2003 Chicago Balcony Collapse - Investigation

Investigation

Initial inquiries suggested that the collapse was probably due to overcrowding. This was backed up by neighbors, who told authorities that the balconies were only designed to hold between twenty and thirty people. Chicago's fire chief said that "It appears to be a case of too many people in a small space." Norma Reyes, the city’s building commissioner, said "I have no indication of any substandard problems or insufficiencies with the porch at this time. The buildings are not made for large assemblies and parties."

However, it was ultimately determined that poor construction was to blame. In 1998, a permit was issued to owner LG Properties to install furnaces, air conditioners and water heaters in the building, but not to build the balcony. The balcony jutted out eleven feet from the building, one foot further than permitted by city codes, and had an area of 231 square feet (21.5 m2), 81 square feet (7.5 m2) larger than permitted. The balcony also had inadequate supports, was floored with undersized lengths of wood, and was attached to the walls with screws that were too short. However, the City of Chicago's Inspectional Services Department visited this site over 5 times and never noticed or cited the code violations noted above.