Structures that are not resistant to earthquakes should be renewed urgently

Making a statement on the occasion of the 17nd anniversary of the 1999 August 22 Marmara Earthquake, Turkish Ready Mixed Concrete Association President Yavuz Işık said that when the new Turkey Earthquake Hazard Map, which came into effect in 2019, is examined, it is seen that more than 70 percent of our population lives in areas with high earthquake risk, and that He said that 6,7 million houses, which are not resistant to earthquakes, should be renewed urgently.

Turkish Ready Mixed Concrete Association (THBB), which has been working since 1988 to produce concrete in accordance with the standards in Turkey and to ensure correct concrete applications in construction, reminded the fact of the earthquake on the 17nd anniversary of the earthquake that took place on 1999 August 22. Yavuz Işık, Chairman of the Board of the Turkish Ready Mixed Concrete Association, who drew attention to the fact that if measures are not taken against earthquakes in the future, as there have been many devastating earthquakes in our country in the past, said: We see that more than ten of them live in areas with high earthquake risk. Since 2019, 70 million residences have been transformed in Turkey. In 2012, the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization announced that out of 1,5 million residences where urban transformation is required, 2019 million residences, which are called urgent and priority, will be renewed within the scope of urban transformation within 6,7 years. Today, necessary steps should be taken to renovate all of the 1,5 million earthquake-resistant dwellings in Turkey, and urban transformation efforts should be accelerated.” said.

Especially the buildings built before the 90s must be renewed.

Pointing out that some of the earthquakes we experienced in 2020 once again revealed the importance of THBB's mission, Yavuz Işık continued his speech as follows: “There have been earthquakes in our provinces of Elazığ, Van and İzmir. We sent teams of our experts to examine the damaged structures in Elazig and Izmir. The reports we prepared as a result of the detailed examination of the collapsed or heavily damaged buildings and the testing of the samples revealed that the use of low quality concrete produced by hand with primitive methods and insufficient reinforcing steel, which does not comply with the standards, causes demolition, along with serious engineering and application weaknesses. We found that poor quality and low-strength concretes mixed and poured by hand or with simple concrete mixers were used, especially in buildings built before the 90s, and that the concrete quality of the demolished buildings was very low-strength concrete such as C6, C10. Since these poor quality concretes are very porous and permeable, they also cannot protect the reinforcing steel inside against the effects of the external environment and causes corrosion. In other words, there is no need for an earthquake to demolish these structures, these buildings are candidates for self-destruction with environmental impact factors. These structures definitely need to be renovated.”

Quality ready mixed concrete with KGS certificate will save many lives in a possible earthquake.

Emphasizing that it is possible to survive the earthquake with less damage with the use of quality concrete and inspection, Yavuz Işık: “It is seen in the researches that one of the important causes of earthquake destruction is the use of non-standard concrete, application and project errors. The most important problem of the ready mixed concrete sector in our country, which needs earthquake resistant structures, is that some manufacturers produce uncontrolled and poor quality. As THBB, our priority is to inform all segments of these producers and our public, to explain the importance of the THBB Quality Assurance System (KGS), and to work for the quality production of all concrete used in our country. Our Association, which aims to guarantee quality in the field of ready mixed concrete, ensures the production of quality and high strength classes of concrete by controlling the production conditions, technical and laboratory infrastructure, and personnel adequacy of the facilities with the Quality Assurance System (KGS). KGS, which carries out on-site inspections of concrete production facilities as well as unannounced product inspections, contributes to the widespread use of concrete with quality continuity with its impartiality. Inspection of ready-mixed concrete covering the entire production process is an inevitable condition for producing buildings that are resistant to earthquakes and other external effects. In urban transformation, it is necessary to use quality concrete and to ensure correct concrete applications. Quality ready mixed concrete with KGS certificate, which will be used in the construction of new buildings and urban transformation works, will save many lives in a possible earthquake.” said.

All rules in the construction process must be strictly followed.

Referring to the rules to be considered during the construction construction process, Yavuz Işık stated that all the rules of "ground inspection", "correct project design", "quality material", "correct application" and "inspection" in the design and construction chain of the constructions must be fully complied with in order for the buildings to be earthquake resistant. He underlined the importance of the Building Inspection System in our country.

Higher strength class concrete should be used in constructions

Saying that the Turkish Building Earthquake Code stipulates the use of at least C25 strength class concrete in buildings, Yavuz Işık said, “According to this Regulation, which came into force in 2019, it is pleasing to raise the concrete strength class to be used in buildings by one class, but it is not enough. In order for reinforced concrete structures to be resistant to earthquakes for many years, they must be void and impermeable, as well as being resistant to external environmental effects. In order to ensure this durability, that is, durability, it is very important to increase the concrete strength classes even more. We can predict that properly designed and inspected buildings built with high strength classes and quality certified concrete will have less damage in an earthquake.” said.

We continue our Earthquake Performance Analysis service

Pointing out that they continue to provide R&D and technology consultancy services to the sector with the Turkish Ready Mixed Concrete Association Concrete Research Development and Consultancy Center, which they established with the support of the Istanbul Development Agency (ISTKA), Yavuz Işık said: , with its expanding capacity, serves important projects in our country and abroad. We continue our Earthquake Performance Analysis service that we started in 2019. Curious about the earthquake resistance of their buildings; We can prepare detailed and distinctive Earthquake Performance Analysis Reports for property owners, building managers, engineering offices, municipalities and local administrations, and public institutions. In this context, we also cooperate with local governments.” said.