AN ASSIGNMENT ON

THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE(NIGERIA)

COMPILED BY:

DIBIE I.A. AKINMUMI G.K.

ARC/06/8503 ARC/06/8492

SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE FEDERALUNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AKURE

LECTURER-IN-CHARGE: PROF. OGUNSOTE

AUGUST, 2011

1.0 INTRODUCTION The National Building Code is a document that was signed into law in 2007 by the civilian regime of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo after a series of building collapse in Nigeria especially in Lagos. The government as at that time felt that there was need to put a stop to the incessant collapse and also, to eventually to put Nigeria into a more planned status. This reason gave bought about the advent of the National building code.

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2.0 DEFINITION OF TERM According to Microsoft learning essentials (Encarta 2008), Building codes, are standards or state laws regulating the construction of buildings and prescribing minimum requirements for fire protection, sanitation, and safety. The primary aims of these laws are not only to set standards for new construction but also to prevent the continued use of buildings deficient in these respects. Often, they are upheld by the courts enforced by the police acting as an imposing sect.

The beginning of building codes could be traced as far back as 1790 B.C. when the code of HAMMURABI came into existence. The code stressed the point of that the safety of the occupants should be put into consideration during the construction of such building otherwise, heavy penalties awaits the builder of such a building if the building eventually collapse.

The code of HAMMURABI states as follows: if a man builds for another and the building collapses and kills the owner, the builder will be held responsible and be put to death. If the building kills the son of the owner, the son of the builder will be put to death. If the building destroys the property of the owner, the builder will replace the damaged property.

2.1PARTS OF THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE The National Building Code consists of 4 Parts and 14 sections Part 1 This part contains 3 sections and deals with the administration. Section 1Citation Section 2Definitions Section 3Administration by committee Part 2 This part deals with the technicality in the building process in the following sections Section 4Building typology Section 5The construction process by elemental classification Section 6Environmental requirements Section 7,8,9 The professionals and their responsibilities
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Section 10The building materials and their components Section 11Construction Section 12Post construction technology requirements Part 3 This part deals with the enforcement of the code Section 13Control of building works. Part 4 This part contains schedules and references Section 14Referenced standards And on the final note contains the compliance form.

2.2 THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF NIGERIA AND ITS CONSIDERATIONS The national building code is a set of state laws guiding the construction of building in order to achieve a satisfactory design free from any form of deterioration, include this:

HEALTH AND SAFETY IN CONSTRUCTION Health as defined by Longmans Dictionary of Contemporary English is a state of being well in body and mind and free from disease while Safety is described by the same dictionary as a condition of being free from danger, harm or risk. Bokinni (2006) on the other hand describe Safety as a control of recognized hazards to attain an acceptable level of risk. Naturally, the effect of construction on Safety, Health and the surrounding environment would vary from particular operations starting with extraction of building materials from quarries and methods by which the extraction is occurring, transportation, preparation of building materials at site and construction of works processes.

Health and Safety in Building construction projects should be a major concern for everybody in the construction industry but it is a pity that it in this part of the world. Health as defined by Longmans Dictionary of Contemporary English is a state of being well in body and mind and free from disease while Safety is described by the same dictionary as a condition of being free from danger, harm or risk. Bokinni (2006) on the other hand describe Safety as a control of recognized hazards to attain an acceptable level of risk.
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In the Civil and building construction works which involve excavation, and/or demolition, concrete work, painting, roofing, operation of machines, plant and equipment, use of hand tools and many other operations call for attention fromrelevant authorities, regulatory bodies, societies, scientists, professionals andbusinessmen to establish safety and health management programs and lawsgoverning construction works activities.

ACCIDENTS ON CONSTRUCTION SITE Accidents are some unpleasant and damaging happenings or occurrence that happens unexpectedly or by chance or by mistake. (Longmans Dictionary of Contemporary English). Encarta Dictionary also state that accidents are mishap which are unplanned and unfortunate events that result into damage, injury or upset of some kind.

Accidents on construction sites cannot be over emphasized; it could happen as a result of a mistake or lack of concentration or even natural disaster. Accidents can occur even when the job to be done is minimal and could be very disastrous. ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION The main idea behind investigation of accidents is to determine the causes of such with a view of preventing a reoccurrence, gather data for use in any criminal or civil proceedings, to enable confirm or refuse of a claim or injuries benefit and paper notifications to be made to enforcing agency. During the investigation of an accident the following should be answered:

What caused the accident? Who was involved in the accident? When did it occur? Whether the person involved was wearing protective clothing? How it could have been prevented? How it will not re-occur?

ACCIDENT REPORTING Reporting or recording accidents should be a daily thing as the work progresses. In respect to this aspect, it makes it important for an accident register book to exist on site in which all types of minor injuries to major accidents,such as bruises imputing disability and fatal be recorded.
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Death or dangerous injuries should be reported by the quickest means (usually telephone) and subsequently confirmed in writing as soon as possible. The report should state the date and time of the occurrence, full name and occupation of the injured person, the place of the occurrence and a brief description of the circumstance.

Below is a format an accident record and information it contains: Full Name: Occupation: Nature of injury/condition: Place of occurrence Date and time: Brief description of circumstances: Action taken:

ACCIDENT CONTROL When an accident occur , it only shows that something has gone wrong with one or more process of the job or some elements of carelessness on the part of the workers or an employer has created an unsafe condition of work. Therefore an employer or site supervisor should put in place all necessary prevention or control materials and take control of contributory causes of the accident. Also, the employer or site supervisor should know the physical and mental state of the workers to be sure of the safety level of the site. In order to ascertain a reasonable safety control level, the site supervisor should put into consideration the following: 1. Supervisor safety analysis

job hazard analysis enforcement of safety rules adequate safety knowledge promotion of employee participation in safety development of safety working condition

2. Mental condition of worker 3. Physical condition of worker Other measures of accident control as explained by Bokinni (2006) are highlighted
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below: The work environment 1. All floors should be clean, not slippery and free from debris, 2. Stairs, gangways and loading bays should be adequately guarded and maintained, 3. Adequate illumination for workspace, 4. Holes, edges and opening should be adequately protected, 5. Display of standard warning signs where hazard exists, 6. Materials and components should be stacked correctly, 7. Projecting objects or obstacles should be adequately protected.

Protective clothing Provision of protective clothing and equipment are as well important. For safety purpose, workers on a construction site should be adequately protected using the following clothing or \ and equipments

safety helmets safety boots welding shield

Section 7.45.1 states that The evaluation of the building for fire safety purposes shall be assessed as follows (a) fire safety (b) means of egress and (c) general safety as defined in sections 12.3.2.1, 12.3.2.2, and 12. 3.2.3. Section 7.46.3.1 states that It shall be unlawful to load any structure, temporary support, scaffolding sidewalk bridge or sidewalk shed or any other device or construction equipment during the construction or demolition of any building or structure in excess of its safe working capacity as provided in section 8 for allowable loads and working stresses. Section 7.46.3.2 states that Whenever any doubt arises as to th e structural quality or strength of scaffolding plank or other construction equipment, such material shall be replaced, or the code enforcement officer shall require a strength test to four times the superimposed live load to which the material or structural member is to be subjected. The member shall sustain the test load without failure. Section 7.46.4.1 states that When inspection of any construction operation reveals that any unsafe or irregular conditions exists, code enforcement officer shall notify the owner and direct the owner to take necessary remedial measures to remove the hazard or violation. Sections 7.46.4.2 states that Unless the owner so notified proceeds to comply with
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the orders of the code enforcement officer within 7 days, the code enforcement
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Officer shall have full power to correct the usage condition as provided in sections 2.3.6.2 and 2.6. All expenses incurred in the correction of such unsafe condition shall be a lien on the property. Section 7.46.4.3 states that When the strength and adequacy of any scaffolding or construction equipment is in doubt, or when any complaint is made, the code enforcement officer shall inspect the equipment and shall prohibit its use until tested as required in section 13.1.6.2 or until all danger is removed. Section 13.5.1 states that All building or structures regulated by this code and othe r related technical codes which are structurally inadequate or have inadequate means of egress, or which constitute a fire hazard, or are otherwise dangerous to life and property are, for the purpose of this section, unsafe. Section 13.5.2 states that (g) building service equipment or installations regulated by such codes, which constitute a fire, electrical, or health hazard, or unsanitary condition, or is otherwise dangerous to human life is for the purpose of this section, unsafe. (h) any use of buildings, structures unable to sustain the design loads specified in this code are hereby designated as unsafe building appendages.
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(i) all such unsafe buildings, structures or appendages and building services equipment and installations are hereby declared to be public nuisances and shall be abated by repair, rehabilitation, depletion or removal in accordance with the procedure set forth in this code. These and many more sections in the code have spelt out the minimum level of risk a worker should be exposed to and it has also stated the minimum requirement for health and safety on every construction site.

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2.3 THE RELEVANCE OF THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE TO HEALTH AND SAFETY IN CONSTRUCTION The National Building Code has been of a reasonable advantage to the construction industry in Nigeria especially in the aspect of health and safety of workers on site. The provisions of the Code with respect to health and safety has been of tremendous help in stating the responsibilities of the parties involved In the construction industry in providing health and safety. Originally the average Nigerian worker does not know his right as pertain to health and safety and will see the provision of the same as a favour or privilege instead of a right. But the code has shown that it is one of the primary duties of the employer to ensure a good and safe working condition.

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3.0 CONCLUSION In essence, the National building code is of utmost importance because, it helps set a standard, which ensures the longevity of structures. It helps prevent accident, enhance building construction, and ensure that the building erected is structurally sound. The national building of code is of utmost importance to construction in various countries. Each country has its national building code, which guides and gives the requirement of a standard building.

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4.0 REFERENCE Bokinni . S .K. (2006) Building aftercare, Tony terry publisher, Lagos. Bamishile .A. (2004) Building Production Management, WemimoAdetayo Publishers , Lagos Federal Republic of Nigeria National Building Code (2006) LexisNexis Butterworks, South Africa. Bokinni. S. K (1999) Give the art of safety awareness, accident prevention a new look (unpublished) pg (1,3 ,9) Bokinni .S. K (2002) Industrial Safety and Accident Prevention (unpublished) CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE -- SECTIONS 105400-105430. www.hse.com Hassan et al. Perception Of Building Construction Workers Towards Safety, Health And Environment,unpublished.www.um.edu.my/ha ssan.pdf Health and Safety Executivewww.hse.co m Mwombeki F.K. (2005). Occupational Health & Safety Challenge in Construction Sites in Tanzania,unpublished,www.hse.com

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