Although Japan is a country that is regularly hit by earthquakes, earthquake resistant It is one of the countries known for being able to build buildings.

The main reason behind this success is that the state is always on guard against such scenarios and always take precautions. Let’s take a look and interpret how they achieved this.

Japan is a country located on a volcanic and earthquake belt, also known as the “Pacific Ring of Fire”.

Most of the countries bordering the Pacific Ocean are in the Pacific Ring of Fire. active volcanoes And increasingly compact plates therefore they regularly experience earthquakes and tsunamis.

Like Indonesia, Chile and the Philippines, Japan has played its part in this on several occasions. So much so that Japan Tōhoku tsunami and after the tsunami Fukushima disaster Due to such events, it has come to the fore more often.

The national government itself takes on the urban planning and determines in advance what may be built where and what equipment must be used for this purpose.

The state opens up the areas where the earthquake risk is as low as possible for settlement. Although no suitable area can be found, the buildings in the selected areas are as much as possible. shock and break resistant building takes priority.

In large-scale urban planning carried out in metropolitan cities such as Tokyo, cities are divided into certain sections. Residential areas, industrial areas, agricultural areas and business centers are generally used to avoid space shortages. nested But big so as not to cause ruins. is being built.

The materials and equipment used by the construction industry are regularly inspected, and the building will be constructed by the state until it is considered stable It is forbidden to drive even a single nail. While these state-imposed rules seem from a distance to be ordinary state loyalties, the main reasons underlying them are the II. Houses in Japan during World War II a third destruction and frequent earthquakes.

To control all these regulations and building codes, certain standards were also set.

According to Japanese building codes, buildings must meet one of three basic standards:

1. Tayshin (Taishin): Beams, columns and walls must be built with a minimum thickness that can withstand vibration. It covers the minimum requirements for all buildings.
2. Seysin (Seishin): The rest of the building should be isolated from the ground by placing shock absorbers, rubber layers or seismic insulators that absorb the energy of the earthquake on the foundations of the buildings. Usually recommended for tall buildings.
3. Menshin: The building should be as solid as possible on the ground with layers of lead, steel or rubber and should not shake at all. The foundation of the building can move independently of the rest of the building, as in the “Seyşin” category. It is often recommended for structures such as skyscrapers, as its cost is top-tier.

Now let’s get down to the technical details: buildings are not only earthquake resistant, but they are also built to adapt to earthquake moments.

Realizing that it was becoming increasingly difficult to build permanent buildings due to the frequency of earthquakes and tsunamis after the war, the Japanese decided, especially in 1981, can last up to 37-40 years they began to prefer to build buildings and, when the time came, to tear them down and build new buildings in their place.

For this reason, work has started to define a lifespan of 37 years for most buildings in Japan. From the moment they turn 37 years old by counting the values ​​to zero They are not sold and then the buildings in question are demolished for the construction of new ones. So much so that nearly 8 million homes, which have lasted 37 years, are no longer being bought.

Newly built buildings are no longer anchored to the foundation where they stand. during the earthquake to move they are designed. For this, the most preferred technology is to reduce the effect of the earthquake on the buildings. are seismic isolators. These insulators bend to the right and to the left during the earthquake. This method falls under the category of “Seysin”.

Another preferred method is shifting the foundation of the building. Sliding foundations reduce the effect of earthquakes by operating with a logic similar to that of moving foundations. This method can also be included in the minimal “Seyşin” category, and if further developed, it can be included in the “Origin” category.

In addition to these commonly used methods, the following methods are sometimes preferred in the construction of the building:

1. Basically instead of a reinforced concrete core using a steel frame.
2. Basically, instead of concrete columns, diagonal dampers, steel beams and preference for steel columns.
3. to the core or roof of the building place garlands.
4. To strengthen the structure making sieve nets.
5. Can be disassembled if necessary Connecting T-joints.
6. To warn the occupants of the building in advance add an earthquake warning system.
7. It makes it easier to escape from the building in the event of a potential disaster. design smart doors.

Because of the confidence these solid structures give, the Japanese don’t even feel the need to panic in case of an earthquake. Unfortunately, however, we are losing tens of thousands of people in Turkey because we do not use these techniques.

• Sources: PlanRadar, GDRC, PolyMatter, Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport