How to Choose an Earthquake-Resistant House in Turkey?

After deciding to buy a house, one of the most important criteria in the process of choosing a house is that it is an earthquake-resistant house. Methods and tests have been developed to understand whether a house is earthquake resistant. It is very important for your health that the house is earthquake resistant. Earthquake-resistant houses should be preferred to protect your home from destruction and guarantee your life safety. Earthquake-resistant real estate should be selected to avoid material losses in the houses taken for investment and to make a safe investment. The new earthquake regulation applied in Turkey is quite successful in earthquake resistance in buildings built in recent years. One of the most common misconceptions is the idea that aesthetically beautiful buildings are earthquake-resistant. The steps for understanding earthquake-resistant buildings are listed and explained below.

1. Find out the Building’s Age

Building age is very important due to building fatigue and laws that have changed over the years. The regulation on the earthquake suitability of buildings in Turkey was changed and updated in 2018. The new structures comply with current standards. In addition, it is subjected to a lot of supervision when building new buildings.  Building fatigue is another important danger. Earthquake resistance of structures built many years ago is lower than new buildings.

2. Ask for the Building’s License

Having a building permit is one of the most important legal requirements. If you are interested in a house that does not have a license, you should stay away from that house. Because unlicensed houses neither meet the safety criteria nor meet the legal requirements. These buildings are earthquake-resistant since they have not been inspected in any way.

3. Check the Basement of the Building

Waterproofing and installation in buildings is an important criterion for reducing building fatigue and maintaining the quality of materials. If there is dampness in the basement of the building when it is checked, this means that the insulation and installation are not done well and safely. Over time, building materials can be damaged, and iron rusts and cracks form. As a result of them, earthquake resistance decreases.

4. Pay attention to the Design of the Building

The design of the building is one of the factors affecting earthquake resistance. In this regard, support parts such as columns and beams ensure the charge distribution of the building and are the primary measures against earthquakes. The structure of the columns and beams should be well examined.

5. Check for Cracks in the Building

The presence of cracks in the building and the deterioration of the integrity of the building is a factor that increases the risk of an earthquake. Because it means that the building has been damaged before. It is necessary to know in advance that these buildings are not solid and will suffer even greater damage in a serious earthquake. When buying a new house, it is necessary to check whether there are cracks inside and outside the building and how they are sized.

6. Inquire about the Building’s Location

The floor on which the buildings are built and the structure of these floors are very important. The best precaution that can be taken in this topic is to request and review the building soil investigation report.

7. Earthquake Endurance Test

The earthquake endurance test is a test that reports in advance whether the building is earthquake-ready and durable. Some private companies provide services in this field. So, when you want to buy a house, ask the seller for an earthquake endurance test report. Firstly, the companies conduct a general and simpler inspection of the building. The visible symptoms are being examined. After that, the core test is performed. In other words, some samples are taken from the building and examined. The next step is damage detection with seismic instruments. In addition, the most important building material of the buildings, the iron, is examined After all these stages are completed, a report is prepared in the light of all the information. These tests must be requested and examined before the house is purchased.

What are the Characteristics of Earthquake Resistant Buildings in Turkey?

The characteristics of earthquake-resistant buildings in Turkey are listed below.

• Strong building foundation
• Quality building material
• Strong colons and beams
• Projects made by architects and engineers
• Soil investigation report
• Waterproofing
• Investigation and observation
• Damage report
• Earthquake Endurance Test
• A young building by current regulations
• Licensed building

How to Protect your Home from Earthquake Damage?

To protect your home from an earthquake, you should first take tests regularly. According to the results of earthquake resistance tests, columns, beams, and distribution of charge should be strengthened. With the help of engineers, projects can be created and weaknesses can be strengthened. Quality materials should be used. In addition, illegal floors must not build which are not suitable for buildings. Illegal structures that do not comply with the plan disrupt the stability of the building and greatly reduce its earthquake resistance. Another factor is earthquake insulation. Companies specializing in the field provide seismic insulation by earthquake insulation method. It is aimed at minimizing the harm by creating a layer. In addition, most precautions should be taken before buying a home. That is why, when choosing a house, you should be very careful.

What are the City and Examples of Earthquake-Resistant Houses in Turkey?

Houses that began to be built after the earthquake regulation update in Turkey are earthquake resistant. You can see these measures when you look at the features of projects. In particular, Istanbul, Izmir, and Antalya are the cities where the construction sector is developing. There are a lot of earthquake regulation inspections and inspections for the use of quality materials in these cities. The Sinpas Boulevard Sefakoy project, built-in Istanbul, started in 2018. In other words, the project is being carried out by the new regulation and earthquake resistance. Asem Loft Residence project, another project built in Izmir, is a project that uses earthquake-resistant materials.

How to buy an Earthquake-Resistant House in Turkey?

To buy an earthquake-resistant house in Turkey, first of all, documents such as an earthquake resistance certificate, building license, and soil investigation report should be requested from the seller. In addition, observation should be carried out inside the building. You should make a DASK examination. All these steps should be followed to get earthquake-resistant houses.

Does Turkey Have Earthquake-Proof Buildings?

Yes. According to the current regulation, newly constructed buildings must be built to withstand 7.6 severity. In line with these statements, it is predicted that after 1999, buildings lower than 7 floors by the new regulation will not collapse in earthquakes up to 7.6 magnitudes. The important part here is the high-rise buildings. Experts state that the situation in reinforced concrete buildings with more than 7 floors has changed and their resistance to earthquakes has decreased.