Investigation Into the Causes, Effect and Prevention of Cracks in Building

Investigation Into the Causes, Effect and Prevention of Cracks in Building

CHAPTER ONE

AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

To identify the causes and effects of cracks in building in Imo state.
To examine the problems associated with cracks in building in the study area.
To trace the past incidence of cracks in building in Imo state and Nigeria at large
To examine the efforts of government, professionals and all other stakeholders in eradicating cracks in building in Nigeria.
To proffer suitable solution to the problems associated with cracks in building in the study area.

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

INTRODUCTION

One fundamental principle of building design is that a building should be designed and constructed to meet its owner’s requirements and also satisfy public health, welfare and safety requirement. No part of such building should pose a hazard to its occupants (Fredrick et al 1989). Simply put, the purpose of structural design is the provision of a structure satisfying the client’s and user’s requirements. It must be economical, safe, serviceable and aesthetically adequate. Fundamentally, the design process consists of findings and detailing the most economical structure consistent with the safety and serviceability requirements. This should be the basic design concepts of any architect and structural engineer.

Mosley et al (1985), posited that the design of an engineering structure must ensure that:

Under the worst loading the structure is safe
During normal working conditions the deformation of the members does not detract from the appearance, durability or performance of the structure.

Despite the difficulty in assessing the precise loading and variations in the strength of the concrete steel these requirements have to be met. Three basic methods using factors of safety to achieve safe, workable structures have been developed for engineering designs.

Mosley et al (1985) identified them as: The Permissible stress method in which ultimate strengths of materials are divided by a factor of safety to provide design stresses which are usually within the elastic range. When a structure is rendered ‘unfit for use’, it is said to have attained a limit state. The code listed the limit states as;

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

STUDY POPULATION

The study which focus on the problems associated with cracks in building whether design or construction with more emphasis on Owerri as the case study shall focus on the Real Estate Developers (both private and public), the Professional in building industry like Architects, Builders, Land Surveyors, Quantity Surveyors, Town Planners, Estate Surveyors and Valuers and Engineers that are practising within the study area, also the state Ministry of Housing shall be the population of the study.

DATA REQUIREMENT

The primary data to be used would be information collected from the Real Estate Developers, Professional Team in the Building Industry within the study area, even the government ministry through questionnaire administering, personal interview, personal observation and field survey. The secondary data will include information collected from published and unpublished material, the textbooks, periodic journals, magazines, seminar papers, internet and daily newspapers.

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA COLLECTION, ANALYSIS, PRESENTATION AND INTERPRETATION

ANALYSIS OF RESPONSES OF REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS

Efforts have been made in collecting data, and all data gathered through questionnaires shall be presented and analysed as follows;

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

After a detailed analysis of data gathered from the three categories of respondents such as the Imo state Ministry of Housing, Real Estate Developers and Professional team in the building industry, which follows by interpretation, the following are the summary of findings;

The analysis revealed that the majority of the respondents are male and have witnessed and also aware of incidents of cracks in buildingin Imo state.
The respondents also agreed to the fact that the degree of effect of cracks in buildingis Very High and as such, have caused a lot of problem to the government as well as professionals concerned. Also, it was agreed that the rampancy of cracks in building in Imo state is high in nature and the government and professionals are making effort to eradicate it through public enlightenment and proper site supervision.
The three categories of respondents i.e. government ministry of housing, real estate developers and professional team in the built environment identified the following as causes of cracks in building; structural defect, faulty foundation, lack of maintenance, poor workmanship, sub-standard materials, design error, natural hazards, inexperienced professionals, hasty construction, greed, non-adherence to building codes, overloading, tendency to cheat, corruption, inadequate steel reinforcement, no soil test etc.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Having carried out due analysis and interpretation of data gathered from both primary and secondary sources, the following were recommended;

The developers should not be in a hurry and also keep enough funds for development and deal directly with professionals with good track records and credibility.
Adequate and proper test should be carried out for property that have reached old age and if defects were numerous, occupants should be advised in their best interest to vacate the building premises.
Building professionals should ensure to carryout proper and efficient supervision of works on site as well as thorough inspect of materials to be used for the construction from sub-structure to superstructure.
The government and professional team involve in building construction ought to enlighten each other on how to embrace good and quality professional practice as well as enlightening the general public from time to time on the best professional to approach whenever the decision to go into development is made. Also, to warn them that if the right channel is not pass or using the right people, the end result could be disastrous.
The professionals such as the Architects, Builders, Engineers, Town Planners, Estate Surveyors and Valuers as Project Manager, Quantity Surveyors, Estimators need to come together periodically to discuss the problems facing the industry and suggest way forward.
To save Nigeria from further agony and trauma, building approval should be in phases, design and site of the building should be approved by the concerned ministry and the government agencies should take the task very serious without bribe collection from client
Government should enact a Law that will aim to curbing the use of sub-standard materials and making sure that high quality material prices are subsidised so that all income level can afford it. Hence, if all these recommendations can be taken seriously, it would provide a lasting situation to the menace of collapsed building and the psychological traumas it causes on its victims.
There should be issuance of Certificate of Commencement of construction work, issuance for stages of construction works base on application by builders in charge on site. Government should also apply strict development control.
Government should ensure that before any work commence on site, the materials to be used must be stamped by various professionals working on the site.
The menace of cracks in buildingis one that requires all stakeholders’ urgent attention. To this end, both government and private individuals make conscientious efforts to make sure that they only approved plans are strictly followed.
Government officials in the Housing and Environmental Ministries must constantly inspect construction sites to ensure that only the approved plan are followed.
Proper supervision and monitoring team should periodically inspect building materials to ensure building materials to ensure that sub-standard goods are not used.
The only way through which this problem can be solved is by engaging the service of a qualified building, civil engineer and an Estate Surveyor and Valuer for construction and proper supervision of the project.
The building professionals should enlighten the populace of the importance of their profession and the need for ordinary man to contact a certified builder for a new development. Also, government institutions in charge of buildings and development should ensure that the building codes are followed in the course of a new development.
Foundation of building should be taken into consideration before putting load on i.e. this would determine the number of floors. Approved plan of the building should be strictly adhered to. Avoid using building that is meant for Residential use as Commercial. As we understand that Residential building cannot withstand intensive use and human traffic.

CONCLUSION

The aim of every developer is to develop properties and enjoy the investment wither through personal use or by generating income from it, and not to claim the lives of loved ones and properties. Research has shown that cracks in building have very high effect on human lives and property and as a result of personal greed of many developers, corrupt government agencies on site and professionals who are contractors and project managers in the building industry are adding more to the problems. Most property developers patronise quacks due to lack of funds for development and are desperate to have shelter; the government agencies collect bribe and are unable to do the thorough supervision of plan approval and project, the contractors and project managers failed to use quality materials for building projects.

These are becoming the habits in Imo state. People loses their lives and properties very often in various crannies in Imo state and Nigeria at large due to some peoples’ fault, corruption and greediness. The incidents of cracks in building therefore calls for the sites works and also to investigate the quality of materials, craftsmen and the nature of contractors involve in the construction on sites. This will justify the need to carryout research work on cracks in building in Imo state with a view of examining its design and construction problem.

Therefore, recommendations given by the researcher and respondents should be taken with serious attention and it will proffer lasting solution to the problems of design and construction of building which results in to collapse in Imo state and Nigeria at large.

REFERENCES

Adebayo, S.O. (2000): Improving Building Techniques. Proceedings of a Workshop on cracks in building: Causes, Prevention and Remedies (pp 48-51). The Nigerian Institute of Building, Imo state.
Ademoroti, G. (1991): Minimizing the Collapse of Buildings in Imo state. Proceedings of The National Seminar on Effective Contract Management in Construction Industry. Nigerian Institute of Building, 22-23 August, pp 174-187
Adeniya, A. (2002): How Public-Private Partnership can Tackle cracks in building: The Guardian, Monday, August 26, p45
Adetayo, M.T. (1995): Workmanship in Nigeria Construction Industry. The Construction Journal of the Federation of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors in Nigeria. 12(2) 7-9
Adewunmi, R. and Stella, O. (2010): cracks in building: Why Building Will Keep Collapsing in Nigeria. A Retrieved Paper Presented on 20^th of March. From http://www.rowland-adewunmi.com
African Press Agency (2020): cracks in building Kills at Least 6 in Idumota, Imo state Island. July From http://www.netnewspublisher.com

Akinpelu, J.A. (2002): The Need for Code of Conduct, Building Regulations and By-Laws
for the Building Industry in Nigeria. The Professional Builder, Nigeria Institute of Building, pp 11-14
Akpabio, N. (1978): Building Contract Administration – A Handwork for Architects, Administrators and Building Professionals. Modern Press Ltd. Uyo – Nigeria. P.34
Amusan, J.O. (1991): Strategies for Enhancing the Local Governments Roles in Minimizing the Collapse of Buildings. Proceedings of the National Conference on Effective Contract Management in the Construction Industry. Nigerian Institute of Building, 22-23 August, pp 188-200

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