From ASHI, NDRA, Simpson Strong-Tie and The Home Depot.
May is Deck Safety Month® and we're encouraging homeowners to go out into their backyards and check out their decks. To help with deck inspection, Simpson Strong-Tie is teaming with The Home Depot this May for deck safety workshops at stores throughout the U.S. Check your local store for class offerings.
"The reality of deck collapses is that many are not reported unless someone is injured or some legal action occurs," said Dr. Don Bender, a deck safety researcher and director of the Wood Materials and Engineering Laboratory at Washington State University. "It's important for homeowners to remember that a valid deck inspection requires a registered design professional. If homeowners have any questions about finding a professional in their area, they should consult with their local building department."
The top ten U.S. cities with the highest percentage of homes with decks, as determined by the American Housing Survey for Metropolitan Areas, and that have reported one or more deck collapses in the last 10 years are: Atlanta, Birmingham, Kansas City, Seattle-Everett-Tacoma, Denver, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, Cincinnati and Miami-Ft. Lauderdale.
For example, in 2006 four people in Atlanta were seriously injured in a second-story deck collapse when inspecting a home they were considering purchasing. In 2001, five people were injured and an 18-year old student attending Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Wash., was killed during a college party at a student-rented house when a deck collapsed.
The Home Depot and Simpson Strong-Tie also will host several events demonstrating safe deck construction techniques and the problems with a poorly constructed deck. Representatives from the North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) and the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) will be on hand to answer questions. Events will be held at 10:00 a.m. in the parking lots of these locations:
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Seattle Saturday, May 3rd, 10am The Home Depot 26120 104th Ave SE Kent, WA 98031 |
Atlanta Saturday, May 10th, 10am The Home Depot 1200 E W Connector SW Austell, GA 30106 |
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| Long Island Saturday, May 17th, 10am The Home Depot 86 Jericho Turnpike Jericho, NY 11753 |
Chicago Saturday, May 31st, 10am The Home Depot 2201 Oakton St Evanston, IL 60202 |
For more information about deck safety, visit our Strong, Safe
SOURCE Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc. via PR Newswire.
Editors Note: On May 4th, 12 teenage members of a youth group in Buckley, WA were injured when an elevated deck they were sitting on collapsed while they were posing for photos. Three were released to their parents and nine were taken to hospital for treatment. To read more click here.
About Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc.
For more than 50 years, Simpson Strong-Tie has focused on creating structural products that help people build safer and stronger homes and buildings. A leader in structural systems research and technology, Simpson Strong-Tie is one of the largest suppliers of structural building products in the world. The company manufactures metal connectors, such as joist hangers and other hardware, used to secure the structural frame of homes and decks. For more information, visit the Simpson Strong-Tie Web site at http://www.strongtie.com./
About North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA)
NADRA serves as a unified source for the professional development, promotion, growth, and sustenance of the Deck and Railing industry in North America. The association offers educational resources for industry professionals and consumers, and is continually developing new programs and initiatives. As the voice of the industry, NADRA works for consistent communication between the supply chain, builders and code officials in order to help make decks as safe as possible for consumers. Learn more at http://www.nadra.org./
Deck Safety Month is a registered trademark of NADRA.
About the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI)
In its 31st year and with more than 5,500 members and 80-plus chapters, ASHI is the oldest and most widely recognized non-profit, professional organization of home inspectors in North America. Its Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics is the industry standard. For more information or to locate a home inspector, visit http://www.ashi.org/ or contact ASHI at hq@ashi.org.
Some of this information was obtained from Mike O'Handley of the Inspectors Journal
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