By Shile GIWA
The Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (NICE), Lagos Chapter, on Thursday canvassed for the adoption of the `Expanded Polystyrene’ (EPS) construction technology in the country, to encourage capacity development.
Mr Emeka Ibe, Vice-Chairman of NICE, canvassed for the adoption of the technology during a visit by the institution to an organisation, Monumental Works Ltd, in Lagos.
Ibe said that the visit was to enhance the skills and capacities of the engineers, through acquaintance with the latest trends of construction methodologies.
He said that the knowledge and usage of EPS, introduced about five years ago in the construction industry in Nigeria, was relatively low.
“Because of the economic benefits of the EPS, the Institution has deemed it fit that civil engineers should acquaint themselves with it as an alternative to the sand and cement blocks,” Ibe said.
As part of the Institution’s social responsibility, Ibe said that NICE had visited the Lagos Metropolitan College, where it donated over 200 copies of exercise books to aid academic studies of the students.
Earlier, Mr Ogundare Olufemi, Managing Director, Monumental Works Ltd., said that the EPS, if adopted in Nigeria, could be used to build more affordable houses at lower cost, to reduce the housing deficit.
Olufemi said that EPS panel was cost-effective, and could save over 60 per cent of the cost of construction, compared to sand and cement blocks.
According to him, EPS panel is easy to install, and has speedy execution, such that construction of buildings can be completed within an interval of seven days.
“The most economic benefit of EPS is its lightweight, meaning that it does not exert heavy pressure on the foundation,that may cause a collapse.
“This implies that any building constructed with the EPS panel can stand the test of time.
“The material can be deployed in every housing development and environment, particularly earthquake-prone areas.
“It is strong and gives more security, unlike the sand and cement blocks, which can easily be pierced by a bullet from the robbers,” Olufemi said.
Also speaking, Mr James Owivry, former National Chairman of NICE, enjoined the developers, particularly civil engineers, to embrace the technique and improve on their service delivery.====NAN
