How Does Earthquake Code Building Inspection Work?

Building inspection works by having every stage, from the soil survey before the permit through to the foundation, the columns and beams and the roof, checked on site by an independent inspection firm against the design and the earthquake code. Under Turkish law this runs through the whole build and has to be completed in full before the occupancy permit can be issued.

What Is the Building Inspection System?

Building inspection means an inspection firm, licensed by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change and independent of the property owner, checking on site whether the design is actually being built as drawn. The firm signs off that the architectural, structural, mechanical and electrical designs match what goes up on site.

The system sets up a three way chain of responsibility between the owner, the contractor and the inspection firm. The inspection firm is required to carry professional liability insurance for the project it takes on, so any loss caused by an error missed during inspection is also covered.

The inspection firm is not chosen by mutual agreement between the owner and the contractor. It is assigned at random through an electronic system run by the provincial authority. This is meant to prevent any conflict of interest forming between the contractor and the inspection firm, and to keep the inspection independent.

The Core Principles of the Earthquake Code

The Turkish building earthquake code aims to keep buildings from causing loss of life in an earthquake. The code was updated in 2018 and has applied to every building that obtained a new permit from the start of 2019 onward.

That means the structural calculation has to match the soil class, the concrete and reinforcement grade has to meet the standard, and the column and beam connection detail has to be built correctly. These calculations, made at design stage, are checked one by one on site by the inspection firm as the work proceeds.

The code is not limited to new buildings. Under certain conditions it also covers strengthening work and large scale renovation on existing buildings, so an engineering assessment is essential before any major intervention on an older building.

The Role of the Soil Survey

The soil survey carried out before construction starts sets the bearing capacity and soil class of the plot. This data underpins the whole structural design. A building put up without a soil survey, or on a badly surveyed plot, carries earthquake risk even if it is built from the best materials.

The soil survey report is prepared from borehole work and laboratory analysis, and the number and depth of boreholes depends on the size of the plot and how many floors the planned building will have. This makes it the first step in the process, ahead of design, and one that should never be skipped.

Inspection Points During Construction

The inspection firm visits the site at set stages as the work progresses:

• Checking the foundation excavation and reinforcement before it is poured
• Checking formwork and reinforcement before each concrete pour
• Checking structural compliance as each floor slab is completed
• A general compliance check at roof and final finish stage

Every stage is recorded in its own formal report, and work is not allowed to move to the next stage until any fault found has been corrected. The inspection firm also keeps a regular site log, recording what work was carried out on which date and what was checked. These reports also form the basis of the paperwork needed for the occupancy permit application.

How Is the Inspection Fee Set?

The building inspection fee is calculated from the building's approximate construction cost and its location, with a portion of it set aside as a government share. The fee is not paid in one lump sum at the start, it is paid in stages tied to the progress of construction. That structure gives the inspection firm a reason to stay actively engaged on site right through to the end.

If payments fall behind, the inspection firm has the right to suspend its service, which in effect halts the build officially. That is why it matters for the owner and the contractor to agree the inspection fee payment schedule clearly from the outset, so the process runs without interruption.

The Responsibilities of the Inspection Firm

The inspection firm can ask for laboratory testing of materials used, check that concrete samples meet the standard, and has the authority to stop work if it finds the build has strayed from the design. If the deviation is not corrected, administrative penalties can also follow. This independent check protects both the owner and the people who will use the building later.

What an Owner Can Do for a Safe Building

As an owner it is worth asking for the inspection firm's regular reports, being on site for concrete pours where possible, and making sure the inspection service contract is properly closed out before the occupancy permit is applied for. This kind of follow up pays off both in a safer building and a smoother occupancy permit process. An owner who stays on top of the inspection process from start to finish is also better prepared for any issue that surfaces after handover. At MRH Insaat we work closely with building inspection firms on every project and complete each stage exactly as the code requires.