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Deck collapse at Montana country club injures 30

jar546

jar546

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The patio floor of the second-story at Billings’ Briarwood Country Club collapsed on Saturday evening. As a result, several people suffered injuries including head wounds and broken ribs, with individuals landing on one another amidst debris and food scattered on the grass adjacent to the golf course.

According to a police statement, there were no fatalities. However, multiple individuals sustained injuries. The exact cause of the collapse remains undetermined.

Lt. Matt Lennick of the Billings Police Department reported that 25 people were taken to local hospitals, eight received on-site treatment, and others might have been injured. A guest at the event, who suffered bruised ribs after landing on another attendee, estimated that around 40 people were on the deck when it collapsed.

Dr. Clint Seger, the CEO of Billings Clinic, mentioned that they initially received six patients, with more anticipated. A separate report from the Billings Gazette stated that the clinic admitted 11 victims. Dr. Seger added that they had a team of trauma surgeons, ER doctors, and critical care staff ready to assist incoming patients.

The Briarwood Country Club, established in 1984, provides services like golf, dining, and swimming, as per its official website.
 
1984 ...So maybe a 40 year old deck...that's a good long run for wood outdoors built to who knows what for code.......In for the updates....
 
“The painting of the rotting structure was an intentional effort by Briarwood to obscure, conceal, and hide the rotting condition of the deck,” according to the lawsuit.
 
Well...not a ledger failure...Would have been a good time to assess the structure when the decking was off though...Tough to prove it was malicious I would say.
 
This was at a church camp a couple of years ago about 20 miles south of me. The water starts to decay the wood at the end bearing points which are not easily visible to the naked eye. Notice the beam is rotting from the inside with no visible signs of rot on the outside.

1694104532244.jpeg

The composite decking traps the water and over time it will rot.
1694104600797.jpeg
 
Steveray, good catch! The report mentions new paint covered up indications of deterioration of the wood, which combined with the added weight of the new composite decking no doubt contributed to the failure.
 
Yup...looks like the end of the beam rotted in the hanger and sheared off. It looks like the rotten end of the beam is still sitting in the hanger.
 
That language is not in the IBC.

AWPA
American Wood Protection Association
P.O. Box 361784
Birmingham, AL 35236-1784

M4—16: Standard for the Care of Preservative-treated Wood Products
1810.3.2.4.1, 2303.1.9
 
mtlogcabin said:
That language is not in the IBC.

AWPA
American Wood Protection Association
P.O. Box 361784
Birmingham, AL 35236-1784

M4—16: Standard for the Care of Preservative-treated Wood Products
1810.3.2.4.1, 2303.1.9
Click to expand...
Correct...but it was easy...

2303.1.9 Preservative-Treated Wood​

Lumber, timber, plywood, piles and poles supporting permanent structures required by Section 2304.12 to be preservative treated shall conform to AWPA U1 and M4.

From M4:

6. FIELD TREATMENT6.1 General — All cuts, holes and injuries such as abrasions or holes from removal of nails and spikes which may penetrate the treated zone shall be field treated. An AWPA accepted preservative system, determined appropriate in accordance with Section 7 of this Standard, shall be used for field treatment. Field treatment preservatives shall be applied in accordance with the product label. The application method shall coat any surface that is exposed by damage or field fabrication while not using excess preservative. Any excess preservative not absorbed by the wood product shall be cleaned from the surface prior to the use of the product. Bored holes for connectors or bolts may be treated by pumping coal-tar roofing cement meeting ASTM D5643 into holes using a grease gun or similar device.
 
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