NADRA, ASHI & Simpson Kick off Deck Safety Month

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Pleasonton, CA - May 1

Today the North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA), the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) and Simpson Strong-Tie kick off Deck Safety Month® with a nationwide campaign to educate homeowners about ensuring their decks are safe and secure. Nearly 85 percent of homes in the U.S. have a deck, balcony or patio. It is estimated that 20 million of these decks nationwide are in need of repair or rebuilding.

"Deck failures like the tragic Chicago collapse of 2003, and the hundreds that go unreported each year, occur in an instant," said Michael Beaudry, executive vice president of NADRA. "We want to make sure consumers are aware of the necessity to maintain their decks, as well as the risks of having improperly built decks. It is critical that homeowners have the information and tools to regularly make sure that their decks are safe for use, no matter where they live."

In the past ten years, there have been more than 800 reported injuries and 20 deaths as a result of deck collapses. In many cases the failing decks were built incorrectly, had not been properly maintained or were beyond their lifespan of approximately 10-15 years.

"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.

"Reported deck failures often occur in cities with older housing stock, large populations or in areas located on or near the water," said Jeff Arnold, ASHI executive director. "We want to remind homeowners to make sure they work with their home inspector to take the appropriate steps to keep their friends and family safe."

To evaluate the safety of their decks, homeowners should look for five warning signs that a deck is unsafe: loose connections (for example, a wobbly railing), missing connections (for example, the deck is just nailed, rather than bolted or screwed, to the side of the house), corrosion, rot and cracks. The two critical areas that typically contribute to a deck collapse are the railings and the deck's connection to the house.

To ensure the structural safety of a deck, it should be built with a continuous load path -- a method of construction that creates a series of solid connections within the structure of the deck that transfers the load through its frame to the ground and adjacent support structure, commonly the house. If homeowners are unsure of the safety of their deck, experts suggest consulting with a registered design professional.

"Most deck collapses are entirely avoidable," said Steve Pryor, P.E., S.E., building systems R&D manager for Simpson Strong-Tie. "Our goal is to help educate homeowners about proper deck design, construction and maintenance so they can stay safe while enjoying their decks this summer."

In addition to its deck safety efforts with NADRA and ASHI, Simpson Strong-Tie is teaming with The Home Depot this May for deck safety workshops at stores throughout the U.S. 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. Events will be held in these cities: Seattle - May 3rd; Atlanta - May 10th; Long Island (Jericho, NY) - May 17th; and Chicago - May 31st.

To assist homeowners in evaluating the safety of their deck, Simpson Strong-Tie has developed a deck edition of its "5 Steps to a Safer and Stronger Home" and a "Deck Framing Connection Guide." The five steps include checking for the warning signs of an unsafe deck, knowing how weight and other forces affect the safety of a deck, ensuring the deck is built with a continuous load path, combating corrosion and knowing how to maintain a deck. The guide is designed to help those who are building a deck understand the critical areas of deck construction. For more information, or to download the Deck Guide and "5 Steps to a Safer and Stronger Home," visit the Simpson Strong-Tie Web site at http://www.strongtie.com/safedeck.

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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.