The document discusses quality issues in building construction. It defines quality and outlines factors that influence quality of concrete, which is a requisite for quality construction. Poor quality can manifest through issues like incorrectly made construction joints, inadequate reinforcement cover, and poor compaction. Recommendations are provided for best practices like continuous training, stringent regulations, and quality control monitoring to improve the building construction industry. Lafarge cement products and applications for different concrete types are also overviewed.

1. Understanding Quality Issues in Building Construction
Tope Arowolo
August 2015

2. What is Quality
The totality of features and characteristics of a product or
service that bear on its ability to satisfy stated or implied
needs
It’s a measure of excellence or state of being free from
defects, deficiencies and significant variations. This is
brought about by strict and consistence to certain
standards to achieve uniformity in all stages of
construction methodology to satisfy implied needs

3. Talk Quality Talk Specification
Quality in
building
construction
≡
Adherence to
specification for
Building and Road
Works
Specifications provides guidance to the site
engineers, designers, architectures,
implementers, contractors etc to achieve
good quality materials and adoption of
correct working procedures

4. Quality concrete a requisite for quality
construction
o The strength of concrete largely depends upon the quality of
materials and water content
Concrete
Sand
Cement
Water
Aggregate

5. Manifestation of Poor Quality
Poor
Quality
Incorrectly
made
construction
joints
Incorrect steel
placement
Inadequate
reinforcement
cover
Grout leakage
Poor
compaction
Segregation
Poor curing
Inadequate
reinforcement
cover

6. Incorrect Steel Placement
 Can result into inadequate
cover
 Corrosion of reinforcement
 If bars are wrongly placed
collapse may occur

7. Inadequate Reinforcement Cover
 Ingress of moisture,
gases and other
substances
 Cracking of concrete

8. Incorrectly made Construction Joint
• Main faults in joints are due to poor construction & compartment
• Old concrete should be washed, a layer of new concrete laid before
pouring is continued
Good Construction joints should allow for expansion

9. Grout Leakage
This occurs where
formwork do not
fit together
Results in a porous
area of concrete
with little or no
cement
All joints should be
properly sealed

10. Poor compaction
.
Bad compactment Honey-comb concrete
Complete compaction is
essential to give a dense,
impermeable concrete

11. Concrete Segregation
Segregation results in
uneven concrete texture,
or porous concrete in some
cases

12. Other Bad Practices leading to Quality issues
Not Removing impurities from an impure
sand
Using weathered sand for construction
Incorrect and uneven aggregate sizes

13. Recommended Best Practice in Building Construction1/2
Continuous training and development for core
professionals and artisans (to keep members of the
building industry abreast with new trends in
construction.)
Construction work should only be carried out by
licensed and registered professionals (architects,
engineers, builders, town planners, surveyors etc)
Regulatory authorities to facilitate monitoring and
quality control of projects during and after
construction.
Stringent penalties should be applied for those
responsible for collapse of buildings
1

14. Recommended Best Practice in Building Construction
2/2
 For any structure more than a bungalow, a structural
engineer must be involved
 Regular audit of defective structures must be carried
out (such structures should be demolished before it
causes havoc)
 Public enlightenment by government and its agencies
Government should provide enabling law for effective
control of artisans and craftsmen in the building
industry.
1

15. 15
 Lafarge is present in Nigeria
since 2001…
Lafarge’s Growing Presence in Nigeria
Ashakacem
1 plant in Gombe State: 1.0 Mt
Sagamu: 1.0 Mt
Ewekoro 1: 1.2 Mt
Atlas 1 cement import terminal in Port Harcourt
72% stake in Unicem: Calabar:2.5 Mt, started in 2009
Ewekoro 2: 2.2 Mt,
Q3, 2011
Wapco (in Ogun state)
Start of a new line in 2003
Strong acceleration of our development
in the recent years
… through the acquisition of Blue Circle
Industries (BCI)
2014 : Lafarge has 30% market share
2018: our capacity will reach approx 14 Mt to capture market growth

16. In Lafarge ….. We have a Commitment to Health and Safety
Hard
Hat
Safety
Glasses
Safety
Footwear
High
Visibility
Clothing
Hand
Gloves
Mandatory PPEs
Health and Safety of our Stakeholders is
a priority

17. Our Service Offering & Product Portfolio

18. Services Offering
A wide range of advisory services on all aspects
of use and application of cement.
Comprehensive technical support to customers
with practical experience on cement and
concrete technology.
Concrete Mix Designs Optimization
Offers Materials and Concrete Testing
Opportunities
Development of Site Concrete Quality
Management System
1
Slump test on site

19. General Purpose Cement
Flagship Brand
……Since 1960
……brands of impeccable standard. Resonates quality, power, maturity, resilience, durability and reliability.
It has consistently won the NIS Certificate for product quality by the Nigerian Standard Organisation for
over two decades now.
• Consistent Quality
• Assurance (heritage)

20. Specially
Formulated Cement
for Block-making &
Precast
Early Setting,
Early Strength
& Unique Latter
Strength
Cement for Block making & Precast

21. • Premium Technical Cement
• Designed for high grade concrete users
desirous of top performance;
• Heavy Construction
• Lower heat of hydration
• High workability
• Environmental friendly ( less co2
emission)
Cement for High Grade Concrete Application

22. ETEX
• Specific Application Cement
 Production of roofing sheets by the Etex
group (Nigerite, Eternite & Emenite)
 Supervised general building components
 Special form of CEM II with close
properties to CEM I
30 tons Bulk Tanker on weighing bridge
Special Application Cement

23. 23
• Road Binder Cement
• Soil Stabilization for Road
Construction
• Suitability for different soil
conditions
December, 2012
Special Application Cement
*Available in 30tons Bulker & 2 tons Jumbo bags (B2B)

24. • Cement suitable in areas with large
water bodies
• Has capacity to resist sulphate
attack
• CEM I 42.5N
• Assurance against sulphate attack
• High comprehensive strength
• Low heat of hydration
Special Application Cement - SulfaCrete
*Available only in 2 tons Jumbo bags (B2B)
2 tons Jumbo Bags

25. Cement Types and Application in Concrete
25Date
|
Cement Types Concrete Types Applications
CEM 11 32.5
C15
Blinding Purposes/Non Load Bearing
CEM 11 32.5 C20
Ground Floor of Area of Low Traffic
Walkways
Slabs
CEM 11 32.5 C30
Heavy Traffic Ground Floor
Beams,Column,Slabs
Foundation, Pillars, Walls
Canal Precast Element
Fence, Pipes
CEM 11 42.5 C40
Skyscrapers Foundation
Bridges Structural Components
Dams, Pipes, Canals
Piling
Foundation for Bridges

26. Cement Applications
Footing/Foundati
on
Column Floor Slab
Mortar (CHB-
Laying)
Beam
Plastering Floor
Topping
Concrete
Pavement
Gutter &
Drainage
Lean Concrete Soil
Stabilization

27. Types of (vertical) structures built
Single 2
storey
Bungalow Duplex
Apartments Low/Mid Rise
Residential
High Rise
Residential
Commercial Institutional
Individual
Home Building
Non IHB
Residential
Non residential
Primaril
y by
IHBs
Formal
Contractor
s

28. |