"Now It's Time for the Earthquake-Resistant Building Mobilization!"

"Now It's Time for Earthquake-Resistant Building Mobilization!" İzocam, during Earthquake Week held annually between 1–7 March in our country, has called on all of Turkey to mobilize for "earthquake-resistant building construction," emphasizing the importance of thermal and water insulation applications necessary to strengthen the resistance of our buildings against earthquakes. İzocam General Director Murat Savcı, noting that insulation applications, which are indispensable for energy conservation, also bear an important responsibility in protecting buildings' earthquake resistance, made the following comments on the matter: "Technical solutions applied in buildings such as raft foundations, tunnel formwork load-bearing systems, and high concrete strength, as well as insulation products used at critical points, are among the priority elements required for buildings to remain standing during earthquakes. To preserve the durability of buildings as it was on day one for many years, we must protect buildings against external factors. Therefore, one of the measures we need to take to ensure our buildings are earthquake-resistant is thermal and water insulation that is properly calculated and applied with qualified materials and workmanship... Properly executed thermal insulation applications prevent condensation on walls in the face of thermal differences, and thus prevent moisture formation inside walls. Moisture is an invisible formation that damages both the health of residents and the building's load-bearing system. Invisible damage occurring in the building's load-bearing system can cause the building to fail to withstand its resistance during ground vibrations. Moreover, in buildings where water insulation is not properly done, especially in areas where water is present underground, water advancing through capillary paths from the foundations to the entire load-bearing system causes the reinforcement, or steel framework, inside columns and beams to corrode. This adverse condition results in a significant reduction in the building's earthquake resistance. This alarming picture means the loss of safety in the building during future earthquakes. For this reason, implementing water insulation, like thermal insulation, is vital for all buildings. Consequently, we must not forget that insulation applications, which are essential both for our country's economic development and to enable energy conservation in our buildings, also play a critical role in the earthquake resistance of our buildings."

İzocam General Director Murat Savcı continued his statement as follows:

"We have heard experts' warnings regarding the earthquakes with epicenter in Kahramanmaraş on 6 February that devastated 11 of our provinces many times before. Ultimately, because of two major earthquakes occurring 9 hours apart in the same region and their aftershocks, 30,000 buildings were reduced to rubble while over 300,000 residences became uninhabitable. Experts warn that in the future, areas including the Sea of Marmara as well as the East Anatolian, North Anatolian, and Varto Fault Zones where Erzincan and Bingöl are located, and the regions where Hatay and Adana are located that were struck in the recent earthquake, face earthquake risk. Therefore, as we heal the wounds of the provinces devastated in our national mobilization, we must simultaneously build earthquake-resistant buildings in accordance with all these scientific data, saying 'Now it's time for earthquake-resistant building mobilization!' Similarly, in our provinces facing earthquake risk, it is of great importance to promptly analyze the risks in the regions and take the necessary measures to prevent devastation. As is known, earthquake specifications have been applied in our country for 80 years, and the Earthquake Regulation renewed following the 1999 Gölcük Earthquake continues to be updated as deemed necessary. To increase buildings' earthquake resistance, they must be designed according to all applicable laws and regulations, particularly the Earthquake Regulation, soil investigations must be conducted on site, and they must be constructed in accordance with construction techniques in line with these projects."