Balconies, decks and fire escapes are common outside of hotels and apartments in San Francisco, yet many owners neglect to do regular, annual inspections to assure the safety of these attachments. On September 17, 2003 the City of San Francisco issued the “604 Affidavit” certification in order to bring building attachments up to safety standards.
The Department of Building Inspection in San Francisco requires owners of apartment buildings (including residential condominiums of 3 dwellings or more) and hotels (6 guest rooms or more) to have all building exterior decks and appendages inspected by a licensed general contractor, or other licensed professional. This is to verify them being in safe condition, adequate working order, and free from hazardous dry rot, fungus, deterioration, or improper alteration.
Building attachments are described as: Wood and metal decks, balconies, landings, stairway systems, exit systems, fire escapes, guardrails, handrails, porches, or any parts in weather-exposed areas. This also excludes interior building areas.
Property owners need to provide proof of compliance by submitting an affidavit signed by the responsible inspector to the Housing Inspection Services Division every five years.
(a) Affidavit Required. All wood and metal decks, balconies, landings, exit corridors, stairway systems, guard rails, hand rails, fire escapes, or any parts thereof in weather-exposed areas of apartment buildings and hotels shall be inspected by a licensed general contractor, or a structural pest control licensee, or a licensed professional architect or engineer, verifying that the exit system, corridor, balcony, deck or any part thereof is in general safe condition, in adequate working order, and free from hazardous dry rot, fungus, deterioration, decay, or improper alteration. Property owners shall provide proof of compliance with this section by submitting an affidavit form (provided by the Department) signed by the responsible inspector to the Housing Inspection Services Division every five years. For purposes of this section, weather-exposed areas means those areas which are not interior building areas.
Owner Jim Schlagel is a License “B” Contractor and is authorized to perform inspections toward compliance with CA Law SB721 and SB326. Some of the top cities we serve are Fresno, Sacramento, Bakersfield and Los Angeles.