A collapsed building in Lagos
Members of the engineering profession have urged the Federal Government to back the practice of structural engineering in the country with appropriate legislation.
Structural engineers, according to participants at the 27th annual conference and general meeting of the Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers, which held in Lagos last week, are specialists trained to design and superintend the construction of structures and structural systems, of which buildings are just an aspect.
This group of engineers ensure the integrity, good performance, safety and comfort of the structures for the users.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the conference, participants expressed deep worry over the continued incidence of building collapse in the country, with many people dying in a recent incident.
The communiqué, signed by the President of the institution, Dr. Samuel Ilugbekhai, read in part, “Structural design and supervision of structures should be handled by only competent and qualified structural engineers; the checking and approval of buildings for construction should be done by, or under the supervision of a competent and qualified structural engineer in the office of the relevant approving authorities; and the construction of buildings should be handled by a team of competent technical personnel, one of who must be a structural engineer to ensure the integrity and efficiency of the structure throughout its life span.
“Concrete is the main component of any reinforced concrete structure and cement is the binder of the concrete components. Therefore, for good properties and performance of concrete, the quality of the cement used for the production of the concrete must be such as to produce the designer’s specified strength of concrete.
“The structural engineer is in the best position to specify the best grade of cement necessary to meet his design specifications and the regulating authorities should lay more emphasis on the manufacturing process of cement for concrete to ensure that it meets international or country standards, irrespective of the grades.”
The participants also encouraged the Standards Organisation of Nigeria to more effectively enforce the production of high yield and mild steel rods with characteristic strengths of 460N/mm2 and 250N/mm2, respectively in appropriate sizes.
“They are also encouraged to compel all steel manufacturers to clearly label their products by size and yield strength, and issue certificates of quality assurance on every consignment,” the communique stated.
Participants at the conference also frowned on the use of beach sand, especially in Lagos, for block making and construction of buildings, adding that such should stop because of the negative short and long term effects of salt on reinforcement and other components of concrete.
The conference, which had as its theme: ‘Effect of cement strength on concrete performance’, recommended that only portable water should be used for the production of concrete to avoid chemical impurities, which had adverse effects on concrete.
In his welcome address, Ilugbekhai said recent developments in the built environment had not been exactly pleasant considering the fatality rate in the last building collapse, which claimed 115 lives.
He said over the years, the institution had warned of the impending danger of building collapse at the lower level of the built environment to no avail.
He said although members of the institution were not surprised at the higher frequency of building collapse and the fatality rates presently, they were deeply concerned because the situation could get worse.
In his keynote address, the Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, said the field of structural engineering was strategic to safe construction, because of the professional input it provided in the areas of research, planning, design, construction and inspection of structural components and structural systems to achieve design goals and ensure the safety and comfort of users and/or occupants.
Odumodu, who was represented by Mr. Onipede Adeoye, said, “Some of you may be aware of what has today come to be known as the cement war. The process of change is difficult, as those who benefit from a situation will oppose any effort aimed at change.”
Structural engineers, according to participants at the 27th annual conference and general meeting of the Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers, which held in Lagos last week, are specialists trained to design and superintend the construction of structures and structural systems, of which buildings are just an aspect.
This group of engineers ensure the integrity, good performance, safety and comfort of the structures for the users.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the conference, participants expressed deep worry over the continued incidence of building collapse in the country, with many people dying in a recent incident.
The communiqué, signed by the President of the institution, Dr. Samuel Ilugbekhai, read in part, “Structural design and supervision of structures should be handled by only competent and qualified structural engineers; the checking and approval of buildings for construction should be done by, or under the supervision of a competent and qualified structural engineer in the office of the relevant approving authorities; and the construction of buildings should be handled by a team of competent technical personnel, one of who must be a structural engineer to ensure the integrity and efficiency of the structure throughout its life span.
“Concrete is the main component of any reinforced concrete structure and cement is the binder of the concrete components. Therefore, for good properties and performance of concrete, the quality of the cement used for the production of the concrete must be such as to produce the designer’s specified strength of concrete.
“The structural engineer is in the best position to specify the best grade of cement necessary to meet his design specifications and the regulating authorities should lay more emphasis on the manufacturing process of cement for concrete to ensure that it meets international or country standards, irrespective of the grades.”
The participants also encouraged the Standards Organisation of Nigeria to more effectively enforce the production of high yield and mild steel rods with characteristic strengths of 460N/mm2 and 250N/mm2, respectively in appropriate sizes.
“They are also encouraged to compel all steel manufacturers to clearly label their products by size and yield strength, and issue certificates of quality assurance on every consignment,” the communique stated.
Participants at the conference also frowned on the use of beach sand, especially in Lagos, for block making and construction of buildings, adding that such should stop because of the negative short and long term effects of salt on reinforcement and other components of concrete.
The conference, which had as its theme: ‘Effect of cement strength on concrete performance’, recommended that only portable water should be used for the production of concrete to avoid chemical impurities, which had adverse effects on concrete.
In his welcome address, Ilugbekhai said recent developments in the built environment had not been exactly pleasant considering the fatality rate in the last building collapse, which claimed 115 lives.
He said over the years, the institution had warned of the impending danger of building collapse at the lower level of the built environment to no avail.
He said although members of the institution were not surprised at the higher frequency of building collapse and the fatality rates presently, they were deeply concerned because the situation could get worse.
In his keynote address, the Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, said the field of structural engineering was strategic to safe construction, because of the professional input it provided in the areas of research, planning, design, construction and inspection of structural components and structural systems to achieve design goals and ensure the safety and comfort of users and/or occupants.
Odumodu, who was represented by Mr. Onipede Adeoye, said, “Some of you may be aware of what has today come to be known as the cement war. The process of change is difficult, as those who benefit from a situation will oppose any effort aimed at change.”
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