Early Thursday morning, a woman died after falling 17 stories from the balcony of her Manhattan apartment. A full investigation is underway, but in the meantime a spokesperson for the NYC Department of Buildings issued the following statement:
“As a precaution, the Department has issued a vacate order for all balconies in the building. The investigation is ongoing.”
John Fiore from Olympian Home Services joined the PIX11 Morning News anchors to offer expertise advice on how to make sure your balcony is safe for use. The company he works for provides a range of services from general home inspection for buyers and sellers to environmental inspection (including mold) to roofing certifications to “not so basic” termite inspections. This full service inspection company also reviews safety guides for balconies and recommends the following:
1) Look for rust and decay
2) Check bolts and joints
3) Be sure to look on the under side of your balcony
4) See how your balcony is affixed to your building
5) Make sure balusters/railings meet height and width guidelines
For Olympian Home Services complete safety inspection checklist and occupant guideline recommendations, go to www.olympiancares.com or call (888) 492-4419 to speak with a knowledgeable representative.
