Decking and Outdoor Living

A deck collapse that injured over 20 Washington and Lee University students at a Friday night party was apparently the result of the deck's "faulty attachment" to the house, according to a Rockbridge County (Lexington, VA) building inspector.

With approximately 40 (some accounts are up to 80) students on the 440-square-foot lumber deck, the structure pulled away from the side of the house and collapsed. Dawn Watkins, dean of students at Washington and Lee, said school officials are already having discussions with landlords and city and county officials about "the minimum standards of properties."

"We realize the accident could have had even more significant [consequences] than those of which we are aware," said the letter, posted on the newspaper's Web site. "The porch collapse taught us all a valuable lesson of the importance of public safety and event planning."

Review my latest blog on deck safety, or visit the NADRA website for additional information on what to look for.