Things to Consider When Looking For Earthquake Resistant Home

Turkey is a country located in the earthquake zone. Therefore, the construction of buildings in an earthquake-resistant manner is very important both for the sustainability of structures, urban planning and safety. Purchasing earthquake resistant houses; long-term return on investment, safety of those living inside the house, protecting the value of the house and not interrupting the development of the region is critical plays a role.

So how should an earthquake-proof house be? What to look for and what features of the house to check in order to buy earthquake-resistant house? We have compiled for you some of the frequently asked questions and answers about earthquake-resistant homes.

What Are Earthquake Resistant Building Materials?

Quality ready-made concrete is the most used building material in earthquake-proof house construction and gives the best results. Today, reinforced concrete is used in the highest and safest structures all over the world. In order to make the structures as earthquake-resistant as possible, supervised and high-quality manufactured concrete should be considered as the main material in both columns and beams and curtains. 2018 Turkey Building Earthquake Regulation recommends the use of at least C25 strength grade concrete in buildings.

In the same way, steel structures are one of the main materials that should be preferred in earthquake-proof house construction. Steel is a durable and lightweight material with a long service life. Stretching property allows this material to protect the integrity of the structure against earthquakes. Steel structures are also ideal for creating aesthetic, spacious, spacious, comfortable, ergonomic spaces in the design of buildings.

The distinctive point about the material to choose when building an earthquake-resistant house is that the material should be as light and flexible as possible, conducive to a strong rigidity at the same time. Designs made taking into account these principles are called “seismic designs”. Selected materials in accordance with the principles of seismic design naturally increase the earthquake resistance of the building.

How to Tell if the House Is Earthquake Resistant

Realize how important the level of earthquake resistance of a building is when buying a new real estate or making assessments on the conditions and value of the house you own You can. The fact that a structure is resistant to earthquakes depends on many different reasons and the interaction of these causes. Below we have listed some criteria that you can check to understand whether the structure is earthquake-resistant:

condominium

If you are buying new real estate and want to own an earthquake-proof home, one of the first criteria to look out for is condominium. In order to have a title of condominium of a building whose construction has been completed, it is necessary to have a certificate of residential property of the building. By the regulations made in the legislation after 2001, if after receipt of documents if the structure has not been altered, the buildings suitable for obtains a certificate of inhabitance and, consequently, condominium title, are earthquake-resistant buildings.

But before 2001, the legislation does not contain an obligation on earthquake-resistant construction of buildings. Therefore, to become an earthquake-proof home, you need to check whether the building was built before or after 2001, then acquire condominium title based on the condition of the building.

Even if the building was built after 2001, it is advisable to make sure whether the structure is earthquake-resistant, with support from specialists. Support from experts to make sure about issues such as whether the building is made in accordance with the floor plan in the project, whether the columns in the building are used in the thickness and frequency in the plan You can get.

Damage reports

If the building was damaged during a previous earthquake, a damage report may have been filed on the building. In the same way, damage reports may be available about situations where the building was damaged by reasons other than earthquakes. Reaching out these reports and reviewing the reports is one of the smartest steps you can take when choosing an earthquake-proof home.

Basement

The fact that a building's basement is damp, damp, damaged and in poor condition can mean that the building is not earthquake-proof. The precaution you need to take against this situation is to check the basement of the building and review the insulation systems. For example, a malfunction in the waterproofing system of the building makes the building vulnerable to weather changes. During weather conditions such as rain, hail, snow, flooding, the foundation of the building can receive water, which causes the foundation to become increasingly weak. A weak foundation is one of the main reasons for the destruction of the building during an earthquake.

Wall demolition

If the entrance floor of the building you are investigating is owned by a business such as a shop, the owners of the business have demolished, modified or partial some of the walls on the ground floor to open up space in the venue as you may have eliminated. Such a situation gives you a disadvantage in owning an earthquake-proof home. Moved or demolished walls on the ground floor can cause the building to become earthquake-free.

Foundations and columns

The foundation and columns of a building are what keeps the building afloat and strong against extraordinary situations such as earthquakes. In order to buy an earthquake-proof house, you need to make sure that the columns and foundation of the building where the house is located are intact. If there are cracks in the columns of the house, if the ground floor is higher than 3 meters, demolished walls are located, there are situations that create doubts about the foundation of the building, support from specialists before buying real estate do not neglect to take.

What Are Earthquake Resistant Foundations?

Earthquake One of the most important conditions for buying an earthquake-resistant house is to make sure of the strength and durability of the building foundation. The basis is one of the main factors that determine whether a building is earthquake-resistant. So which foundations can be preferred when choosing earthquake-proof house, which foundations are known as earthquake-proof? Here are two of these basics:

Insulated (Insulated) Foundations

The distinguishing point of these foundations is the earthquake isolator, which is placed under, in the middle or above the lowest columns of the structure connected to the foundation. These insulators, also called seismic isolators, pass the vibrations that occur on the ground during the earthquake to the superstructure as little as possible, so that the earthquake acting on the carrier elements decreased forces. Damping the energy caused by the earthquake is the main goal of such foundations.

Razor Foundations

In this type of foundation, which is known to provide a great advantage and resistance to earthquakes, the basic principle is about ensuring a balanced spread of the load of the building over the ground. In buildings with ramped foundation, the foundation moves along with the building itself during an earthquake, which makes the building strong against earthquakes. The razor foundation, which is often preferred in earthquake zones, protects the building from earthquake shocks with its movable structure that minimizes damage. When looking for earthquake-resistant houses, you can consider the advantages of buildings with railing foundation to the structure during earthquakes and make your assessment accordingly.

What Are the Risks Created by Structures in the Creek Bed?

Another of the things you should definitely check during your search for earthquake-proof homes is whether the structure is located on a creek bed. Since creek beds are located directly on the flow path of water and water can form flood basins in these places, building foundations for creek beds are one of the most unbearable earthquake foundations.

The creek deposits, by their nature, attract water, forming a moist and flexible foundation. These areas have a structure that can move, disperse and slip even in the smallest shaking. The fact that the building was built on the creek bed poses great hazards with the vibrations that the earthquake will create and, most likely, result in destruction.

The index allows you to make the most accurate decision before buying an earthquake-resistant home with the knowledge of earthquake risk that it offers during the valuation process. Be sure to check the earthquake risk ratio for the relevant area and region from the Index before your real estate trading operations.