Stakeholders seek legal backing for building code
TO secure and sanitise the industry, stakeholders in the building and construction sector have called on the Federal Government to give legal backing to the National Building Code through appropriate legislation.
In a communiqué at the end of the Second Lafarge National Dialogue series in Abuja, with the theme, “Building Collapse: An Assessment of Building Practices in Nigeria and the Imperative for Sustainable Construction”, the stakeholders also maintained that the quality of cement was not responsible for the collapse of buildings in the country.
They asked that the Building Code, which came into force in 2006, be forwarded to the National Assembly for consideration and passage, to help achieve the desired sanity and safety in the building industry.
It noted that the code, though accepted by all stakeholders since it came into force, was yet to receive the required legal backing, just as it called for an improved electricity supply at production level to stimulate the building industry’s contribution to economic growth.
The stakeholders also observed that the lack of steel industries to drive the sector remained a major challenge, noting that lack of efficient and properly equipped laboratories for testing materials have hampered certification and growth process.
They noted that incidents of building collapse have remained prevalent despite continued efforts by various professional bodies in the industry and at various tiers of government to check it. According to the communiqué, however, while incidents of building collapse had remained a major challenge, professionals are unanimous that such collapse is not in any way caused by the quality of cement.
“Professionals are unanimous that cement is not responsible for building collapse and identify issues such as faulty designs, sharp practices, non-involvement of professionals in building projects, overloading due to change in initial building plans, among others, for economic gains as contributory factors to building collapse,” the communiqué read in part.
“There is no substandard cement produced in the country, as the 32.5 strength manufactured by the cement manufacturers is of world standard.
“Construction standards should be institutionalised through introduction of courses on standards in the universities and other higher institutions of learning in the country.
“There is need to regulate and monitor the entire value chain of steel/metals production, using locally sourced iron ores for better products, in collaboration with local gypsum plants in the country.”
It also wants research institutes to develop effective substitute to cement to make more choices available to consumers, adding that building professionals should re- invigorate their effort at stamping out non-professionals from supervising building projects, while manufacturers of building materials should adhere strictly to global standards.
It further sought the prosecution of persons whose acts of negligence result in building collapse, including contractors, consultants or even suppliers, to stem the trend, just as soil testing and verification of compliance to industrial standard must be ensured.
Source: Guardian Newspaper.
They asked that the Building Code, which came into force in 2006, be forwarded to the National Assembly for consideration and passage, to help achieve the desired sanity and safety in the building industry.
It noted that the code, though accepted by all stakeholders since it came into force, was yet to receive the required legal backing, just as it called for an improved electricity supply at production level to stimulate the building industry’s contribution to economic growth.
The stakeholders also observed that the lack of steel industries to drive the sector remained a major challenge, noting that lack of efficient and properly equipped laboratories for testing materials have hampered certification and growth process.
They noted that incidents of building collapse have remained prevalent despite continued efforts by various professional bodies in the industry and at various tiers of government to check it. According to the communiqué, however, while incidents of building collapse had remained a major challenge, professionals are unanimous that such collapse is not in any way caused by the quality of cement.
“Professionals are unanimous that cement is not responsible for building collapse and identify issues such as faulty designs, sharp practices, non-involvement of professionals in building projects, overloading due to change in initial building plans, among others, for economic gains as contributory factors to building collapse,” the communiqué read in part.
“There is no substandard cement produced in the country, as the 32.5 strength manufactured by the cement manufacturers is of world standard.
“Construction standards should be institutionalised through introduction of courses on standards in the universities and other higher institutions of learning in the country.
“There is need to regulate and monitor the entire value chain of steel/metals production, using locally sourced iron ores for better products, in collaboration with local gypsum plants in the country.”
It also wants research institutes to develop effective substitute to cement to make more choices available to consumers, adding that building professionals should re- invigorate their effort at stamping out non-professionals from supervising building projects, while manufacturers of building materials should adhere strictly to global standards.
It further sought the prosecution of persons whose acts of negligence result in building collapse, including contractors, consultants or even suppliers, to stem the trend, just as soil testing and verification of compliance to industrial standard must be ensured.
Source: Guardian Newspaper.
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