The follow of lowering constructing materials sizes is gaining acceptance in Ghana’s building {industry} as a method to chop prices. Undeniably, that is primarily attributable to rising constructing materials prices ensuing from excessive change charges, inflation, and disruptions to the availability chain. One may additionally level to greed on the a part of some contractors who search to make outrageous earnings on the expense of unsuspecting shoppers. Admittedly, this reasonably disturbing however widespread follow isn’t unique to contractors; different builders and even owners are among the many chief culprits. This silent disaster threatens the very basis of our constructed atmosphere. It creates a harmful paradox the place short-term financial positive factors result in long-term structural and monetary disasters. Current complete analysis reveals that this isn’t merely anecdotal proof however a scientific downside with measurable penalties.
The state of affairs calls for instant consideration from {industry} professionals, the general public, and policymakers alike. The urgency of this situation can’t be overstated as Ghana has skilled a number of public constructing collapses over the past decade. The 2 most populous cities, specifically Accra and Kumasi, skilled the very best prevalence of such incidents. Examples embrace the collapse of the Achimota Melcom Purchasing Mall in Accra in 2012, the two-storey constructing in Ashaiman in 2013, and that of the unfinished three-storey Church of Prosperity constructing in Akyem-Batabi in 2020, which resulted within the lack of 22 lives. Different notable incidents embrace the uncompleted constructing collapse at Airport, Accra in February 2016 that left 4 injured. The three-story constructing collapse in Cantonment, Accra, in July 2015 killed 3 and injured 18. The seven-story constructing collapse in Nii Boi City, Accra, in March 2014 resulted in 1 dying and 1 severely injured. Rising proof means that the widespread use of undersized building supplies could also be a major contributing issue to those tragic incidents. When structural engineers design buildings based mostly on normal materials specs, however the precise supplies delivered to building websites fail to satisfy these requirements, we create a elementary mismatch between design assumptions and building actuality, a recipe for catastrophe.
Iron rods (metal reinforcement bars), roofing sheets, cement, sandcrete blocks, and wooden are sometimes utilized constructing supplies in Ghana. To make sure structural integrity and security, these supplies sometimes should adhere to regulated sizes as specified by the Ghana Requirements Authority (GSA) to make sure adherence to the Nationwide Constructing Code. Nonetheless, to chop prices, present inclinations recommend a shift towards smaller materials sizes.
Anecdotal proof suggests this follow is widespread and gaining recognition amongst even constructing professionals. A substantial quantity has been written concerning the prevalence of substandard metal reinforcement bar sizes within the Ghanaian market and their influence on the protection of buildings. Nonetheless, this downside goes past simply the reinforcement bars. As an illustration, the cross-sectional dimension (thickness) and size of timber components, in addition to the sizes of sandcrete blocks, have all been shrinking. Though this method seems economical within the brief time period, it poses critical dangers that should be highlighted. We’re solely lowering the sizes of the constructing supplies to extend the financial and structural dangers related to the buildings we’re setting up. This assertion is now backed by concrete proof from current peer-reviewed analysis performed by Assiamah et al. (2023) and Ametepey et al. (2023). These research present surprising documentation of systematic materials downsizing in Ghana’s metal {industry}. Their complete examine of 675 reinforcing bar samples from a number of producers reveals a disturbing sample: seven out of eight metal firms failed to provide standard-sized delicate metal reinforcement bars.
The deviations vary from 7.99% to 10.85% beneath the required specs. The deviation knowledge reveals regarding patterns throughout completely different bar sizes, twelve-millimeter delicate metal bars present a median deviation of 10.85%, whereas 16mm and 20mm bars deviate by 9.75% and seven.99% respectively. These seemingly small percentages translate to important reductions in cross-sectional space and, consequently, load-bearing capability. A ten% discount in diameter leads to roughly 19% discount in cross-sectional space, a considerable compromise in structural power. When buying what ought to be an ordinary 12mm metal bar, patrons generally obtain bars measuring solely 10.5mm, 11mm, or 11.5mm, representing dimension reductions of as much as 12.5%. Equally, normal 16mm bars are steadily offered as 14mm or 15.5mm variants. This creates important gaps between design expectations and building actuality. The Ghana Requirements Authority has established clear specs via the GS 788-2:2018 normal, which aligns with worldwide benchmarks together with ASTM A615 (United States), BS 4449 (United Kingdom), and IS 1786 (India). These requirements exist for crucial security causes. Gentle metal should obtain a minimal yield power of 250 N/mm², whereas excessive tensile metal requires 420 N/mm² to make sure structural integrity. The structural and security implications of undersized supplies reveal the depth of this disaster and demand instant options.
Though the first motive for this phenomenon is essentially financial financial savings, a extra thorough financial evaluation will reveal a rise in financial threat (burden). From an financial standpoint, utilizing substandard sizes of constructing supplies may end up in hidden prices, together with larger upkeep bills, decrease property values, and elevated monetary obligations for contractors and builders. Properties developed from these substandard supplies will, in the long term, require extra frequent repairs attributable to structural flaws corresponding to leaks, cracks, and deformation, and so on. Moreover, the market worth of houses constructed utilizing subpar supplies tends to be lowered attributable to defects and deterioration. This financial paradox impacts all stakeholders in Ghana’s building {industry}. It represents a basic case of “penny clever, pound silly” economics that transfers prices from the development part to the operational and upkeep phases of a constructing’s lifecycle.
Buildings could develop cracks, expertise water infiltration, or undergo from structural deformation that necessitates expensive remedial work. The insurance coverage implications are equally important buildings constructed with non-standard supplies could face larger insurance coverage premiums or, in excessive circumstances, protection exclusions. For {industry} professionals, the usage of undersized supplies creates substantial legal responsibility dangers. Structural engineers design buildings based mostly on normal materials specs, calculating load-bearing capacities and security components in response to established materials properties. When precise supplies fail to satisfy these specs, the designed security margins are compromised. This doubtlessly exposes professionals to authorized legal responsibility in case of structural failure. There’s a crucial design-reality disconnect: from the design standpoint, if the bar is under-sized, the usage of nominal bar diameter with out truly measuring the bar dimension will result in an over-estimation of the last word second of resistance. For most people, the implications prolong past particular person property possession to broader neighborhood security and financial growth. When buildings in a neighborhood are constructed with compromised supplies, the complete space faces elevated dangers of structural failure, lowered property values, and diminished attractiveness for funding and growth. Owners who unknowingly buy properties constructed with undersized supplies could face surprising upkeep prices, insurance coverage challenges, and issue in resale. These particular person impacts mixture to community-wide results that may impede native financial growth and concrete progress.
Constructing collapse is a documented concern in Ghana’s building {industry}, and the systematic use of undersized supplies could also be a contributing issue. Ghana’s regulatory framework seems satisfactory on paper however fails in implementation. The Ghana Requirements Authority maintains complete requirements aligned with worldwide greatest practices, but enforcement stays insufficient. This is because of restricted stringent measures to make sure manufactured and imported supplies meets required requirements. Present market practices compound enforcement challenges via poor traceability programs. Metal bars for example usually lack correct labeling with dimension specs and producer identification, making it tough to trace non-compliant supplies to their sources.
Nonetheless, a complete resolution framework exists that requires coordinated motion throughout stakeholders. Essentially the most pressing want is strengthened enforcement of current requirements via necessary labeling necessities, common market surveillance, random testing of supplies from numerous suppliers, and significant penalties for non-compliance. Skilled our bodies should develop industry-wide high quality assurance protocols together with necessary materials verification procedures, skilled growth applications on high quality management, and moral pointers that discourage the usage of substandard supplies. Financial measures ought to embrace tax incentives for suppliers who reveal constant compliance with requirements, preferential therapy in authorities procurement for quality-certified supplies, and elevated penalties for building failures attributed to materials inadequacies. Insurance coverage {industry} engagement may present market-based high quality incentives via premium reductions for buildings constructed with licensed supplies whereas charging larger premiums for buildings utilizing non-compliant supplies. A complete public consciousness marketing campaign is crucial to coach all stakeholders concerning the dangers related to undersized supplies. This could goal owners who want to know high quality indicators, contractors who should stability value and high quality pressures, and policymakers who want to know the long-term implications of regulatory choices. In the end, the case for standard-sized supplies rests on sound financial ideas. Whereas substandard supplies could provide short-term value financial savings, the long-term financial advantages of high quality building far outweigh these non permanent benefits. Buildings constructed with correct supplies last more, require much less upkeep, retain larger values, and contribute to general financial growth. The time has come to reverse this harmful pattern via strengthened enforcement, {industry} management, and public consciousness. The price of motion could appear excessive, however the price of inaction by way of structural failures, financial losses, and human security is way larger.
References
Ametepey, S.O., Akorli, Ok.S., Ansah, S.Ok., Aigbavboa, C. and Frempong-Jnr, E.Y., 2023. Investigating the usual sizes of metal reinforcement used within the Ghanaian {industry}. Supplies At the moment: Proceedings, 93, pp.447-452.
Assiamah, S., Kankam, C.Ok., Banini, E.Ok. and Appiah, A.Ok., 2023. Bodily and geometrical traits of reinforcing metal bars within the building {industry} of Ghana. Journal of Supplies Science Analysis and Critiques, 11(1), pp.40-53.
The writer, Emmanuel Adinyira is a Professor of Development Venture Administration at KNUST, Kumasi Ghana. He’s a Fellow of the Ghana Institute of Development, a Skilled Member of the Ghana Establishment of Surveyors, and a Skilled Engineering Technologist with the Establishment of Engineering and Expertise, Ghana.
The efforts of Mr. Samuel Aklashie, a postgraduate pupil within the Division of Development Expertise and Administration, KNUST, in offering a number of the analysis the article relies on is acknowledged.
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