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Exterior Elevated Elements Subcommittee - Resources

History in Brief
In response to the June 16, 2015 balcony failure that occurred at the Library Gardens Apartments in Berkeley, California, which resulted in serious injuries and fatalities, the California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) formed an Exterior Elevated Elements (EEE) Subcommittee. The Subcommittee is comprised of Commissioners Kent Sasaki and Steve Winkel. The purpose of this subcommittee is to review reports and other information regarding failures of this type and to possibly make regulatory or statutory recommendations to the CBSC and/or state agencies that have authority to amend the California Building Standards Code (Cal. Code Regs., Title 24).

Seeking Expertise
In its quest for specialized knowledge concerning the design, construction and inspection of decks, balconies and other elevated walkways, the subcommittee is seeking input from those with the expertise in labor, materials and methods related to elevated elements that are part of a building's exterior. Please participate by submitting reports, data or comments to this repository that support the May 25, 2017 EEE Subcommittee meeting discussions by June 23, 2017. The submitted documents will be added to the May 25, 2017 expandable module (accordion) below.

Legislative Mandate
On September 15, 2016, Governor Edmond G. Brown Jr. approved Senate Bill No. 465 Hill (Chapter 372, Statutes of 2016). This bill directs the working group (EEE Subcommittee) formed by the CBSC to do the following:

  • Study recent EEE failures in California.
  • Solicit technical expertise from representatives of various state agencies, the local building official, design professionals, property owners and managers, the building industry, the wood, steel and concrete industries, and any other interested parties.
  • Submit a report to the Legislature containing any findings and possible recommendations for statutory and/or regulatory changes by January 1, 2018.

Existing Buildings

  • EEE information concerning Existing Buildings (webpage under construction)

Submitting Comments and Information
The EEE Subcommittee accepts comments and information by email. Please include your name and any organization name. Comments should be in a downloadable, searchable format such as a Microsoft® Word (.doc or .docx) or Adobe® Acrobat® (.pdf). Please include "EEE" in the subject line.

The following accordions contain chronological information specific to the building standard development activities for Exterior Elevated Elements:

June 20, 2017

The Exterior Elevated Elements (EEE) Subcommittee meets June 20, 2017. 

June 20, 2017 meeting materials:

  • Meeting Notice and Agenda (PDF) (DOC)
  • Forthcoming - Approved Meeting Minutes
  • Forthcoming - Webcast - (YouTube link)

The following state agencies' request for re-adoption of EEE emergency building standards was approved by the CBSC:

  • California Building Standards Commission (CBSC)
  • Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD)
  • Division of the State Architect (DSA-SS/CC)

May 25, 2017

The Exterior Elevated Elements (EEE) Subcommittee met to solicit technical expertise from representatives of the Department of Housing and Community Development, Division of the State Architect-Structural Safety, Office of the State Fire Marshal, local building officials and plan checkers, structural engineers, apartment owners and managers, the building industry, the wood, steel and concrete industries, and other interested parties pursuant to SB 465 (Chapter 372, Statutes of 2016).

May 25, 2017 meeting materials:

  • May 25, 2017 Meeting Notice and Agenda *REVISED*- (PDF) (DOC)
  • Forthcoming - Approved Meeting Minutes
  • Audio recording - (MP3)
  • Timeline (PDF)
  • Economic and Fiscal Impact Statement, Form 399 - (PDF)
  • Information Bulletin 17-01 - (PDF)

During the meeting several stakeholders provided documentation and comments. 

Contractors State License Board (CSLB)

April 21, 2017 Contractors State License Board (CSLB) press release: Contractors State License Board Reaches Settlement to Revoke License of General Contractor in Berkeley Balcony Collapse Case. This press release includes the Stipulated Settlement and Accusation:

The CSLB completed its investigation and administrative action regarding the Library Gardens balcony collapse, which led to the revocation of the license of Segue Construction, Inc. - the general contractor responsible for the construction of an apartment complex in Berkeley. With the investigation now over, the CSLB has publicly released the following 145-page industry expert report, which specifically addresses the design and construction of the balcony that collapsed:

January 27, 2017

During the January 27, 2017 meeting, the CBSC (staff), Division of the State Architect and Department of Housing and Community Development requested approval of a Finding of Emergency and Emergency Express Terms to amend the 2016 edition of the California Building and California Existing Building Codes (Cal. Code Regs., Title 24, Parts 2 and 10 respectively). The emergency regulations added and amended building standards relative to Exterior Elevated Elements (EEE). These enhanced building standards reflect amendments vetted and approved by the International Code Council for inclusion in the 2018 edition of the International Building Code (IBC) and International Existing Building Code (IEBC). The IBC and IEBC are used as the base model codes for the California Building and California Existing Building Codes.

Information Bulletin (IB) 17-01: Emergency Building Standards for Immediate Enforcement - Exterior Elevated Elements, was issued February 2, 2017, and announced that the emergency regulations were to be effective immediately. IB 17-01 includes the language found in the approved Emergency Express Terms.

January 27, 2017 meeting materials:

  • January 27, 2017 Meeting Notice and Agenda (PDF) (DOC)
  • Approved Meeting Minutes - (PDF)
  • Webcast (no sound) - (YouTube link)
  • Audio recording (backup) - (MP3)
  • Forthcoming - Published Emergency Supplement

December 13, 2016

During the December 13, 2016 meeting under agenda Item 8, the Exterior Elevated Elements (EEE) Subcommittee provided an update to the CBSC, which included the documents they had reviewed, a recap of their two prior meetings, and the recent amendments to both the International Building and International Existing Building Codes specific to EEE.

December 13, 2016 meeting materials:

  • December 13, 2016 Meeting Notice and Agenda - (PDF) (DOC)
  • Approved Meeting Minutes - (PDF)
  • Webcast - (YouTube link)

April 19, 2016

During its April 19, 2016 meeting, the CBSC took action to form the Exterior Elevated Elements (EEE) Subcommittee. The action and discussion was added as agenda Item 9. 

April 19, 2016 meeting materials:

  • April 19, 2016 Meeting Notice and Agenda - (PDF) (DOC)
  • Approved Meeting Minutes - (PDF)
  • Webcast - (YouTube link)

October 21, 2015

The California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) received a letter from the City of Berkeley addressing code amendments, requiring higher standards for weather-exposed balconies and similar elements. The CBSC discussed this letter at its October 21, 2015 meeting. 

October 21, 2015 meeting materials:

  • October 21, 2015 Meeting Notice and Agenda *REVISED* - (PDF) (DOC)
  • Approved Meeting Minutes - (PDF)
  • Webcast - (YouTube link)  
  • City of Berkeley letter - (PDF)
  • Structural Engineers Association of California (SEAOC) letter - (PDF)