Investigation of the Cause of Building Failures in Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines the causes of building failures in order to curb it in Nasarawa state thereby facilitating a safe environment for both rural and urban dwellers. To carry out the study, three research questions and three hypotheses were formulated. Questionnaire was used to collect relevant data from sample of 35 builders/masons and 23 Engineers randomly selected from the four local governments of the state. t-test was used to test the null hypotheses. The study revealed that Lack of proper drainage planning of the town causes water to cause erosion that affects the building, construction of building without consulting the necessary building experts, lack of appropriate foundation, and failure to carry out proper water/cement ratio were responsible for building failures. Several recommendations were made based on the finding in order to reduce building failures, among which are that: Only qualified architects and engineers should be allowed to present architectural and structural drawings, for approval before any construction work commence, the supervision and monitoring of construction work should be properly carried out and should be by qualified engineers, proper selection of materials should be done, the government should ensure that code of practice is followed in construction works, total loads of building should always be assessed before any construction and the public too should ensure that the right thing is done for them so that issue of building failures will be reduced.