Nearly 1 in 5 inspected Berkeley buildings pose safety risk

Building inspection sweeps in Berkeley, prompted by a deadly balcony collapse last year, found that almost 20 percent of residences investigated need fixes to meet safety requirements.

After the June balcony collapse killed six young people and injured another seven, the city created the inspection program to check whether certain exterior features like balconies, landings and decks were safe for residents.

In the wake of the horrifying collapse — which happened during a 21st birthday celebration and killed five Irish nationals and one Rohnert Park woman — the city changed its regulations surrounding balcony design.

New balconies built in the city cannot be enclosed, like the one at Library Gardens, because those without ventilation systems can lead to moisture buildup, said Matthai Chakko, the city spokesman.

The inspection program’s findings, first reported by local news site Berkeleyside, examined residences with three or more units and looked at building components that were raised several feet from the ground and exposed to weather elements.