Working since 1988 in order to ensure that concrete compliant with standards is produced in Turkey and accurate concrete applications are carried out in constructions, Turkish Ready Mixed Concrete Association (THBB) once again reminded the reality of earthquakes on the 23rd anniversary of the earthquake disaster that occurred on 17 August 1999.
Yavuz Işık, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Turkish Ready Mixed Concrete Association, pointed out that a great loss of life and property will be suffered if measures are not taken against future earthquakes, just like we have experienced in the past, and added, “we see that more than 70 percent of our population lives in regions with high earthquake hazard when we examine the Earthquake Hazard Map of Turkey. A significant part of the population still resides in old buildings that are not earthquake resistant despite the fact that tens of thousands of new housings are built every year. Risk bearing structures must be urgently transformed before an earthquake, which is a phenomenon that we cannot know when, where and how severe it will happen, causes new suffering. According to official data, 6.7 million housings are at risk. Unfortunately, this risk will not disappear in the short term with the transformation of 100-200 thousand housings per year.”
All stakeholders shall take an active role in the process of transforming at least 300 thousand housings each year
Emphasizing the impacts of earthquakes economy, Yavuz Işık said, “The pessimistic scenario of a major earthquake that would happen especially in metropolitan cities such as İstanbul, which accommodate trade, industry and major superstructures and infrastructures, should be evaluated not only with possible casualties, but also with the impact on the national economy. Therefore, it is important that the problems disrupting the pace of urban transformation are solved. While solving these problems will not only provide citizens with safe and comfortable living spaces, it will also revitalize the construction sector and contribute to development and employment. Therefore all stakeholders shall take an active role in the process in order that the Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change can transform at least 300 thousand housings each year.”
“QAS certified quality ready-mixed concrete will save many lives in a possible earthquake”
Pointing out that it is possible to overcome the earthquake with minimal damage with the use of quality concrete and supervision, Yavuz Işık said: “Aiming to assure quality in the field of ready-mixed concrete, Our Association ensures high quality and high strength concrete is produced by supervising the production conditions, technical and laboratory infrastructure and personnel qualification of ready-mixed concrete plants by implementing the Quality Assurance System (QAS). “QAS certified quality ready-mixed concrete to be used in construction of new buildings and urban transformation works will save many lives in a possible earthquake”.
“We encourage all concrete producers to adopt the QAS System to carry out production in accordance with the standards”
Highlighting that 65 percent of the concrete produced in Turkey is produced by the members of the Ready Mixed Concrete Association of Turkey with QAS certification Yavuz Işık added: “This ratio needs to be much higher for an earthquake-resistant settlement. Concrete plants participating in the QAS System carry our a more stable and sustainable production as a result of intensive controls. Thus, both high quality and economic production can be achieved. Trust is built between the concrete producer and the consumer by ensuring production in accordance with the standards. QAS Certified concrete producers are especially preferred because they conduct supervision to all producers in the sector in an impartial and accurate way. Today, it is pleasing for us that the technical specifications of certain prestigious projects require the concrete producer companies to be QAS certified THBB members as a prerequisite. Accordingly, we encourage all concrete producers to adopt the QAS System to carry out production in accordance with the standards.”
Concretes with higher strength and appropriate environmental impact class shall be used in constructions
Indicating that the 2018 Turkish Building Earthquake Regulation stipulates the use of C25 strength class concrete as minimum in buildings, Yavuz Işık said, “In order for reinforced concrete structures to be resistant to earthquakes for many years, they have to be free of voids and impermeable to ensure resilience in terms of external environmental impacts. It is highly important to further increase the concrete strength classes in order to ensure such durability rates. Therefore, THBB recommends the use of C30 class concrete as load bearing concrete as minimum for the durability of concrete and consequently, the reinforced concrete structure. “Environmental Impact Class” is just as important as the strength class, determining the performance of concrete throughout its service life. For instance, selection is made among several environmental impact classes depending on whether a building is to be constructed in a coastal area or in a Central Anatolian plain or on a ground accommodating harmful groundwater. The environmental impacts that each of the three buildings in this example will be exposed to during its service life will vary. Long-term deterioration will occur in the structure, the projected service life and earthquake resistance will decrease if the right environmental impact class is not selected and concrete is not used accordingly. The engineer who carries out the project plays a major role in accurately determining the environmental impact class in compliance with the project, and the Building Inspection System plays a major role in its supervision. We can anticipate that buildings designed and inspected in accordance with the standards and constructed by using high-strength and quality certified concretes in the accurately determined environmental impact class will suffer less damage in earthquakes.”ss