Porch collapse

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Porch collapse or Balcony collapse is a phenomenon typically associated with older multi-story apartment buildings that have wooden porch extensions on the front or rear of the building. The collapses have a number of causes, including overloading due to excessive weight from overoccupancy (too many people).[1] Overoccupancy can result from guests filling a porch at a party [2] from people seeking cooler breezes during a heat wave, or from people filling a porch while seeking shelter from the rain. [3] It may be from the weight of furniture/appliances, wading pools, or air conditioner compressors. After years of rain and snow, it may be from rotted wood.[4] soil subsidence under the porch foundation, rust of nails and fasteners,[5] and not being built to specifications required by modern day building codes. Many older porches were built before codes required them to be able to support a legally mandated load of so many pounds per square foot or meter, and porches are often not as sturdily built as interior structures.

The phenomenon is associated with older multistory apartment buildings with wooden porches. Architect Stanley Tigerman said that in New York City one finds steel fire escapes, but in Chicago, the distance to alleys behing multistory brick buildings encouraged the construction of wooden multistory porches.[6]


While not an everyday occurrence, collapses happen often enough in Chicago that city building inspectors make a point of checking porches when making inspections.[7] People have been killed and injured by collapses of wooden porches in other cities as well.[8][9]

A Chicago porch collapse during a get together in the Lincoln Park neighborhood in 2003 killed 12 people. Approximately the weight of 50 people caused the porch of the 1890s vintage building to fail.[10][11] The disaster inspired a 2005 episode of the ER television show.[12]


[edit] References

  1. ^ [1] O'Connor, Phillip J., "Second-floor porch collapse leaves 18 hurt" Chicago Sun Times, August 17, 1997
  2. ^ "22 Injured in Collapse of Porch At Cocktail Party in Newport, R.I." New York Times (1857-Current file). New York, N.Y.: Jul 15, 1979. pg. 14, 1 pgs
  3. ^ "100 plunge into pit as porch collapses; Storm-bound Men, Women, and Children in Claremont Park Dropped Into a Cellar. Twenty-six are injured; Panicstricken, Those on the Porch Fight Desperately and Thousands Clamor About the Scene." New York Times. New York, N.Y.: Jul 19, 1909. pg. 2.
  4. ^ [2] "Fireman sues over porch collapse" Chicago Sun Times, June 26, 1996
  5. ^ [3] Missouri Case Law - LEVIN v. HILLIARD, 266 S.W.2d 573 (Mo. 1954)] "LEVIN v. HILLIARD, 266 S.W.2d 573 (Mo. 1954), LEVIN v. HILLIARD ET AL. No. 43379. Supreme Court of Missouri.
  6. ^ [4] Le, Phuong "The Back Porch, A Chicago Tradition, Prompts Concern; Residents Wary After Deadly Collapse." The Washington Post, Jul. 13, 2003, page A05
  7. ^ [5]Spielman, Fran "City steps up porch checks in year since tragedy." Chicago Sun Times, June 29, 2004
  8. ^ [6] "Man dies from injuries in porch collapse." Boston Globe, October 6, 1998
  9. ^ [7]Ellement,John "Porch collapse leaves 15 tenants in housing limbo." Boston Globe, August 16, 1999
  10. ^ [8] "Chicago balcony collapse kills 12 " BBC.co.uk
  11. ^ [9] "City officials sue Chicago building owner over porch collapse." AP story in USATODAY July 2, 2003
  12. ^ [10] Budasi, Teresa "'ER' heroics in porch collapse enhance Carter's farewell." Chicago Sun Times, May 20, 2005
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