SB326 Service Around San Diego, CA

SB 326 Overview

The state CA has recently signed into legislation a law that will call for organizations to carry out Deck Inspections once every nine years. The Balcony Inspections will include Waterproofing components and structural component assessment. Deck Inspections must be done by a licensed architect or architectural engineer. Balcony inspections have to do with structures that happen to be timber based over 6 feet in height and are designed for foot traffic.

Why was SB 326 established in San Diego, CA?

SB 326 has been created in an effort to recognize hazards to residents related to declining structural elements in balconies. SB 326 claims that multifamily associations with 3 or more dwellings must be inspected once every nine years. SB 326 only is applicable to condo organizations. SB 326 has been set up to guard against deck collapses. SB 326 went into effect January 2020. SB 326 was in fact put into place a result of the number of deck collapses in the state of California, which led to fatalities.

SB 721 Overview

SB 721 was placed into regulation September of 2017. SB 721 is related to Deck Examinations being carried out on apartment properties. You will find a larger variety of who is able to conduct these inspections for SB 721. Contractors, structural engineers, and architects can conduct Deck Inspections for SB 721. Balconies have to be examined once every six yrs under SB 721. Only 15 Percent for each exterior elevated component must be examined under SB 721.

Exterior Elevated Elements

External elevated elements also called EEEs are what have to be inspected within a new state regulation - SB 326. Exterior elevated elements consist of wooden based components above 6 ft in size that have a load. External elevated elements include balconies, decks, pathways, staircases, landings, and cat walks. All railings and staircase contacts may also be checked out and considered an exterior elevated element. External elevated elements are often checked out by the use of bore scopes, moisture meters, and infrared cameras. Exterior elevated elements should be looked at for structural integrity and waterproofing integrity.

January 1st, 2025

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

Jan 1, 2025 will not be the due date for repairs to get completed. If inspections arn't completed by January 1, 2025, California could demand a fine until conformity is met.

Waterproofing Elements

SB 326 demands waterproofing components be examined on balconies. Waterproofing components include a variety of 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 components. Waterproofing components fail, and humidity passes right through to the deck framework, resulting in dry rot. Waterproofing elements are usually recommended to get installed from a licensed specialized company that focuses on waterproofing elements.

Structural

Structural integrity is key to retaining people safe on balconies. Architectural members include support joists, ledgers, sheeting, beams and various blocking. Structural integrity is compromised when unintended water vapors passed through the balconies waterproofing component and saturate the structural components. With out enough air flow these architectural members stay damp for an extended time period. With the architectural elements keeping water, this weakens the timber and it can be un-safe. Without structural integrity the deck is harmful for occupancy.

Balcony Law

In California, SB 326 is known as the Deck law. The balcony law was created to always keep occupants of multiple family organizations, secure.

The balcony legislation focuses on condominium, associations, and apartment structures. The balcony law was turned into a civil code section 5551 state law. The balcony legislation relates itself to outside elevated elements. The deck legislation or SB 326 was created by senator Hill in 2018 after a deck collapse, in 2015, that ended in deaths of students.