Sika meets with DEGÜDER and academics

During Earthquake Week, Sika, a leading organization in the Building Chemicals sector, carried out an awareness project with the participation of Sinan Türkkan, Chairman of the Board of Deprem Güçlendirme Derneği, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Beyza Taşkın, Faculty Member at Istanbul Technical University Department of Civil Engineering, Prof. Dr. Erdem Canbay, Faculty Member at Middle East Technical University Department of Civil Engineering, Prof. Dr. Alper İlki, Faculty Member at Istanbul Technical University Department of Civil Engineering, and Turgay Özkun, General Manager of Sika Turkey. Within the scope of the project conducted during Earthquake Week; videos featuring opinions on the earthquake-compliant production and strengthening of Turkey's building stock will be published throughout March on Sika's digital channels. The project aims to inform citizens about the issues they should pay attention to when preparing their buildings against earthquakes in our country, which is located on one of the world's most active seismic zones. Sika Turkey General Manager Turgay Özkun stated that reinforcement is a very important alternative for risky buildings identified by experts within the existing building stock as having reached the end of their lifespan, and continued as follows: "Earthquakes are a reality for our country, and we live in a geography with active fault lines in terms of location. For buildings identified as risky within the existing building stock, reinforcement is a very important alternative both in terms of proper resource management and economically, as well as in terms of time." Emphasizing that reinforcement requires expertise, Özkun stated, "We also conduct awareness activities on this subject. Regarding the correct application of correct products at the correct time; we conduct training activities for contractors, those who prepare specifications, and industry professionals. Structural reinforcement is not a routine application; it requires serious application knowledge. Before that, a reinforcement project must be carried out with authorized experts on the subject, and the applications must also be carried out with authorized specialist contractors while adhering to this project," he said. [caption id="attachment_160072" align="aligncenter"] Erdem Canbay - Turgay Özkun[/caption]

Buildings must be brought into compliance with earthquake regulations!

DEGÜDER-Deprem Güçlendirme Derneği Board Chairman Sinan Türkkan stated, "There are 2 million buildings in Istanbul and we face serious problems in the building stock where citizens live. We have no time. It is not easy to rebuild or demolish and reconstruct so many buildings in such a short time." Stating that bringing buildings into compliance with earthquake regulations is the most correct solution, Türkkan added, "Reinforcement means bringing the building into compliance with the 2018 regulation; it does not mean repair." Noting that building chemicals play an important role in reinforcement, Türkkan said; "For a building to be properly reinforced and to remain standing during an earthquake, first there is a need for correct engineering service, a correct project, and a good application company. However, most importantly, the building chemicals must be carefully selected. Particularly after the 6 February earthquakes, many building chemicals brands emerged. These are being sold and applied without control, and it is very important that this be brought under supervision," he said. Only four years of undergraduate education should not be sufficient for earthquake design! Prof. Dr. Erdem Canbay, Faculty Member at Middle East Technical University Department of Civil Engineering, discussed the importance of earthquake design, which refers to the design of structures to be resistant to earthquakes. "Incorrect earthquake design by the project engineer, design without considering soil properties, and construction defects in the site can cause damage," he said. Emphasizing that design programs are only auxiliary tools and guidance, and that the actual design must be accomplished with the engineer's knowledge, engineering intuition, and experience, he stated, "It is imperative to raise civil engineering education in universities. In an area as important as earthquakes and where incorrect applications result in disasters, obtaining a diploma with only four years of undergraduate education and becoming an earthquake designer should not be considered sufficient." [caption id="attachment_160073" align="aligncenter"] Sinan Türkkan - Okan Ovalı[/caption]

Care must be taken in material selection!

Istanbul Technical University Department of Civil Engineering Faculty Member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Beyza Taşkın made the following statements: "The entire principle of reinforcement depends on the correct material being used in the correct location and manner. First, when selecting material, the following should be considered: How much importance does the selected brand give to R&D within its structure, how current does it keep itself and its product range, what will be its reactions to the tests to be conducted, if an independent organization were called, would it stand behind its product, would it have international certifications starting with CE certificate, such matters are important."

We are not prepared for an Istanbul earthquake

Taşkın summarized what has been done since the Marmara earthquakes and the expected situation as follows: "We are not prepared for an Istanbul earthquake, but we are not in as bad a condition as before; awareness level and technology have advanced greatly," she said. Saying that the scope of the problem must be narrowed for preparedness, Taşkın explained, "Existing buildings—including structures such as bridges and natural gas lines—should be reviewed and strengthened; and those that need to be should be demolished and rebuilt as soon as possible." Emphasizing that reflexes are also very important, Taşkın recommended that citizens create disaster plans and conduct drills within their homes and surrounding areas to be able to quickly perform correct behaviors during an earthquake.

Correct diagnosis, correct reinforcement project, and correct application are one whole!

Istanbul Technical University Department of Civil Engineering Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Alper İlki stated that there is no one-size-fits-all reinforcement system for buildings, saying, "There must be correct diagnosis, correct reinforcement project, and correct application. Otherwise, the reinforcement performed serves no purpose. We cannot ensure that every project is correct or that every contractor is performing the correct application method. Therefore, inspection mechanisms are important," he said. Noting that fiber polymer composite materials, also known as carbon fiber among the public, have important characteristics and a structure that provides ease of application, İlki stated, "These materials, composed of a combination of high-strength fibers and polymer matrix, are lightweight, high-strength, and shapeable. The ability to be produced with infinite mechanical and geometric properties is also an advantage. Currently in the world, it has even begun to be used in place of steel reinforcement. It is widely and effectively used in the reinforcement of reinforced concrete structures. In this respect, it has an important place in the reinforcement of structures in areas with high earthquake risk such as Istanbul," he said.