Earthquake-resistant timber construction
Türkiye lies in one of the most active earthquake regions in the world. Timber construction offers a physical advantage here: light buildings have to resist lower seismic forces.
- Wall thickness
- 160–320 mm
- U-value W/(m²·K)
- down to 0.12
- Element width
- ≤ 16 m
- European approval
- ETA-25/1030
Why a building’s weight matters
The horizontal force an earthquake exerts on a building is proportional to its mass. The heavier the structure, the greater the forces that walls, floors and foundations have to resist.
Timber walls have a much lower dead weight than reinforced concrete. The characteristic density of the C24 structural timber used is 350 kg/m³ – a fraction of reinforced concrete. Less mass means lower seismic loads on the entire structure.
Design to Eurocode 8 and TBDY-2018
According to the technical data sheet, CL-THERM can be designed for static and quasi-static actions including earthquakes to EN 1998-1 (Eurocode 8), with a behaviour factor up to q ≤ 1.5. In Türkiye the Turkish Building Earthquake Code TBDY-2018 applies; timber buildings are additionally designed and calculated to the Turkish timber building regulation (R.G. 32499, in force since 1 January 2025).
The structural verification of each building is carried out by the project’s structural engineer. BOI Bau Orkestra provides the system’s technical documents for this – approval, characteristic values and declaration of performance.
What the 2026 regulations change
The TBDY implementation communiqué in force since 1 March 2026 mainly tightens requirements for reinforced concrete buildings, such as shear walls and column dimensions. Load-bearing timber wall systems are designed to the timber building regulation. The July 2026 amendment to the zoning regulation also requires fire safety, earthquake safety, thermal protection and energy efficiency to be planned according to current law.
Applications: new build, urban renewal, rooftop extensions
The low dead weight is a particular advantage where existing structures need to be relieved – for example in rooftop extensions or as part of urban renewal. For new buildings from villas to schools, CL-THERM offers a prefabricated, load-bearing and pre-insulated wall system.