I don't know if this is appropriate to post in this fashion, however, credit is given to the photographer and all involved in this catastrophe.
And, seeing as how this is (in my view) an educational forum, I feel that we can all bebefit from this situation and possibly fine tune our radar when evaluating similar structures.
This collapse happened over the Memorial day week end when about 70 guests of a wedding reception rehersal gathered on the deck. Two are still hospitalized and fortunately there were no fatalities.
The link to the news story is here
No structural problems in Pawleys Island porch collapse
The link to the slideshow is here.
PHOTOS: Pawleys Island deck collapse
I uploaded the pictures as follows:
1. Danny Mercer of the structural engineering firm Stantec examines the condition of the deck at 304 Atlantic Avenue in Pawleys Island. Temporary steel columns have been installed for support.
2. Danny Mercer of the structural engineering firm Stantec examines the condition of the deck at 304 Atlantic Avenue in Pawleys Island. Temporary steel columns have been installed for support.
3. Temporary steel columns have been installed for support to stablize the remaining deck and railing.
4. Jeff Tanner a structural engineer with Stantec points out a weakness in the way the deck support beams were anchored to the framing.
5. Floor boards from the collapsed deck can be seen hanging down on the south side of the house at 304 Atlantic Avenue in Pawleys Island.
6. The street-side view of 304 Atlantic Avenue in Pawleys Island. The deck that collapsed is on the right side of the house.
7. Georgetown County Building Inspector Robert Cox points to rusted bolts in the center of the deck support beam that broke causing the deck to collapse at 304 Atlantic Avenue in Pawleys Island. He suspects that the bolts may have weakened the beam and contributed its failing.
8. Robert Cox, Georgetown County building inspector, pointed out that the deck had been nailed to the framing of the house instead of bolted through it.
All pictures are credited to TOM MURRAY
tmurray@thesunnews.com