Insulation Applications Play a Vital Role in Building Earthquake-Resistant Structures

Ravago Building Solutions highlights insulation deficiencies in approximately 600,000 high-risk housing units in Istanbul.

As an earthquake-prone country positioned on active fault lines, Turkey faces the constant risk of major seismic events, making the construction of disaster-resistant structures a necessity. However, 26 years after the 17 August Marmara Earthquake, approximately 600,000 housing units in Istanbul remain at very high risk from earthquakes. Pointing out that earthquake safety depends not solely on load-bearing systems, Alper Doğruer, Turkey Director at Ravago Building Solutions, emphasizes that water, thermal and fire insulation must be addressed comprehensively for disaster-resistant buildings. Noting that new insulation standards such as TS 825 and TS 11758-2 have entered into force, ushering in a new era for both energy efficiency and structural durability of buildings, Doğruer states that buildings without waterproofing can have a lifespan reduced to as little as 24 years. He points out that appropriate thermal insulation limits damage to the exterior envelope that could occur during an earthquake.

The 17 August 1999 Marmara Earthquake, one of Turkey's greatest disasters, continues 26 years later to remind us of the measures needed to ensure building safety. Despite the passing years, a significant portion of Istanbul's building stock still carries risk. Most recently, the 6.1-magnitude tremor that occurred in Balıkesir on 10 August and affected Istanbul has once again brought the anticipated "major Marmara" earthquake to the fore. KONUTDER's report on "Determining Istanbul's Housing Needs for the Next 10 Years" indicates that Istanbul needs to gain 1 million 220,000 new housing units over the next decade. Emphasizing that earthquake safety is not achieved through load-bearing systems alone, Alper Doğruer, Turkey Director at Ravago Building Solutions, draws attention to the fact that insulation applications that address building performance comprehensively are an indispensable part of earthquake-resistant structures.

600,000 housing units in Istanbul at very high risk from earthquakes
Emphasizing that insulation should not be associated solely with energy savings and comfort, Alper Doğruer stated: "Earthquake risk, one of Turkey's greatest threats, should be a fundamental determinant in our urban planning approach and building materials policies. Across Turkey, only 44 percent of existing housing has been constructed after 2000. Furthermore, according to figures from the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, 600,000 of Istanbul's 6 million housing units are at very high risk from earthquakes. This situation shows that most structures fall short both in terms of earthquake regulations and insulation standards. Implementing correct insulation details in the design of new buildings and carrying them out with expert teams is one of the most critical steps that must be taken today to prevent possible loss of life and property."

Waterproofing: the most important application protecting load-bearing systems
Stating that safe cities can be built with a holistic building performance approach, Doğruer said: "Insulation, which lies at the center of this approach, has for years been evaluated only within the framework of energy conservation. Yet today, insulation systems perform multiple functions such as strengthening disaster resilience, enhancing fire safety and creating healthy living spaces." Noting that waterproofing, in particular, holds critical importance in building physics and is the most important application protecting a building's load-bearing system, Doğruer stated: "A building without waterproofing can have a lifespan reduced to 24 years. This important issue has long faced application uncertainties in Turkey. However, as of 21 March 2025, this has been overcome with the TS 11758-2 Standard. The regulation will establish clear performance criteria, particularly for single-layer waterproofing systems. Furthermore, inadequate products will be prevented from entering the market, application errors will be minimized, and the structural durability of buildings will be increased in the long term."

Thermal insulation: the path to minimizing structural damage that can occur to building exteriors
Referring to the new TS 825 Thermal Insulation Standard coming into force as of 1 April 2025 as an important initiative for earthquake-resistant structures, Doğruer stated: "With the new thermal insulation standard, buildings will now be required to be designed taking into account not only heating but also cooling needs. This development will not only increase energy efficiency but will also help protect the building's external envelope and limit structural damage that could occur during an earthquake. On the other hand, one of the greatest threats encountered after earthquakes is fire. Gas leaks, electrical faults and overturned heating devices in damaged structures can cause fires. If fire-resistant compartments are not created in buildings and detail solutions that prevent flame spread between floors are not used, fire can cause major destruction in a short time. At this point, supporting structures with appropriate insulation materials is critically important. The choice of materials offering high fire resistance plays a decisive role not only in terms of regulatory compliance but also in terms of life safety." He used these expressions.

"More than 60 percent of housing units in Turkey lack energy performance certificates"
Drawing attention to the fact that more than 60 percent of approximately 24 million housing units across Turkey still lack energy performance certificates, Doğruer stated: "This is not limited to just a missing certificate; it also reveals that building performance has been left uncontrolled and unmonitored. In Turkey, where the urbanization rate has reached 93 percent, this scale of informality creates a significant vulnerability not only in energy management but also in disaster management. Yet energy performance certificates provide measurable data on building quality, particularly regarding insulation applications. At Ravago Building Solutions, we view insulation as a strategic building component that shapes society's safe, healthy and sustainable future. With our high-performance products for thermal, water, acoustic and fire insulation, we not only enhance building safety but also aim to promote a holistic approach that prioritizes environmental sustainability and user comfort. Through our broad product portfolio, application experience and technical expertise, we offer solution partnerships to all stakeholders in the sector and add value to urban transformation processes with correct insulation applications."