Earthquake-Resistant Building Checklist in Turkey

Decision factors to measure

• construction year and applicable earthquake code
• structural drawings, permits and technical records
• ground report and foundation system
• later alterations to load-bearing elements
• cracks, settlement, corrosion and prior damage
• independent structural-engineering review
• insurance, DASK and its evidential limits

construction year and applicable earthquake code

Verify the permit and construction dates and the regulatory framework that applied, then check whether later works altered the structural system. A newer building date is context, not a safety certificate; design, workmanship, ground conditions and current condition still matter.

structural drawings, permits and technical records

Where available, obtain structural drawings, the building permit, occupancy records and any material inspection, strengthening or repair reports. Match the records to the building as it exists; a document is not enough if the actual structure differs or the record cannot be interpreted technically.

ground report and foundation system

Review the geotechnical/ground report where available and the foundation system shown in the design; do not infer one building’s performance from the district name alone. Signs of settlement, cracking, water problems or design/execution mismatch require specialist review.

later alterations to load-bearing elements

Look for removed walls, changes to columns or beams, new openings, major ground-floor modifications or undocumented additions. Work affecting load-bearing elements cannot be cleared by visual inspection alone; compare it with the design and obtain independent engineering review where needed.

cracks, settlement, corrosion and prior damage

Record recurring or diagonal cracks, settlement signs, chronic moisture, reinforcement corrosion, prior structural repairs and any documented damage. These signs do not automatically prove the building unsafe, but they are a clear reason not to rely on an ordinary viewing.

independent structural-engineering review

Use independent engineering when there are damage indicators, design discrepancies, load-bearing alterations, missing technical records or when safety is material to the decision. Define the scope in writing so the report states what was inspected, what could not be verified and what follow-up is required.

insurance, DASK and its evidential limits

Verify the policy type, validity, beneficiary and exclusions, and distinguish proof of insurance from an inspection of the property’s condition. Insurance transfers some financial risk; it does not certify build quality or the absence of defects.