CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Building materials specification is a term used to refer to a document that is prepared by

professionals like an architect, quantity surveyor, builder, or an estimator to supplement building

drawings. Building materials specification is a written or printed schedule of instructions to the

contractor forming part of a contract and is usually accompanied by drawings. The object of the

building materials specification is to describe in a brief and precise form the nature and quality of

materials to be used, the method of construction required in carrying out the work and also

giving dimensions and other information not shown on the drawings, components and

workmanship (seeley, 1998).

Building materials specification should be used to amplify and not to repeat the

information shown on the drawings. It’s also seen as “writing instructions describing a specific

item of work” (Odunlami, 2002). Normally it is found that a building materials specification

resolves itself into two distinct sections:-

1. Specification of materials and workmanship

2. Description of work.

Purchasing agents that are responsible for procuring the materials and equipments use

information in the specification documents and the project representative or the inspector also

finds aid in the document while inspecting and controlling the work. The document also writing

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for the sub-contractors, manufacturers of building materials and equipments and also the client as

well as his representatives on site to carry out their activities as their profession bestow on them.

After the preparation of this document as guidelines for the construction projects, will can

still found numerous collapse buildings in our society. This shows that the problems lied with the

contractor by using sub-standard materials, unskilled workmen etc. Buildings, like all structures,

are designed to support and withstand certain loads without any deformity. The loads are the

weights of people and objects, the intensity of rain and the varying wind pressure. Akosile

(2010) noted that building collapse occurs when the structural frame of a building brakes up

when the loads on it are beyond its carrying capacity.

A research was carried out by Bamidele (2000) as cited by Fadamiro (2002) on the

causes of building collapse in Nigeria. The result of the research showed that poor materials and

workmanship contribute to about 45% of the overall causes of building collapse.

1.2 Problem statement

Building materials specification is a document that can guide the contractors

because building materials and components are displayed in the market without legal approval

number and there are no restriction to the kind, quality and even the sizes of each material. More

so, there are insufficient testing laboratories where most building materials and components are

tested before standard are established for good practice and use. These tests and specimen carried

out in the laboratories according to Odulami (2002) have better strength than those on production

site.

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Again, the important of good workmanship on building is self-evident and the need to

specify this important aspect adequately cannot be over-emphasized, but adequate specification

has in the past never proved easy to achieve.

1.3 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of building material specification in building projects?

2. How effective are various bodies and organizations responsible for material

standardization and enforcement?

3. What is the relationship between quality of materials and workmanship in building

projects?

1.4 Aim and objectives

The aim of this research work is to assess the effect of enforcement of standard building

materials specification in building projects to reduce the incidence of building collapse in

Nigeria. To achieve this aim, the following objectives were set out;

1. To identify the effect of building material specification in building projects.

2. To identify and assess the effectiveness of bodies and organizations responsible for

material standardization and enforcement.

3. To identify and assess the relationship between quality of materials and workmanship on

construction projects.

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1.5 Need for the study

Building materials specification is known to prescribe what materials are to be used,

but where there is a departure or a deviation from the specification, doom (which is building

collapse) is inevitable (Adebayo, 2000). Materials specification must relate exactly to the

intended construction and must be of adequate standard (Bolaji, 2002).

There is a necessity to investigate material variability and workmanship factors and this

is because these two factors contribute to about 45% of total causes of building collapse in

Nigeria according to investigation.

1.6 Scope and limitation of the study

There are many materials specifications being used in the Nigerian construction industry

but the study focused on the building materials specification, which may have three purposes, in

each case in conjunction with drawings:

1. To be read by the contractor’s estimator as the only information available on which to prepare

a competitive tender.

2. To be read by the quantity surveyor to enable a bill of quantities to be prepared as a basis for

a competitive tender.

3. To be read by the clerk (an architect) of works during the progress of works.

Failure to follow specification always results into building collapse in future. This led to

a research on building collapse and causes, where by the building professionals and various

bodies and organizations which are responsible for material standardization in Nigeria are

directly involved with the actual building process. The research will be limited to Lagos state.

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2.0 REVIEW OF LITERATURE

2.1 SPECIFICATION DOCUMENT

Specification is a term used to refer to a document that is prepared by the Architect,

Quantity surveyor, Builder or an estimator to supplement building drawings. Specification

amplifies the information given in the contract drawings and bill of quantities, and described in

details the work to be executed under the contract and the nature and quality of the materials,

components and workmanship (Seeley, 1998).

Specification is seen as “writing instructions describing a specific item of work”

(Odulami, 2002). They are part of the contract documents that define a quantitative requirement

of a building to be built. They are writing to tell the contractor how to construct, manage and

direct building or any other type of construction works. He further said that specifications are

equally writing for the estimator in the contractor’s office that prepares the estimate based on it.

Purchasing agents that are responsible for procuring the materials and the equipment uses

information in the specification document and the project representative or the inspector also

finds aid in the document while inspecting and controlling the work. The document is also

writing for the sub-contractor, manufacturer of building materials and equipment and also the

client as well as his representatives on site to carry out their activities as their profession bestow

on them.

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2.2 CONTENTS OF SPECIFICATION

According to Fadamiro and Ogunsemi (1996) and Aje (unpublished), specification states

the following for each trade in a building project:

(1) Types and quality of materials, equipment and fixtures.

(2) Quality of workmanship

(3) Methods of fabrication, installation and erections

(4) Tests and requirements of British Standard and codes of procedure.

(5) Catalogue references for manufacturer equipment.

(6) Schedules of finishes, windows and doors.

(7) Location of materials, equipment and fixtures

(8) Detail and overall dimensions.

(9) Inter-relation of materials, equipment and space.

(10) Sizes of equipment.

The description for workmanship in the specification document should indicate what

preparations are required, the method of mixing and depositing, the class or standard of

workmanship and the basis of supervision.

2.3.1 THE SPECIFICATION AS A BASIS FOR TENDERS

In small contracts, contractors prepare their tenders from drawings and specifications

only. Estimators take their own measurements of the work from the drawings and build up their

estimates relying on the specification for a full description of quality, materials and

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workmanship. Beside this, drawings and specification, when read together, must indicate

everything required to be included in the estimate.

2.3.2 THE SPECIFICATION FOR THE QUANTITY SURVEYOR

For medium contracts, it is usual for a bill of quantities to be supplied on behalf of the

client if competitive tenders are being invited. The measuring work, which in the previous case

would be done by all the tenders, is in these circumstances done for them by the quantity

surveyor who puts before them the facts, but each tenderer is left with the estimating, this being

largely a matter of individual judgment.

In order that the quantity surveyor may prepare the bill, instructions must be given by the

architect as complete as those required by the contractors when taking their own measurements

and these instructions are conveyed in a specification. In this case the architect’s specification is

not usually a contract document it can be less formal and convey the information in the form of

notes. For certain standard clauses reference may be made to another contract.

2.4 FUNCTIONS OF SPECIFICATIONS

Specification clauses and documents related to a particular building contract serve the following

functions:-

1. Specification clauses prepared by the architect: - are used by the quantity surveyor to enable

him to prepare either a specification or a bill of quantities as a basis for competitive tenders.

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2. Specification clauses concerning materials and workmanship prepared by the quantities

surveyor and inserted in the preambles sections of a bill of quantities are used by the

contractor’s estimator together with the bill items and the drawings to prepare a competitive

tenders.

3. Specification document comprising specification of materials and workmanship and

description of work sections prepared by the quantity surveyor is used by the contractor’s

estimator together with drawings as the only information he has to prepare competitive

tenders.

4. Specification clauses in accepted tenders used by the clerk of works and the contractor’s

site agent and foreman during the progress of the contract as the architect’s instructions for

carrying out the work.

2.4 USE OF STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS AND CODES OF PRACTICE

The extent to which standard documents should be referred to in a specification is

sometimes difficult to decide. The British Standards Institution (BSI) publishes standards for a

very wide range of materials. Many of them are prepared with a view to use for local authority

housing contracts, the standard for which may not be high enough for some other types of

building. Codes of practice relating to workmanship in various trades are also publish by the BSI

A thorough knowledge of these standards and codes would need almost a life’s work and

is not a practical possibility for the ordinary professional: moreover, few contractors will have a

complete range of them in their office. Generally speaking it is advisable to refer to British

Standards for the more usual materials and codes of practice can be incorporated where

considered useful, but it is most important in either case to be conversant with the terms of the

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document quoted. It’s not sufficient to say ‘All materials are to be in accordance with the

relevant British Standard’ nor ‘that all work is to comply with the codes of practice issued by the

BSI’, without stating the reference number of the particular standard or code. Many of the codes

of practice have now been converted to standards and it is the policy of the BSI to continue this

process. The use of references to these documents must not be allow to encourage laziness.

3.0 RESEACH METHODOLOGY

3.1 INTRODUCTION

It is intended in this chapter to describe appropriate methodology and procedure for this

study that can achieve the specific objectives of the research. This chapter will be based on

issues like study population, data collection instrument, sample size, and method of data

analysis.

3.2 STUDY POPULATION

The study population for this study will be on professionals in construction industry (Architects,

Engineers, Quantity surveyor and builders). The study area will be limited to Lagos state.

3.3 SAMPLE SIZE

A total number of 40 questionnaires will be distributed to construction firms in Lagos state

metropolis.

3.4 DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENT

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A questionnaire titled, “Assessment of building materials specification and enforcement on

construction projects in Nigeria” will be designed. The questionnaire will be distributed to

professionals in construction industry. The questionnaire will be made up of two sections.

Section A: will be based on the general information covering the respondents company name,

address, qualification, year of experience.

Section B: will show more details on knowledge of those things observed by the respondent’s

towards enforcement of building materials specification on construction projects in their

previously handled project, effects of sub-standard materials and poor workmanship, description

of works on projects and so on.

3.4 METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS

In order to embark on effective data analysis, the information that will be collected will be

transferred to spread sheet analysed. The analysis will comprise the use of tables, percentile,

mean score etc.

REFERENCES

Akosile, A. (2010, March 26). “Structural Engineers Advocate Stricter Building

Construction Measures”.Thisday Newspapers, Retrieved from http://

www.thisdayonline.com /archive/2002/03/26/20020326est 02.html

Adebayo, S. O. (2000). Improving building techniques. Proceedings of a workshop on

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Building collapse: Causes, prevention and remedies (pp. 48-51). The Nigerian

Institute of Building, Lagos State.

Odulami, A.A. (2002). Building materials specification and enforcement on site.

Bamidele, O.T. (2000, Feb.,18). “Building Collapse: Stakeholders Proffer Solutions on

Way Forward”. Daily Sun Newspapers, Retrieved from

http://www.dailysunngr.com

Bolaji, E. O. (2002). Building materials specification and enforcement on site.

Seeley, I. (1998). Building quantities explained. London Macmillan press Limited.

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