Is your building ready for an earthquake? When strengthening is needed

Buildings built before 2000, without a design, or with a ground floor converted into a shop may be at risk. Learn the condition of your building with a seismic performance analysis.

İzmir lies in a first-degree seismic zone, and the earthquake of 30 October 2020 showed all of us the consequences. So how do you know whether your building is safe?

Warning signs

• The building was constructed before 2000 under the old earthquake code
• There is no design, or floors or extensions were added contrary to the design
• Columns or shear walls were cut on the ground floor to create a shop
• Cracks, reinforcement corrosion or spalling concrete are visible on columns and beams
• The building stands on fill, a former stream bed or soft ground

What is a seismic performance analysis?

The actual strength of the structure is measured using concrete core samples and reinforcement detection. The building is modelled according to the Turkish Building Earthquake Code and the performance level it achieves in the expected earthquake is determined. The result is presented as a report.

Strengthen or demolish and rebuild?

If the analysis shows the structural system is adequate but some elements are weak, strengthening is usually far more economical than demolition and can be applied without residents vacating. If the structural system is generally inadequate, reconstruction under the urban transformation scheme is considered. In both cases the right decision can only be made with the analysis report.

At İlka Grup the preliminary review is free. Learn about our structural strengthening service or request a preliminary review.