Explosion in demand for durability test of buildings: From 20 thousand TL

After the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes, the demand for the building durability test increased by more than 100 percent, while the detailed report comes out in a month and the cost per building starts at 20 thousand lira.

After the earthquakes that affected 11 provinces centered in Kahramanmaraş, most of the citizens who lived in old buildings began to wonder if their building was intact.

The citizens of many provinces of Turkey, which are located on the fault lines, especially Istanbul, sought to have proof of the building’s durability against earthquakes.

Citizens who consider that their building is risky or want to know if it is resistant to earthquakes can apply to the institutions and organizations determined by the Ministry of the Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and take this test.

WHOM TO REQUEST THE DETECTION COMPLAINT?

On the Ministry’s website, there are municipalities, professional associations, public institutions, universities, private organizations and companies that can request a risk assessment report.

A risk assessment report can be issued in a short time, especially after the selection process by the municipalities and only taking samples of the concrete. However, more time is needed for detailed scanning, where cores are taken from different parts of the building, different processes are performed, and samples are examined in laboratories.

Although the apartment owners pay the cost of risky building determinations, it is enough that one person from the building occupants requests the test in question. After the building durability test, also known as the central report, it is revealed whether the buildings are at risk against earthquakes.

‘BUY YOUR BUILDING PROJECT FROM THE MUNICIPALITY’

In his statement to AA correspondent, Sinan Türkkan, President of the Earthquake Strengthening Association (DEGÜDER), explained how the durability test of the building was carried out, in which a detailed report and a roadmap report were prepared for the solicitor.

Türkkan stated that after the earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş, citizens were also in a state of panic due to the increased risk in Istanbul, adding that everyone was wondering about the state of their building.

Expressing that the earthquake regulation in Turkey is very clear and everything is clearly defined, Türkkan stressed that if the citizen has any doubts about the house they live in, the first thing they should do is go to the municipality and get the current project. of the building.

Türkkan said: “After receiving the current project, we work on the building related to it and determine whether the building is compatible with the current project. This is a very important theme. Because there may be incompatibility between official projects and buildings, ”he said.

‘THE CORE SHOULD BE TAKEN FROM THE IRON-FREE CONCRETE AREA, THE IRON SHOULD NOT BE CUT’

Sinan Türkkan stated that after the project examination, the technical teams carried out a survey study on whether the building’s columns and beams conform to the current project, and continued his words as follows:

“After this work has been carried out, we are doing the main work on the building. While concrete samples are taken during core work, reinforcement determinations must be made beforehand. It is necessary to identify the vertical and horizontal reinforcements and take the core of the non-ferrous concrete area.

Generally, some non-professional and non-expert teams cut the iron in the columns and take the core. This really causes serious problems. After determining the reinforcements in the columns, we take concrete samples in the remaining space and break them in the laboratory.

We determine the bearing capacity of the concrete used in the building. Then we determine the amount of iron in the building and in the columns. Once these are finished, we make cuts and see the reinforcements with our eyes. In other words, we determine if the reinforcement is really suitable for the project or not, or if it is a flat reinforcement by eliminating the oxide margins in the concrete. Subsequently, we carry out studies of the terrain and carry out static analyzes of the building”.

‘THE COMPREHENSIVE REPORT MAY TAKE A MONTH’

DEGUDER’s president, Türkkan, briefly summarized the phases of the seismic resistance test, the process began with the determination of whether the building project was implemented correctly, the determinations of the reinforcement in the columns, the taking of concrete samples, the Elimination of the oxide part of the irons. and checking if they were smooth or ribbed, then the terrain study should be done and finally, he explained that with the help of static analysis and performance analysis, it was decided if the building could be reformed/transformed or how the reinforcement would be done . .

Stating that the report came out after the determinations, samples were taken, laboratory examinations and soil inspection were carried out, Türkkan said, “When a citizen requests a place with 6-7 floors and 20 floors, it can take a month to get the results and do a static analysis.” he said.

Noting that a comprehensive building durability test may vary depending on the size of the dwelling, Türkkan said: “To prepare such a report, it is necessary to check the entire building. The fee may vary depending on the size of the building and the scope of the transactions. The test cost per building starts at 20,000 lira.” he made the statement.

‘CUTTING THE BUILDING DOES NOT CAUSE DAMAGE’

Sinan Türkkan stated that there was a contamination of information, especially on social networks after the earthquake, and that the speech was spread that the cores damaged the building and that this should not be done.

Türkkan said: “With the microtromor system that has recently been spread on social media, it is said that the soundness of the buildings has been determined by external examination and without the studies mentioned above. This is absolutely incorrect information. After taking the core, we fill them with high-strength mortars so that the taken cores do not cause any damage to the building. Therefore, there is no doubt that your building will be damaged.” he said.

Türkkan stated that the idea that a building will not be damaged in a newly built or strengthened earthquake is common, but this is not true. Non-structural elements, that is, walls and areas without columns and beams, can be damaged. This does not mean that your building is risky. The important thing is that there is no damage to the transport system. We achieve this through empowerment or transformation.” he made the statement.

‘IF THE BUILDING IS RISKY, THERE ARE TWO OPTIONS’

DEGUDER President Türkkan stated that after the building’s durability test came out, the homeowner had two options and made the following evaluations:

“You can demolish and rebuild or strengthen your building. This is left entirely to the citizens themselves. If there is a reinforcement decision in the report, the reinforcement can be performed. The report clearly shows how the building will be damaged, where it is weak, where it is strong, and what problems the building will face.

It is not possible to give information on how strong the building will withstand an earthquake. Instead of expecting how strong the building will withstand an earthquake, the earthquake calculations in the explanations are made by considering the highest expected seismic force based on the location of the building. This is a topic on social media. This is not said of any building”. (AA)