Item - 2011.PG8.8
Tracking Status
- This item was considered by Planning and Growth Management Committee on October 6, 2011. The Planning and Growth Management Committee has referred this item to an official or other body without making a decision. Consult the text of the decision for further information on the referral.
PG8.8 - Status Update: Glass Balcony Guards
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Referred
- Wards:
- All
Committee Decision
The Planning and Growth Management Committee referred this item to the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, with the request that she report back to the Planning and Growth Management Committee meeting on November 8, 2011, on the findings of the review into glass balcony guard safety and provide recommendations for action by the City in considering its own practices and to inform discussions with the province, professional designers and the building industry in addressing the issue of glass paneled balcony guard safety.
Origin
Summary
The purpose of this report is to recommend that the Planning and Growth Management Committee direct the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building to report to the November 2011, Planning and Growth Management Committee, on the findings of Toronto Building's review into glass balcony guard safety and provide recommendations for action by the City on the issue.
This report also provides a status update on Toronto Building's response to the failure of glass panels on several high-rise condominium towers in the downtown area. Toronto Building is acting proactively to ensure that the public is protected in and around each of the buildings affected and is investigating the causes of the failures to determine what further actions should be taken to protect the public.
Toronto Building has received Professional Engineer's reports on three of the buildings where glass balcony panels broke: 37 Grosvenor, 38 Grenville and 1 Bedford. This report summarizes the preliminary findings to date and should not be considered conclusive for consideration of the issue in its entirety. Toronto Building has retained an independent Professional Engineer to peer review the reports and any remedial plans being proposed by the developers. The consultant is also working with staff to develop recommendations for any action required by the City in considering its own practices and to inform discussions with the province, professional designers and the building industry in addressing the issue of glass paneled balcony safety
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-41215.pdf
Motions
8a - City of Toronto calls for Comprehensive Review to determine why glass panels are falling from some high-rise buildings
Origin
Summary
Over the course of past year, glass panels have shattered and fallen from several high-rise buildings in Toronto, causing great concern in the surrounding communities about public safety.
To date, despite the best efforts of City and development industry engineers, the cause of this hazard has not been determined conclusively and no explanation is available.
Council must ensure that the first priority of the City's processes, procedures and policies is to protect the communities that are home to tall buildings. Although opinions about the merits of tall buildings vary, everyone can agree that where they are approved and built, they should pose no risk to safety.
We have a responsibility to determine the cause of the falling glass and devise a solution.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-41217.pdf