1. Promoting best practices in building construction;
adverse effects of substandard materials & poor labour
workmanship
May 26, 2015

2. Lafarge WAPCO Nigeria Plc……… Overview
WAPCO Operations is the operational business of
Lafarge Africa Plc and is driving excellence in Nigeria's
building industry, placing innovation at the heart of its
priorities, working for sustainable construction and
architectural creativity.
WAPCO Operations has three plants - one in Sagamu
and two in Ewekoro with a current production capacity
of 4.5 million metric tonnes. The Company's objective
of increasing the availability of cement to Nigerians as
well as assisting in achieving the Federal Government's
drive for affordable housing for all is our major drive.
WAPCO Operations has made immense investments in
supporting Nigeria's socio-economic development.
Over the years, WAPCO Operations has acquired strategic visible presence in the business environment
whilst building a visible and enduring legacy on the nation's individual landscape. WAPCO Operations
continues to have tremendous positive impact on its numerous stakeholders: Communities, Customers,
Shareholders and Employees.

3. In Lafarge ….. We have a commitment to safety

4. Building Collapse & construction root cause
…….Poor construction methods and workmanship is responsible for failures
of building and structures
The poor construction methods is due and workmanship is caused
 Negligence
 Poor and inadequate quality control at construction site
The poor construction practice is manifested in various forms:
Poor
construction
Incorrectly
made
construction
joints
Incorrect steel
placement
Inadequate
reinforcement
cover
Grout leakage
Poor
compaction
Segregation
Poor curing
Inadequate
reinforcement
cover

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

6. Inadequate reinforcement cover
 Ingress of moisture,
gases and other
substances
 Cracking of concrete

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

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

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

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

11. Correcting building collapse through best practices
 Stringent penalties should be applied for those responsible for collapse of buildings, particularly
when loss of lives is involved.
 Town Planning Authorities should be adequately staffed and equipped with professionals in the
construction industry. For effective monitoring of projects during and after construction.
 Continuing professional development should be emphasized by both the professional bodies and
the government on modern trends in the building industry. To keep members of the building
industry abreast with new trends in construction.
 Government should provide an enabling law for the training, and effective control of artisans and
craftsmen in the building industry.
 Government should screen those getting involved in housing projects. For any structure more than
a bungalow, a structural engineer must be involved.
 Construction work should only be carried out by registered contractors and supervised by
registered architects, engineers and builders rather than engaging unskilled contractors.
 A regular audit of defective structures must be carried out and such structures marked for
demolition should be demolished before it causes havoc on lives and properties.
 Government at all levels should intensify public enlightenment, placing emphasis on how building
disasters could be prevented rather than managing situations which might be costlier.
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12. Product Offering:
• Consistent Quality
• Readily Available
• Assurance
(heritage)
• Consistent Quality
• Low heat of hydration
• Cost saving
• Reduced block breakages
• Quicker turnaround
• Readily Available
• Consistent Quality
• Excellent strength at all ages
• Lower heat of hydration
(reduced cracking)
• High workability
• Smoother surface finish
• Environmental friendly ( less
co2 emission)
Sulphate
Resistant
Cement
…….a brand 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.
• Longer setting time,
• Slow strength gain and self-
healing
• Extended working time
• Suitability for different soil
conditions
• Long term strength
2 tonnes jumbo bags
30 tonnes truck
• Assurance against Sulphate
attack
• High compressive strength
• Low heat of hydration
• Significantly improved
leakage & concrete strength

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