Turkey is located in a region where fault lines are dense and earthquake risk is high. The first thing to be investigated by people who want to buy a house is whether the building is earthquake resistant or not. So, how to understand an earthquake resistant house? As Emlakjet.com family, for our readers who are looking for a new home, “How to understand an earthquake-resistant building?” We've compiled the answers to your question.

What are the Features of Earthquake Resistant Houses?

Although a building is new and good in appearance, it may not have the status of an earthquake resistant building. Structures that do not have the necessary strength can cause loss of life and property in a possible big earthquake. In order to understand whether a building is earthquake resistant or not, an earthquake resistance test is performed. There are some important points to be followed in order to examine the earthquake resistance of the building. Here are the features that earthquake resistant houses should have…

Building Age

It is understood from the year it was built that the building was built in accordance with which earthquake code. With the renewed regulations, the required conditions for earthquake resistance of buildings increase and are examined in more detail. In the selection of buildings, it should be noted that it was made after 1999. After the 1999 Marmara Earthquake, a new law on building inspection was enacted and the buildings built came to the fore as more robust. With the new regulation, attention is paid to ensure that not only the concrete and iron quality, but also the quality of the materials used in the electrical and sanitary installations are in good condition. In addition, as the buildings age, the building materials also wear out, so they cannot fulfill their duties successfully.

Ground Condition

The fact that the building was not built on a stream bed or filled areas is very important in terms of earthquake resistance. Buildings built on hard floors are considered earthquake resistant. Whether there is groundwater in the foundation of the building, whether there is filling on the ground and whether the building is located in the river bed are the determining factors in terms of the earthquake risk of the building.

Having an Approved Project

Buildings should be built in accordance with the approved project and should be adhered to after construction. Implementation of applications that are not included in the project, such as installing an elevator in the building afterwards, cutting columns during renovations or illegal floors, may cause security problems. If there is such a situation in your building, you should definitely consult a specialist.

Building Moisture Condition

Humidity means that the waterproofing of the building is not done well. The durability and life of buildings with high humidity are less than those without moisture. Moisture, especially in the basement, can damage the carrier systems of the buildings over time.

Material Quality

The quality of the materials used in the construction of the building is very important. If possible, you can research and take into account the quality of the iron and concrete used.

Beam and Column Condition

First of all, you can examine the columns and beams. If there are cracks in the beams, the building may not be earthquake resistant. However, the absence of cracks does not mean that the building is solid. The most accurate choice to measure the durability of buildings is to have an earthquake resistance test.

Water isolation

Buildings with waterproofing in good conditions both increase the resistance against earthquakes in the long term and ensure that the building has a longer life.

The best way to learn the earthquake risk of your building is to have your building undergo an earthquake resistance test and get an earthquake risk report.