Amarillo Globe-News: Elevating Standards : Occupants or a building inspector should conduct a twice-yearly inspection of your balcony. Look for split or rotting wood; loose or missing nails, bolts or screws; missing, damaged or loose support beams and planks; and wobbly handrails or guardrails.
If you're planning a party on your balcony, get a structural engineer's advice.
Firehouse.com: 'Panic, Screams, Fear' Fill Calls Following Porch Collapse: 'There's a bunch of people trapped under the deck,' one caller is heard saying on the tapes. 'We are pulling wood off the deck and people are trapped.'
'There was approximately 200 people,' another caller told the dispatcher. 'It was probably at least 50 people on the top deck and 75 people on the bottom.'