could be summed up as “the balcony being critically overloaded beyond its ultimate capacity”.

The balcony met the building code requirements when it was built and the building has building consent.

Mr Pickford says, “While it’s important to know the balcony was built to code, the key issues centre on the event itself and where it was held.

“This was a great initiative where students were enjoying themselves. However, this wasn’t a suitable location for the concert and as a city we need to work out the best way for students to have fun while they are in Dunedin, but to do it safely.

“We are all very aware students were seriously hurt as a result of this incident and we want to reduce the chances of anything like this happening again.”

The DCC is discussing these issues with the University of Otago, the Otago University Students’ Association, emergency services and other stakeholders.

In the report, the consultant has made recommendations for further action, including that the balcony materials be assessed to see if further strengthening of the remaining flat balconies would be prudent. Mr Pickford says the DCC had already suggested the property owners obtain independent engineering advice and strengthen the other balconies.

The report states a different loading standard for balconies, particularly in the student precinct, could be implemented if the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) changed the law. The DCC has already referred this point to MBIE for further consideration and suggested MBIE looks at this option to allow councils to enforce a higher standard than under the current Building Code.

The Ministry will also receive the full report, as will the owner of the flat with the collapsed balcony and other property owners at that address.

The DCC will also write to the Otago Property Investors Association and local property management companies suggesting they encourage members who own high density residential buildings with balconies to read the report and decide if further action is required. The DCC is also giving this advice to people making new consent applications for similar high density accommodation buildings.

A copy of the report is available at www.dunedin.govt.nz/balcony.

ENDS

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