Fanar Realty | What are the earthquake resistant buildings in Türkiye?

Inquiring about earthquake-resistant buildings in Turkey, their importance, and the need for them, has become necessary, especially after many feared earthquakes and their lack of knowledge of the Turkish laws and regulations that deal firmly with the issue of conformity of buildings on its lands to the most accurate standards of resistance to earthquakes and natural disasters, and many laws have been enacted that make Real estate owners are safe and secure in the face of any unexpected emergency.

To talk about all these details, Al-Fanar Real Estate prepared this article for you about complexes and buildings that are characterized by earthquake resistance in Turkey.

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Why are we talking about earthquake-resistant buildings in Türkiye?
There may be several reasons behind discussing earthquake-resistant buildings in Turkey, and one of the reasons is that Turkey is located in an earthquake-prone area, and it has already been exposed to several earthquakes and earthquakes, including what was devastating, especially in 1999 and 2023, because the country is located on several fault lines active, and earthquakes are relatively common.

Due to the frequency and intensity of earthquakes in Turkey, there has been a growing awareness of the need for earthquake-resistant buildings, as many experts believe that buildings designed and constructed to withstand earthquakes can help reduce damage and save lives in the event of a seismic event.

As a result, there has been a growing interest in earthquake-resistant building practices in Turkey, with a focus on improving building codes, building standards, and public awareness of the issue.

What are the specifications of earthquake resistant construction?
Earthquake-resistant construction refers to the design and construction of buildings that can withstand the forces of an earthquake. The specification of earthquake-resistant construction varies depending on several factors, including the level of seismic activity in the area, the type of soil and foundation on which the building is built, and the intended use of the building.

However, some general features of earthquake-resistant construction include:

Solid and strong foundations
A strong foundation is crucial for earthquake-resistant buildings as the building must be able to withstand the lateral forces generated by the earthquake and transfer these forces to the ground without collapse or major destruction in the building.

Shock-resistant side design
The building must have lateral strength to resist the lateral vibrations that occur due to earthquakes, and this can be achieved by designing the building to be more solid and strong horizontally, just as it is strong and solid vertically.

Building standards help dissipate vibration energy
This is known in construction science as "damping", a term referring to the ability of earthquake-resistant buildings in Turkey to absorb and dissipate the energy generated by an earthquake. This can be achieved by incorporating damping systems into the building design, such as using shock absorbers.

Building reinforcement
Bracing refers to the use of diagonal or cross bracing to provide additional strength to a building and bracing can be used in walls, floors, and ceilings to improve the overall stability of a building during seismic tremors.

Construction flexibility
A very solid building can be more susceptible to damage during an earthquake, as a certain level of flexibility must be incorporated into the design of the building to allow it to move and sway during an earthquake without causing it to collapse, and this is one of the most important advantages followed in earthquake-resistant buildings in Turkey, especially in modern complexes built after 2000.

The quality of the building and the materials used in its construction
Earthquake-resistant construction requires high-quality construction materials and techniques to ensure that the building can withstand the forces generated by an earthquake. This includes using high-strength steel and concrete, properly strengthening walls and floors, and ensuring that all joints are strong and secure.

Turkish laws for earthquake-resistant real estate
Some of the major laws and regulations for earthquake-resistant properties in Turkey include:

Turkish Building Code TBC
The Turkish Building Code (TBC) sets minimum standards for the construction of earthquake-resistant buildings in Turkey, including anti-seismic design and construction.

TBC also defines procedures for assessing building seismic risk and retrofitting existing buildings to improve their resistance to anticipated earthquakes and natural disasters

List of earthquake damage mitigation
This regulation specifies requirements for the construction of new buildings, as well as the modification of existing buildings, to ensure their resistance to earthquakes. The regulation specifies specific technical requirements for the design and construction of buildings, including the use of high-strength materials and the incorporation of earthquake-resistant features.

Presidency of Disaster and Emergency Management in Türkiye "AFAD"
The Disaster and Emergency Management Department supervises earthquake-resistant construction in Turkey. AFAD provides guidance and recommendations to building owners, architects and engineers to ensure the construction of earthquake-resistant buildings in Turkey.

Land Registry Law
According to the Real Estate Registry Law, potential buyers are required to disclose seismic risks before selling a property. This law aims to ensure that buyers are aware of the seismic risks of a property before purchasing.

Building Inspection Act
This law allows for regular inspections of buildings to assess their resistance to earthquakes. This is done by the concerned institutions, as it follows that buildings that are found not to be compatible with the standards of earthquake-resistant buildings in Turkey are required to undergo building modernization and abide by the decisions of the inspection committees, even if the decision is to demolish the building and reconstruct it. .

In general, these laws and regulations aim to ensure that new buildings in Turkey are constructed to be earthquake resistant and that existing buildings are retrofitted to improve their seismic performance and of course the aim is to reduce the risk of damage and loss of life in the event of an earthquake.