13 August 2001
Brest regional housing department suggests banning use of balconies in houses built before 1970

 The Housing Department of the Brest regional government presses for a ban on the use of apartment balconies in houses constructed before 1970. The move follows a balcony crash in the city of Kobrin, in
which two people were killed and five seriously injured on
July 8.
The commission, which investigates the incident, found that the balcony collapsed because of insufficient bearing capacity of the concrete slab, which had manufacturer defects. The defective slabs were widely used for construction of houses in the region before 1970, the department said. The department suggests that residents should give a written pledge to keep their balconies shut before their examination by construction experts. The department said that approximately 80,000 balconies must be examined in the region. The regional government is reportedly drafting a directive to that effect.