SB721 Services In Oxnard, CA

SB 326 Overview

The state of CA recently signed into legislation a law which will call for organizations to perform Deck Assessments once every nine years. The Balcony Examinations will incorporate Waterproofing features and structural element examination. Deck Assessments must be performed by a licensed architect or architectural engineer. Deck assessments pertain to structures that happen to be hardwood based over 6 feet in height and are equipped for foot visitors.

Why was SB 326 established in Oxnard, CA?

SB 326 was created as a way to recognize threats to people pertaining to faltering architectural components in balconies. SB 326 claims that multifamily organizations with three or more dwellings must be inspected once every nine years. SB 326 only is applicable to condominium associations. SB 326 was set up to guard against balcony collapses. SB 326 went into effect January 2020. SB 326 had been put in place due to the number of balcony collapses in the state of California, which in turn resulted in deaths.

SB 721 Overview

SB 721 was put into law September of 2017. SB 721 is related to Balcony Assessments being carried out on condominium properties. There is a bigger variety of who can conduct these assessments for SB 721. Building contractors, architectural engineers, and architects are able to carry out Balcony Inspections for SB 721. Balconies should be examined once every 6 years under SB 721. Only 15% for each outside elevated element has to be inspected under SB 721.

Exterior Elevated Elements

Exterior elevated elements also known as EEEs are what should be inspected within a new state law - SB 326. Exterior elevated elements consist of hardwood based components above 6 ft. in height that carry a load. External elevated elements consist of balconies, decks, walkways, staircases, landings, and cat walks. All railings and staircase contacts will also be inspected and considered an external elevated element. Exterior elevated elements are sometimes examined by the use of bore scopes, dampness meters, and infra-red cameras. External elevated elements have to be evaluated for structural integrity and waterproofing integrity.

January 1st, 2025

All visual assessments per SB 326 has to be performed by the particular date of January 1, 2025.

Jan 1, 2025 will not be the due date for all repairs to get completed. If inspections are not performed by Jan 1, 2025, California could demand a fine until conformity is satisfied.

Waterproofing Elements

SB 326 requires waterproofing components be inspected on balconies. Waterproofing components consist of numerous things. Waterproofing elements are flashings, sealants, Door pans, deck, surface finishes, outdoor patio waterproofing, post penetration sealing ect. Waterproofing components are necessary to examine. Structural failure begins with failed waterproofing elements. Waterproofing components fail, and moisture moves right through to the deck structure, resulting in dry decay. Waterproofing elements are usually encouraged to get installed from a certified specialty organization that are experts in waterproofing elements.

Structural

Structural reliability is key to keeping residents safe on balconies. Architectural components include support joists, ledgers, sheeting, beams and other blocking. Architectural reliability is jeopardized when unintentional water vapors transferred through the balconies waterproofing system and saturate the structural members. With out satisfactory air flow these structural members stay damp for an extended time frame. From the architectural elements keeping water, this weakens the wood and it is compromised. Without architectural integrity the deck is hazardous for occupancy.

Balcony Law

In California, SB 326 is referred to as the Deck law. The deck law was made to continue to keep people of multi family organizations, secure.

The balcony law targets condominium, associations, and apartment buildings. The balcony law was converted into a civil code section 5551 state law. The deck law pertains itself to outside raised components. The deck law or SB 326 was written by senator Hill in 2018 after having a deck failure, in 2015, that led to fatalities of university students.