Attention Drawn to Renovations in Buildings After Maltepe Collapse!

Evaluating the collapse that occurred on three floors of a 7-story building in Maltepe, Istanbul, Occupational Health and Safety Expert Asst. Prof. Nuri Bingöl drew attention to the importance of ground surveys, construction in accordance with engineering techniques, and subsequent interventions for building safety. Emphasizing that renovations, especially in shops, should be questioned, Dr. Bingöl said, “Especially when a tenant changes or a shop changes hands, it should be questioned whether the municipality’s approval and supervision exist for the renovations to be made. In suspicious situations, an inspection should definitely be requested from the municipality. Moreover, if necessary, a criminal complaint should be filed with the prosecutor’s office.”

Deputy Dean of Üsküdar University Faculty of Health Sciences and Occupational Health and Safety Expert Asst. Prof. Nuri Bingöl evaluated building safety and the risks that interventions made in buildings afterward can create, based on the collapse that occurred on three floors of a 7-story building in Maltepe, Istanbul.

“Buildings must be constructed according to engineering techniques”

Emphasizing that building safety begins with the ground, Asst. Prof. Nuri Bingöl stated that the height of the building must also be compatible with the ground conditions, and said:

“When buildings are constructed, they must first be built according to engineering techniques. This starts with the ground, with a ground survey. The building is completed according to its suitability for the ground. The height of the building must also be suitable for this ground. The building’s occupancy permit, or 'iskân', is given based on all these factors.”

Referring to the possibility of additional floors being added to the building later, Dr. Bingöl continued his evaluation as follows:

“Considering that the upper two floors of the existing building were built after the occupancy permit was issued and are therefore illegal, we can assume that the building’s load has increased and it is no longer suitable according to the initial ground survey.”

“If well-maintained, it can live much longer”

Dr. Bingöl pointed out that a building should not be evaluated solely by its construction date and emphasized the importance of adherence to construction techniques and maintenance.

Dr. Bingöl said, “A building constructed in the 1980s may seem old to everyone. However, the average lifespan of buildings is 100 years. If well-maintained, it can live much longer. There are examples of this in our country and in Europe. Therefore, when it is built according to construction techniques in its construction year, it is expected not to collapse and to remain standing even under earthquake conditions.”

“This time we are facing a building that collapsed without any tremor”

Reminding of building collapses experienced during earthquakes, Asst. Prof. Nuri Bingöl stated that collapses occurring without tremors should also be carefully addressed in terms of structural safety.

Dr. Bingöl used the expressions, “We have faced such collapses in many earthquakes we have experienced. We always talked about the building not being constructed in accordance with engineering techniques. This time, we are facing a building that collapsed without any tremor. We see examples of this from time to time.”

Interventions in columns and beams in shops pose a risk

In his general assessment regarding such collapses, Dr. Bingöl drew attention to interventions that damage the load-bearing system, especially in floors used as shops, and continued as follows:

“Generally, in these types of collapse situations, we witness damage to columns, and sometimes even beams, in the lower floors, especially those used as shops. One or more columns are cut for reasons such as making space in the shop, or allowing a vehicle or large machine into the shop. Over time, corrosion, minor earthquake tremors, and even tremors caused by large vehicles passing on the road damage the building’s structural integrity. As a result, we face tragic collapse scenarios.”

“Municipal approval and supervision should be questioned for renovations”

Reminding citizens living in buildings to be careful about renovations carried out on the lower floors, Dr. Bingöl requested that actions taken during tenant or workplace changes be monitored.

Dr. Bingöl said, “We have started to encounter such situations very frequently. Here, our citizens living as upstairs neighbors in the building must be very careful and vigilant about their own buildings. Especially when a tenant changes or a shop changes hands, it should be questioned whether the municipality’s approval and supervision exist for the renovations to be made.”

Emphasizing that relevant authorities should be approached in the face of suspicious interventions, Dr. Bingöl concluded his words as follows:

“In suspicious cases, an inspection should definitely be requested from the municipality. Moreover, if necessary, a criminal complaint should be filed with the prosecutor’s office.”