Association canvasses regulation of block making for quality products
NAN-HE-25
Blocks
By Lilian Chukwu
Lagos, April 25, 2017 (NAN) Mr Kunle Awobodu, National President, Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), on Tuesday identified lack of regulation in the block-making process as the factor responsible for substandard block production in the country.
Awobodu made the observation at the one-day workshop organised by BCPG, Igando-Ikotun cell in Lagos with the theme: Economic Recession and Inflation: Sustaining Quality in the Production of Sandcrete blocks and Allied Products.
He said that sandcrete block-making had been taken as `all comers’ affairs’ where anybody could come in at anytime to start production due to lack of monitoring and regulation.
According to him, sandcrete block is a major component of the materials used in building construction.
”Caution needs to be taken to ensure that standard is maintained in its production in order to prevent occurrence of building collapse,” he said.
Awobodu urged the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria to be more proactive in monitoring and regulating activities of the block moulders to ensure standard blocks.
“The quality of blocks to a great extent determines the stability of a building.
“If standard blocks are used in construction of a building, the tendency is that the building will stand the test of time.
“ The only reason for production of substandard scandcrete blocks is the desire for excessive profit.
”But the block-moulders can still produce standard blocks and still make profits irrespective of the high cost of cement,” he said.
Dr Victor Oyenuga, General Manager, Vasons Concept Consultants Ltd., said that mixture level of sand, gravel and water determined the quality and strength of blocks.
Oyenuga said that the sand to be used for production of blocks must be a clean sand and not too coarse, adding that the water should be a drinkable water.
“The higher the quantity of sand and gravel added to a bag of cement, the lower the quality and strength of the blocks produced.
“This makes it imparative that proper measurement needs to be taken to ensure adequate proportion of the components,” he said.
Mr Tijani Lasisi, a former Chairman, Nigeria Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), said that a 50kg bag of cement could be used to produce either 25 or 36 blocks and standard blocks would still be produced.
Lasisi said that a block from the 25 pieces category could be sold for N220.00, while in the 36 category, a block could be sold for N194.00.
“The block moulders will still make enough profit applying either of the two patterns of block production,” he said. (NAN)
LUC/JEO/TA
Edited by Jane-Frances Oraka/Tajudeen Atitebi