Construction taking into account seismic activity
Turkey is located in a region with high seismic activity, so the design of each new building is carried out in accordance with the current Turkish Seismic Building Regulations (Türkiye Bina Deprem Yönetmeliği 2018), which is considered one of the most modern in Europe and the Middle East.
When designing a new home, engineers perform:
- geological survey of the site;
- soil type analysis;
- calculation of possible seismic loads;
- individual calculation of the building's supporting structure;
- selection of the required quantity and diameter of reinforcement;
- calculation of the foundation specifically for this area.
This means that two adjacent buildings may have completely different design solutions, even if they look the same on the outside.
It's important to understand that modern earthquake-resistant construction doesn't guarantee a building will remain completely undamaged by a strong earthquake. The primary goal of these standards is to maintain the building's load-bearing capacity, prevent collapse, and ensure that people can safely evacuate their homes.
Mersin is considered one of the safer regions of Turkey
Following the devastating earthquakes of February 6, 2023, many foreign buyers began to carefully study the country's seismic map.
Mersin is located significantly west of the East Anatolian Fault, where the main destructive earthquake occurred. During the 2023 events, no widespread damage to residential buildings occurred in Mersin itself, and modern buildings remained functional.
However, seismic resistance requirements are fully met during the construction of new buildings, regardless of the region of the country. This is a mandatory requirement of Turkish law.
The reinforced concrete frame is the foundation of the building
Almost all modern residential complexes in Mersin are built using monolithic frame technology.
The supporting elements are:
- reinforced concrete foundation;
- reinforced concrete columns;
- crossbars;
- monolithic floors;
- reinforced concrete shear walls (where provided for by the project).
It is the reinforced concrete frame that bears all the main loads, including wind and seismic loads.
External and internal walls are not load-bearing. Their primary purpose is to enclose the space, provide thermal insulation, soundproofing, and comfort.
Why are BİMS blocks used in Mersin?
BİMS (bims) material is used to fill the walls in most modern residential complexes.
BIMs is a lightweight building block made from natural volcanic rock (pumice). Its porous structure combines light weight, strength, and excellent thermal insulation properties.
The main advantages of BİMS:
- significantly lighter than a regular concrete block;
- reduces the overall weight of the building and, accordingly, the seismic load;
- keeps cool well in summer;
- reduces heat loss in winter;
- has high vapor permeability;
- not subject to decay;
- does not burn;
- resistant to mold formation;
- provides additional sound insulation.
Why BİMS is well suited for Mersin's climate
The climate of the Mediterranean coast is characterized by long, hot summers and high humidity.
Thanks to the many air pores inside the material, BIMs walls heat up significantly more slowly in the sun.
This allows:
- reduce overheating of the apartment during the day;
- keep cool longer after using the air conditioner;
- reduce electricity consumption in summer.
In winter, the material also reduces heat loss through the walls, which is especially important for apartments heated by air conditioners or natural gas.
Modern thermal insulation
BİMS alone is not sufficient to meet modern energy efficiency requirements.
Therefore, the exterior walls of new buildings are additionally insulated with façade systems using thermal insulation materials. The insulation thickness is determined by calculations in accordance with the TS 825 standard, which was updated in 2025 to include not only the heating but also the cooling of buildings. For southern regions, including Mersin, these requirements are aimed at reducing overheating in summer and reducing energy consumption year-round.
Correctly performed thermal insulation allows:
- reduce air conditioning costs;
- reduce heating costs;
- eliminate condensation formation;
- improve living comfort.
Waterproofing
An equally important part of construction is waterproofing.
In modern residential complexes, waterproofing is performed:
- on the foundation;
- on underground floors;
- in the bathrooms;
- on terraces and balconies;
- on the roof of the building.
It protects the structure from moisture penetration, increases the service life of the building and prevents the formation of mold and dampness inside the premises.
Soundproofing
Modern building codes pay great attention to acoustic comfort.
The level of noise insulation is influenced by:
- porous structure of BİMS blocks;
- thickness of inter-apartment walls;
- ceiling structure;
- quality of window systems;
- tightness of installation.
It is impossible to completely eliminate household sounds in any apartment building, but modern materials can significantly reduce noise transmission between apartments.
Construction quality control
When constructing a new residential complex, the developer goes through several levels of control.
The following are checked:
- concrete quality;
- compliance of reinforcement with the project;
- compliance with construction technologies;
- compliance with building codes;
- results of laboratory tests of materials.
Without passing the necessary checks, the facility cannot be put into operation.
Modern residential complexes in Mersin are built using technologies that comply with current Turkish building codes. A reinforced concrete frame ensures the building's strength and seismic resistance, while BIMS blocks, façade insulation, waterproofing, and modern engineering solutions make homes comfortable in the Mediterranean climate.
When choosing a property, it's important to consider not only the complex's appearance but also the developer's reputation, the quality of the work, the availability of engineering plans, compliance with building codes, and the transparency of the construction process. The combination of high-quality design, modern materials, and strict adherence to technology is the key to the reliability of any residential building.
