Buildings Without Waterproofing Cannot Withstand Earthquakes

Emrullah Eruslu, CEO of Eryap A.Ş. and Chair of the XPS Thermal Insulation Manufacturers Association, made a statement marking 17 August earthquake week: "Inspections conducted after the 17 August 1999 Marmara earthquake showed that 64% of collapsed buildings lacked waterproofing. Waterproofing, the building envelope's most critical protective barrier against earthquakes, protects structural reinforcement from corrosion and rust. To live in earthquake-resistant buildings, waterproofing must be installed without fail. Otherwise, a building loses half its load-bearing capacity within 10 years," he said. In his statement for 17 August Earthquake Week, Eryap CEO Emrullah Eruslu noted that in our country, where 95% of the population lives under earthquake threat, 67% of the building stock exceeding 19 million units consists of unlicensed and illegal structures, and 60% comprises residential buildings over 20 years old. Eruslu stated: "Changes to the Building Inspection Law and urban transformation efforts are positive, but results fall short of expectations due to inadequate oversight. To avoid repeating the tragic consequences of the 17 August Marmara Earthquake and the 2011 Van earthquake, consumers must also be aware and question the earthquake safety of their buildings."

Uninsulated buildings lose load-bearing capacity within 10 years

Waterproofing deficiency being the most important factor in building corrosion, Eruslu issued the following warning: "Buildings are exposed to water through precipitation such as rain and snow, rainwater absorbed by soil, wastewater, groundwater, and water use in wet areas such as bathrooms and toilets. Water seeping into buildings causes structural reinforcement to corrode and rust, leading to significant reductions in load-bearing capacity in a short time, concrete deterioration, and the formation of cracks and fractures. For example, after 10 years, reinforcement in a building loses approximately 66% of its initial load-bearing capacity due to corrosion, making it unable to meet the original design values. In buildings without waterproofing, reinforcing steel within the load-bearing system deteriorates over time due to corrosion and rust, creating cross-sectional reduction. In other words, your building begins to decay from within. This reduces the building's resistance to potential earthquakes. This finding was also documented in a study conducted by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality following the 1999 earthquake. Inspections of collapsed buildings revealed excessive cross-sectional loss in load-bearing reinforcement due to corrosion in approximately 70% of buildings." Eruslu explained that the cost of waterproofing during construction represents only 3% of total building costs, and stressed that this should not be viewed as an additional expense given the importance of building safety. Eruslu stated: "Waterproofing must urgently become mandatory, following thermal and fire insulation. Otherwise, in Turkey, an earthquake-prone country, loss of life and property will be inevitable. Furthermore, we believe the urban transformation process will be an important opportunity in this regard."