VAV is investigating the safety of balconies in some of its buildings
The authorities have recommended that property owners check the safety of their balcony railings following the recent spate of balcony accidents that have been in the news. An investigation is also underway in VAV’s buildings, and the measures taken as a result are continuing.
The accidents reported in the media did not occur in VAV buildings. Safety deficiencies in Finland have concerned balconies with fibre-cement balustrades, as well as balconies where the lower section of the balustrade is made of glass.
We have reviewed our property portfolio and identified the properties requiring inspection. Our properties do not have fibre-cement balustrades of the type involved in the accident reported in the news. The review and inspection of glass balcony railings is continuing.
In the coming months, an external expert will inspect the balconies of VAV’s buildings where the lower section of the balcony railing is made of glass. The inspections will take place in the autumn, once the tendering process for inspectors has been completed. We will inform residents of the inspections well in advance.
Inspections will not be carried out on balconies where the lower section is made of a material other than glass. Nor do safety deficiencies or inspections concern the glazing on the upper sections of balconies.
We urge you to exercise caution
To date, we have not identified any safety issues on the balconies of any of our properties. However, we ask that you exercise caution on balconies – for example, please do not lean on the glass sections of the balcony railings.
If you notice any damage to the glass at the bottom of your own flat’s balcony, please contact us immediately by submitting a fault report either omavav.fi or by telephone 010 235 1450. We aim to carry out individual inspection visits prior to the main inspection round.