Does the colour on the AFAD map indicate a house’s earthquake risk?
Does the AFAD earthquake hazard map indicate the safety of an individual building? Find out the difference between the information on the map, a structural survey and an expert assessment.
When searching for a property, it can be misleading to draw definitive conclusions about safety based on the colour of the earthquake map. AFAD clarifies that the earthquake hazard map is not a risk map. This distinction is important for understanding what the map shows and which questions it does not answer.
Hazard assessment differs from building assessment
The map provides a framework for regional earthquake hazard. You cannot determine how a specific building will perform based solely on its colour. Assessments relating to the structure and ground conditions must be carried out using the necessary data and by qualified experts.
Conclusions the buyer should avoid
Do not draw conclusions such as ‘if this colour is present, the building is safe’, ‘if it looks new, there is no need for inspection’ or ‘there are no visible cracks, so there is no problem’. Being in the same region does not mean that two buildings share the same characteristics. Do not treat general area information as a substitute for the assessment of a single building.
How should you use the map?
Consult an official source; do not rely on re-coloured images on social media or screenshots of unknown origin. Read the concepts and explanations on the map. Do not convert technical parameters you do not understand into a safety rating on your own.
Questions to ask regarding the building
What projects and records are available? Has a technical inspection been carried out previously? What is the scope and date of the report? What specialist expertise is required for a specific concern? The existence of documents is not the same as an assessment of their content. Discuss the need for an inspection with a qualified engineer.
Decision note
Keep map information, building documents and expert assessments in separate folders. Write clear questions regarding any missing data. This approach does not provide a guarantee of absolute safety; it helps to prevent the mixing of different types of evidence.
Source: AFAD’s explanation of the earthquake hazard map. This article is not an engineering report or a building-specific risk analysis; it is for information purposes only.
Further reading
[Survey Report: Why and How to Commission One When Buying a House?]You can review further information on this topic in the guide at (https://buybestvilla.com/tr/blog/valuation-report-ekspertiz-why-and-how-to-get-one-when-buying-a-home).
Sources
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