ELAZIG GUNISIGI NEWSPAPER - July 2010
THOUGHT-PROVOKING BUILDING INSPECTIONS
When the issue of earthquakes is brought up in Turkey, undoubtedly one of the most important topics to address is buildings. Upon examining structures under seismic effects, two major problems emerge: the earthquake resistance of existing buildings and the new buildings to be constructed. If the seismic safety of new buildings cannot be ensured, the number of structures with inadequate earthquake resistance will increase every day. The outcome is clear: the first step in earthquake preparedness is ensuring that newly constructed buildings comply with relevant standards and regulations. This can only be achieved through an effective building inspection system, yet unfortunately, in Turkey, this system is still in its infancy.
The Building Inspection Law No. 4708, which was accepted on June 29, 2001, and has been applied only in 19 pilot provinces (and most recently in 27 provinces), has still not been implemented nationwide. It is difficult to understand why the building inspection system has not been developed over the past 10 years. According to statements made by the Ministry of Public Works and Settlement to the press, it was emphasized that the building inspection system would be implemented in all provinces by the beginning of 2011. It seems that there will be some changes in the law as well. Turkey is a country rich in technical personnel. When making changes to the law, it is crucial for information exchange with technical personnel to happen to ensure that the developments are completed in less than 10 years. I am sure that public institutions, civil organizations, universities, municipalities, and non-governmental organizations will make valuable contributions to these developments.
The Fırat Construction Engineers Association’s (FİMDER) Key Recommendations on Building Inspections:
- Building Inspection Firms: It will not be enough to determine building inspection firms based solely on high guarantee amounts (excluding personnel requirements). For these firms to truly take responsibility, they must have long-term stability. Therefore, it is essential that institutional firms conduct building inspections. Efforts should be made to establish clear and rigorous qualification criteria for building inspection firms. If an inspection firm has been closed for many years and a building suffers unexpected severe damage in an earthquake, the expected effect of building inspections will be lost.
- Concrete Maintenance Within Inspections: It is not enough to inspect only the project and construction. The maintenance of concrete, one of the most important materials, should also be included in the building inspection process after pouring. It should not be forgotten that no matter how well-designed or prepared concrete is, if the maintenance rules are not followed or are inadequately implemented, it will not reach the calculated strength. This is one of the significant problems in the construction industry and should be included in the building inspection law.
- Local Inspections for Building Inspection Firms: According to the law, building inspection firms are supervised by the Ministry of Public Works and Settlement. However, when considering the nationwide implementation of building inspection, the difficulty (perhaps even impossibility) of this oversight becomes apparent. Therefore, local commissions should be established, and building inspection firms should be inspected both with and without prior notice. Leaving hundreds of firms responsible for the future of our country solely to their conscience would be, I believe, an act of negligence. Inspections should be associated with quality, not just trust. Any individual or organization carrying out their duties according to their role description will not be disturbed by inspections. Inspection is the key to success in many sectors.
- Inspection of Material-Producing Organizations: Even if material-producing organizations have certifications like "CE" and "G," they should still be inspected. The authority to conduct these inspections should be given to local commissions consisting of members from public institutions, civil organizations, universities, municipalities, and non-governmental organizations. These commissions should inspect cement factories and ready-mix concrete plants both with and without prior notice.
We can present all the recommendations we have made in detail. I am confident that many individuals, institutions, and organizations will make valuable contributions to this issue. Dialogue should not only be limited to politically controversial issues but should be an essential tool for addressing every topic that concerns our country.
Success belongs to those who have the understanding to even supervise the supervisors… To reach the truth and make the right decisions, even if you know a thousand things, it’s important to ask someone who knows one thing.