4 REASONS BUILDING COLLAPSE

SAVE YOURSELF FROM LOSING MILLIONS WHEN BUILDING.

The collapse of buildings in Nigeria has been on the increase in recent times. Building collapse refers to the failure of the structure or the component. The failure of a building depends on the materials, designs, methods of construction, environmental conditions, and building use. There are frequent media reports of building collapse in major Nigerian cities and other parts of the world.

Madu, 2005, identified causes of building failure as due to natural occurrences such as earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, etc. Other causes according to him include factors such as omission, carelessness, leading to the use of deficient structural drawings, absence of proper supervision of projects, alteration of approved drawings, use of substandard materials, corruption in the Nigerian system, building without approved drawings and translocation of building plans to different sites.

So today, in this guide, you'll be provided with a list of what causes buildings to collapse and how you can avoid it:

1. BUILDING MATERIALS ARE OF NO/LOW STANDARDS: Working on different projects depending on the size and the use of the building demands different types of materials. There are many types of building materials used in construction ranging from steel to concrete to wood, etc. Each material has different properties such as weight, strength, durability, and cost which makes it suitable for certain types of applications. The choice of materials for construction is based on cost and effectiveness in resisting the loads and stresses acting on the structure. Don't ever embark on a building project neglecting the advice from a structural engineer, it's too risky. Building materials can generally be divided into two categories: Natural building materials such as stone and wood, and Man-made building materials such as concrete and steel. Both categories usually require a certain level of preparation or treatment before use in a structural application. Sadly, the selection of the right building materials is often overlooked. Many project planners tend to cut corners and push aside the use of the best quality materials. Often, the cost is the reason for choosing alternative materials that aren’t as good as the original choice.
2. MAINTENANCE SEEMS TO BE A TOTALLY UNKNOWN CONCEPT: This amazed you right? Building maintenance refers to the activities performed in order to retain and restore the functionality of residential and commercial properties. It includes tasks such as cleaning, landscaping, and electrical system maintenance. It aims to preserve a safe, functional, and comfortable environment for tenants at all times.?A building is constructed with a certain purpose and with an estimated life, both physical and economical. The physical and economical lives need not be the same. It has been seen in many cases that a building is still physically sound through its economic life has expired. It may not be impossible that a building has been rendered physically unfit for use though its economic life has not expired. Examples of building maintenance include clearing gutters and drainages, cleaning outdoor spaces, servicing fire alarms, etc.
3. WEAK FOUNDATION AS A RESULT OF CORRUPTION: Corruption is?a risk for businesses of all shapes and sizes, but those operating within construction may be particularly vulnerable. Unfortunately, the nature of construction work and the way the industry operates leaves construction organisations vulnerable to corruption. No two construction projects are ever the same, which makes it difficult to compare costs, and budgets for large projects can be vast, which makes it easier to inflate costs and conceal bribes. It’s also not always easy to prove the work that has been done – labour costs are variable, and materials can be hidden (e.g. masonry is covered with plaster, and steel reinforcements are typically cast in concrete).
4. NO / LOW TRAINING FOR BUILDERS TO ACHIEVE THE DESIRED OUTPUT: The construction sector plays a fundamental role in the economic wellbeing of the state, but current construction workforce training is limited. Studies have demonstrated that if workers possess the skills they need to perform their jobs, they are more confident and motivated in conducting their tasks, more committed to the organization, and less likely to abandon the company. Most building projects are carried out by builders with little or no training on some of the building standards to be applied. Osadolor Aigbekaen has achieved optimum results as a builder with massive training.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the above are a few of the reasons why most building collapses in this part of the world. The above points when applied will reduce the extent to which the building collapses. At Grand Pyramids Nigeria Limited , we undertake to attain the satisfaction and requirements of clients through the provision of cost advice, technical Contractual arrangements, and post-contract, and project management services.