SON urge builders to prioritise standardize construction, electrical materials, emphasis on equipments calibration
By: Salako Tijani.
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has placed more emphasis on the need for sustainability in building construction by knowing the importance of testing various building and electrical materials that are used in housing construction in other to ensure compliance with international standards.
The Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) made this statement during the one day capacity building workshop training for Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CICAN) hosted at SON complex in Lagos, which was designed to equipped the media moguls with first-hand knowledge and information about the apparatus that are commonly used my people.
During the paper presentation by head of civil and building laboratory, Mr Obiozor Anthony noted that the organisation’s testing laboratory for civil and building is equipped to analyze a wide range of materials, including cement, concrete blocks, POP (Plaster of Paris), ceramic tiles, sanitary wares, wood and wooden products, concrete, interlocking blocks, and paving blocks.
He said the procedures involve a combination of physical and chemical tests to evaluate the properties and performance of building materials as the agency uses advanced equipment, including X-ray fluorescence (XRF) machines, compressive strength machines, and slip resistance testers. In testing cement for chemical composition, fineness, setting time, compressive strength, and resistance to chemical attack.
However, concrete blocks are tested for compressive strength, durability, and resistance to weathering. As POP is tested for fineness, setting time, and strength while ceramic tiles are tested for physical, chemical, and mechanical parameters, including water absorption, acid resistance, and modulus of rapture.
Mr. Anthony also claimed that the aim is to ensure that building materials meet the required standards for construction and reduce the risk of building collapses and other safety hazards that are prone to housing construction which will help to promote sustainable development and protect public safety in Nigeria’s construction industry.
Meanwhile, Engineer Lawal Ismaila, also re-echoed the importance of having high grade electrical cables in other to mitigate the fire outbreak and significantly any occurance at are prone by electrical cable.
Engineer Ismaila said “some manufacturers mostly use alloy materials instead of pure copper wire with the aim of cutting costs, and this is resulting in high resistance and increased risk of fire outbreaks.”
However, various electrical products, including cables, generators, and solar panels, are constantly check and calibration in ensuring for compliance with international standards which the SON accredited specific laboratory for this where it conducts rigorous and extensive tests on these products to determine their quality and safety.
Parameters such as resistance to fire, insulation quality, and compliance with standard specifications are often checked and to verifies the authenticity of certifications and marks of quality on products as the agency also ensure that other power supply meet standard specifications and performance requirements in terms of capacity, power output and safety features.
Engineer Ismaila reaffirmed the importance of proper installation and maintenance of electrical systems, including solar panels which the improper installation can lead to safety hazards and reduce the overall efficiency of electrical systems.
The experts concluded that industry stakeholders should cultivate the habit of using standard building materials including electrical cables will promote safety and efficiency in the construction industry and protect public health as it will help to reduce the risk of building collapse, fire outbreaks and other civil hazard.
