Rigid Inspection Requirements are Necessary to Ensure the Safety of Older Buildings
Continued from Part 1. In a city like New York, where so many buildings are not of recent construction, rigid inspection programs are a must. With age and wear, our balcony railing collapse attorneys point out that floor joists and roof trusses can begin to rot or sag; connections between structural members or parts of a building façade could start to loosen and pull out; and moisture seepage could induce rot in a structure.
The experienced balcony railing collapse attorneys at Denena Points, PC emphasize that balconies and balcony railings are one of the most likely parts of an older structure to fail. Any instability, “give,” or other weakness in balcony railings could cause the structure to fail when weight is placed on it, leading to a serious or fatal fall such as Ms. Jennifer Rosoff’s tragic accident at 400 East 57th Street.
Stonehenge 57 and NYC Inspection Requirements
Stonehenge 57, like most buildings in Manhattan, was built before the Second World War. Stonehenge Management LLC bought the prewar building at 400 East 57th Street less than two years ago and reportedly has been conducting upgrades and improvement to the building. One resident mentioned that the building had been showing its age and signs of wear.
All New York City buildings over 6 stories tall are required to have licensed experts inspect the exteriors, including such structures as balconies, every five years. The inspector must issue a report declaring the exterior: safe, unsafe, or safe with a repair and maintenance program. Stonehenge 57 reportedly received its most recent report in February, but the results of that report are unknown.
Inspectors are currently looking at the balconies on Stonehenge 57 to determine what caused Jennifer Rosoff’s fatal fall, and to ascertain if the building’s other balconies are safe or present safety hazards. Some residents report that Stonehenge Management LLC had been undertaking improvements and upgrades on the property. But our balcony railing collapse attorneys realize that those efforts might not have yet addressed the conditions of the balconies and balcony railings. Our balcony collapse railing attorneys await further developments to understand what happened to cause the tragic fall of Ms. Rosoff.
Read More About Frequent and Thorough Inspections Needed for Older NYC Buildings…