Berkeley Disaster
The reason for the tragically high casualty rate in this accident is the unusual collapse path of the balcony, which flipped 180 degrees and ejected its occupants onto the street below. Had it fallen straight down or at 90 degrees in a normal fall pattern, most of the victims would have stood a much higher survival chance. This is because the membrane, which is there for waterproofing, stretched out while the balcony was rotating downwards but did not rip. The kinetic energy from the balcony pivoting downwards was transmitted to the poor souls projected downwards, in other words, the balcony acted as a springboard, propelling its occupants downwards, head first.
I don't have anything to add to AP's technical take, but yes standards are very stringent in CA.
The reason for the tragically high casualty rate in this accident is the unusual collapse path of the balcony, which flipped 180 degrees and ejected its occupants onto the street below. Had it fallen straight down or at 90 degrees in a normal fall pattern, most of the victims would have stood a much higher survival chance. This is because the membrane, which is there for waterproofing, stretched out while the balcony was rotating downwards but did not rip. The kinetic energy from the balcony pivoting downwards was transmitted to the poor souls projected downwards, in other words, the balcony acted as a springboard, propelling its occupants downwards, head first.
I don't have anything to add to AP's technical take, but yes standards are very stringent in CA.
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