Balcony is an accessible appendage from a building usually enclosed by walls or balustrades and supported by columns or console brackets.

Balconies can be used by building occupants for leisure purposes.

Whenever there is a safety concern about a balcony, a building professional should be engaged to carry out an investigation and proffer a solution.

Balcony can collapse causing serious or fatal injuries if there is lack of proper maintenance.

Maintenance and use of the balcony

The following tips are important in the maintenance of usage of balconies:

• Always clean the balcony.
• Check handrails and balustrades to ensure they are not loose, rust or unstable.
• Do not erect unauthorized structure or use the balcony for storage purposes.
• Check for deflection signs, spalling of concrete, rust stains on exposed steel reinforcement.
• Do not use the balcony for storage purposes.
• Always unclog the drain and avoid ponding of water on the balcony.

When you notice any sign of deterioration on your balcony (such as cracks, corrosion, rust, or discoloration), you should contact a building envelope consultant. Some of these visual indicators may be a sign of more serious problems beneath the surface.

Any of these defects create hazards, minor defects can develop into major defects and become more costly to rectify and could result in fatal injuries to users.

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