EFFECT OF THE USE OF SUB-STANDARD MATERIALS ON BUILDING CONSTRUCTION (CASE STUDY OF MINISTRY OF HOUSING, LAGOS STATE)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

Buildings are shelters specifically created to accommodate people and to stand as storage for their valuable things (Oyenuga, 2010). (Oyenuga, 2010). The materials used for the construction of buildings varies on the type and function of the building. Significant variables such as the design, materials, and resources to be utilized, and expenses amongst others must be taken into considerations while constructing a structure (Adewuyi, 2010). (Adewuyi, 2010). Amid these variables, the quality and level of materials utilized is of significant significance. The quality of structures in Nigeria remains questioned, given the various counts of undesirable and unpleasant manifestations that follow immediately after completion and most times throughout the operating stage. According to Blok and Herwijnen (2001), the service life of a building from a technical viewpoint is the duration in which a structure can function according to the requirements based on its intended use. Langston (2011) flags out variables such as the quality of components of a building (a result of the quality of materials used), design level, work execution level, the environment, users’ maintenance level amongst others as elements that contribute to the service life of a structure. Vanier (1999) contends that the life span of a structure is a complicated phrase with multiple connotations, varying from simply “time of existence” to “period of use”. However, the author stressed that the technical longevity of a structure greatly relies on the materials utilized. From the metrics established above, it can be determined that a building’s service life is the minimal time during which a building can fulfill the user’s needs, expectations, and execute its specified functions before it becomes outdated. Therefore, it may be analyzed and quantified based on the integrity of the constituent components, both from structural and non-structural.

The quality of materials used in creating these components, thus, serves as a factor for functioning. Ugochukwu, Ogbuagu, and Okechukwu (2014) recognised building materials as one of the  principal elements impacting the successful performance of the Nigerian construction sector. It is a big contribution since the quality of building materials impact the quality of building construction projects. Thus, a reduction in the quality of these materials presents a considerable hazard not only to the service life of buildings but also to human lives, properties and the economy at large. Substandard construction materials are materials that do not fulfill quality requirements and lead to unwanted repercussions on the life of a structure. The use of inferior materials and poor craftsmanship account for roughly 52 percent of architectural faults that appear during the post- \soccupancy period of a project, particularly in residential buildings. Furthermore, Ajufoh et al. (2014) suggest that the usage of inferior construction materials has a 10 percent causal influence on the collapse of structures. Many structures in Nigeria, particularly in Lagos, are constructed using poor construction materials. Adewuyi (2010) believe that many contractors are greedy as they favor vendors and suppliers of poor construction materials with the purpose to benefit from such conduct. This is obvious in the prevalence of flaws in many of the recently finished structures as well as the high rate in the occurrence of building collapse within the state. Adewuyi (2010) say that 60 percent of building collapses in Nigeria occur in Lagos, ascribing the usage of inferior materials and poor craftsmanship by quacks as being responsible for the bulk of the building fall. In addition, Omenihu, Onundi, and Alkali (2016) claim that the use of poor materials for the construction of structures accounts for 13.2 percent contribution to the collapse of buildings being second to structural failure with 24.9 percent contribution. Akande, Akinjobi, Alao, and Akinrogunde (2016) indicate that poor materials, notably reinforcing rods, steel sections and cement contribute substantially to the collapse of structures with up to 18.4 percent involvement.

The non-structural consequences exhibit that the use of improper and poor construction materials frequently lead to flaws in building without reaching the structure’s service life. AlSadey, Omran, and Kadir Pakir (2010) highlighted several typical difficulties stemming from construction faults in houses are related with inferior construction techniques, bad building materials, and improper craftsmanship, amongst others. In the case study of faults in selected buildings by Kumar (2017), it was found that problems attributed to the use of poor construction materials include spalling, column fractures, the disintegration of concrete from columns and corrosion of reinforcing bars There are government institutions such as the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) that is accountable to control the quality of materials used for building activities. But, the reality indicates that these authorities are not as efficient in executing their job of monitoring and enforcing standards (Kabir, 2015). (Kabir, 2015). This issue occurs owing to the spread of poor materials in the construction industry and contributes considerably to the construction of half-lived and substandard structures. Ameh, Odusami, and Achi (2007) agreed that corruption and other unethical acts are pervasive in the construction business. A plausible argument would be that unscrupulous manufacturers and suppliers inserting themselves into the supply chain and importing inferior building materials disseminate the sources of these materials. Despite the spread of substandard materials in the building industry of Lagos State and Nigeria at large, earlier research largely focused on the effects of employing substandard materials. Whereas, research exploring the variables affecting the utilization of inferior materials for building construction operations remain sparse. Furthermore, many of the prior research on substandard materials explored the effect of substandard materials on building collapse and not on the reasons that motivate construction stakeholders to acquire and utilize poor materials for building construction projects. Therefore, this research intends to analyzes the influence of the usage of sub-standard materials on building construction

1.2 Statement of the problem

The importance of materials in construction work is very crucial because from research, materials compromise appears to have contributed greatly to collapse of buildings than any other variables. Construction Materials are highly necessary and should be seriously looked at so that they might be sustainable to meet present wants and without compromising on the future and yet be able to fulfill the aforementioned future need. The two basic groups of materials are Natural and Man-Made. However the usage of sub standard materials has led to the collapse of numerous buildings consequently leading to loss of lives, assets and money. Furthermore there are some factors which leads to contractors using sub standard materials which are but not limited to insufficient financing on the part of the contractor, high expectation from awardees of the contract, technical know how, in the sense that many building contractors employ the services of an unqualified skilled men and poor budget reviews. It is against this backdrop that the usage of sub-standard materials in building construction will be looked at.

1.3 Objective of the study

The primary objective of the study is as follows

1.        To examine the reason for the use of sub standard material on a building project.

2.        To evaluate the effect of the use of sub standard material for a building project.

3.        To find out the relationship between construction stakeholders and the firmness of a building

4.        To evaluate the measures that can be put in place by the Lagos state ministry of housing to prevent the collapse of a building.

1.4 Research questions

The following questions have been prepared for this study

What are the reason for the use of sub standard material on a building project?

What are the effect of the use of sub standard material for a building project?

Is there a relationship between construction stakeholders and the firmness of a building?

What measures  can be put in place by the Lagos state ministry of housing to prevent the collapse of a building?

1.5 Significance of the study

This study examines  the use of sub-standard materials on building construction.

The study will be significant to the Lagos state government as it will make them see reasons why they should enforce strict laws and also implement them before the commencement of a building project

This study will be beneficial to construction companies as they will see the need not to use sub standard material for a building construction because of its massive effect.

This study will be of benefit to the academic community as it will contribute to existing literature.

1.6 Scope of the study

This study focuses on  the use of sub-standard materials on building construction. The study will examine the reason for the use of sub standard material on a building project. The study will further evaluate the effect of the use of sub standard material for a building project. Furthermore the study will find out the relationship between construction stakeholders and the firmness of a building. Lastly, the study will evaluate the measures that can be put in place by the Lagos state ministry of housing to prevent the collapse of a building. Hence this study is delimited to the  Ministry of Housing, Lagos State.

1.7 Limitation of the study

This study was constrained by a number of factors which are as follows:

Just like any other research, ranging from unavailability of needed accurate materials on the topic under study, inability to get data

Financial constraint , was faced by  the researcher ,in getting relevant materials  and  in printing and collation of questionnaires

Time factor: time factor pose another constraint since having to shuttle between writing of the research and also engaging in other academic work making it uneasy for the researcher

1.8 Definition of terms

Sub standard material: A sub-standard service or product is unacceptable because it is below a required standard

Building construction: any physical activity on the site involved in the erection of a structure, cladding, external finish, formwork, fixture, fitting of service installation and the unloading of plant, machinery, materials or the like

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