Research Assistant Mustafa Dallı Made Evaluations On The Effect Of Earthquake Factor On The Use Of Furniture

There have been many earthquakes in the world in the past, in different regions and times. A significant majority of them have caused loss of life and property. Countries on active fault lines such as Turkey should pay particular attention to some issues. One of them is the furniture used in the interior and how the effects of these furniture will be in the event of an earthquake. Because the researches show that the losses experienced as a result of the earthquake are caused by structural problems, and a significant majority of them occur due to non-structural problems, that is, caused by the interior space.

Research Assistant Mustafa Dallı, who continues his graduate studies on earthquake resistant building design, has the following views on the subject:

"As a country located in an earthquake zone, Turkey has faced many earthquakes and the most destructive aspects of these earthquakes. Finally, even in the earthquakes in İzmir and Elazığ, losses were encountered in a sad way. There are many reasons for the damage seen in earthquakes. They are divided into structural and non-structural. Studies show that the majority of these non-structural damages are caused by unconscious interior arrangements. Things like falling on people in the interior, furniture in the exit ways making evacuation difficult and preventing escape, opening the furniture doors and spilling the items inside, the material of the doors, their location and lock system, lighting positions and weight, the weight of the materials used in the furniture, the glass used in the windows, decorative products, etc. can be shown as an example of wrong choices made in many interior arrangements. However, it is possible to make big differences with small measures that can be taken. For instance; It should be known that furniture such as showcases, bookshelves, consoles, wardrobes, vanity tables, dressers, refrigerators, ventilation and heating devices, television and units, kitchen additional cabinets and islands, coat racks cause serious injuries and losses in earthquakes. And fixing these furniture with fixing connection apparatus should be done. Opening and spilling the furniture with doors such as wardrobes, kitchen cabinets, pantry cabinets during an earthquake causes injuries and serious damages, which are frequently encountered during earthquakes. Preventing the opening of the doors and drawers by using a security lock on such furniture covers can prevent possible damages. Incorrect fixation of lighting products, chandeliers and sconces mounted on the wall and ceiling is another furniture choice error that causes great damage in earthquakes. The fixing method, materials, weight and location of these products are just as important. Lighting products fixed to the ceiling and wall, their own cable and arrangement, poses a great danger according to the shaking size of the earthquake. Therefore, an extra steel fixing device should be used. The lightness of the materials of the products to be used, the design preference is important in terms of eliminating earthquake risks. Finally, the most important issue that needs to be addressed with sensitivity and seriousness about earthquake is not to forget the predicted and expected earthquake reality. In this direction, it should be a priority to identify the missing and risky points in the interior arrangements as soon as possible, and to take all necessary precautions by getting help from an expert if necessary."