What are the specifications of earthquake-resistant buildings in Turkey?
Many countries follow strict building standards to protect against natural disasters such as earthquakes, and Turkey is one of the most popular countries to adopt strict earthquake safety requirements. But do all the specifications of earthquake-resistant buildings apply to Turkey’s properties? What are the design requirements for earthquake-resistant buildings?
What are the earthquake-proof buildings in Turkey?
Earthquake-proof buildings are buildings whose design aims to minimize the impact of earthquakes on the building and its inhabitants.
Earthquake-resistant buildings are designed and built based on a range of special research and studies, such as studying soil quality at the construction site, and selecting the materials best suited for building construction.
The design of earthquake-proof buildings also aims to select vibration-tolerant doors and windows, build walls to protect them from cracking or collapsing, and set a maximum height for buildings in each area.
What are the government’s measures in Turkey to protect against earthquakes?
After the 1999 Marmara earthquake, the Government in Turkey began to take a series of actions and enact new building laws. The main ones were:
Modify and supervise the mechanisms of the construction process, so that it is conducted under the supervision of engineering consulting companies commissioned directly by the municipality.
In 2007, a law was passed specifying Turkey’s earthquake-resistant buildings. Accordingly, all Turkey’s and Istanbul’s properties have been surveyed and classified.
Turkey’s old properties were classified according to a 3-degree risk index, and construction solutions were developed for low and medium-risk buildings, but high-risk buildings were evacuated and demolished immediately.
Earthquake insurance has also been applied in Turkey “Dask”, which is compulsory even for foreigners working in real estate investment in Turkey, in order to avoid losses in the event of future natural disasters.
Specifications of earthquake-resistant buildings in Turkey
The law in Turkey stipulates that the construction of Turkey’s properties of all kinds shall take place according to criteria starting from the moment the construction land is chosen, namely:
First, the site soil must be examined and the “Soil Study Report” submitted. It contains information on the quality and hardness of the soil, as the hardness of the land contributes to the reduction of the concussion of the building at the time of the earthquake.
The report may contain proposals for the establishment of earthquake-resistant buildings on vulnerable soils, but if the soil is too fragile, the site is excluded from construction.
Earthquake-resistant buildings should be supported against shocks and shocks by calculating the weights that concrete columns will carry and ensuring that they can carry roofs.
The structure of earthquake-resistant buildings is also being coherent and reinforced with strong joints that absorb seismic pressure. This means less shock and greater safety.
There is a ceiling on the height of earthquake-resistant buildings in Turkey, where the height of modern buildings is not allowed to exceed 50 metres. If the limit is exceeded, the building is reinforced with more insulators and joints on the upper floors.
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What is the impact of earthquakes on real estate investment in Turkey?
Research conducted after the earthquake of Izmir (2020) indicates that 95% of the damaged buildings were old buildings ranging in age from 20 to 30 years, and are therefore not built according to the specifications of the 2007 earthquake-resistant buildings.
The Turkish president said that 98% of the buildings that collapsed as a result of Turkey’s earthquake (2023) were built before 1999. The Government would begin building 30 1,000 housing units for those affected by the earthquake early next March.
The Istanbul earthquake (2019) was a testament to the fact that Turkey and Istanbul’s properties in particular are resilient to earthquakes and safe for the population.
In addition, Turkey’s real estate sales in subsequent years have increased, especially during 2022, when Turkey’s real estate sales set a record.
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