Experts say cement grade has no link to building collapse

Experts in the built industry in Nigeria has said that contrary to reports, there is no linkage between the grade of cement used and building collapse currently experienced in the country. Rather they said that building collapse is caused by the wrong application of cement with other components.

The experts noted that the 32.5 grade is good for everyday building and construction just like the 42.5 and the 52.5 grades of cement, adding that even if 100.5 grade of cement is used and wrongly applied, it would lead to building collapse, just the same way it will happen if a lesser grade is used. They cautioned that to avoid building collapses in the country, the advice of a structural engineer must be sought in any building project.

The experts recently gathered at a conference at the Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja, Lagos, under the aegis of Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers to x-ray the theme, ‘Effect of cement strength on concrete performance’. At the end of the programme, the Institution gave recommendations to Nigerians on the rules to follow to avoid building collapse.

While delivering a lecture on the topic, ‘Building collapse and cement grade-any linkage?’, Uzo Nwankwo, a structural engineer and member of the Institution, said that “building collapse will continue apace, from time to time, even if we were all made to use 100.5 cement grade, unless something is done to clean up the construction industry.”

According to him, while it is undisputable that for the same cement sand ratio, grades 42.5 and 52.5 will yield stronger blocks than the 32.5 grade, it is fallacious to assert that blocks made with 32.5 cement cause buildings to collapse.

He noted that if properly used, cement does not contribute to the collapse of any structure, adding, therefore the 32.5 cement is good for most “every day” structures while high end users for the type of structures they were made for should seek the 42.5 and 52.5.

He explained that “struc2014tural collapse is caused by a multiplicity of reasons, spanning faulty design to poor construction practices (where the majority of the causes are located). The most common cause of building collapse in Nigeria is ignorant people playing critical roles in the construction process. Cement blocks properly made from any cement grade will never cause a building to collapse.”

The conference, therefore, suggested that instead of succumbing to misleading reports, people should adopt approved methods to escape building collapse