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Cap 1 Construction Industry
Cap 1 Construction Industry
Cap 1 Construction Industry
Recent Developments
The building industry has, over the past few years, entered into a new and challenging
era. Many new materials have been developed and are appearing on the market in an
ever-increasing volume. New techniques in building in the shape of industrialization have
evolved bringing with them new problems in design, organisation and production. Plants
for use by the builder are kept abreast of the industry, enabling and increasing in
production without an increase in labour. Few general building contractors now provide
for their own men to compare a project throughout what with the growth of specialization
(or as more generally known in the industry, sub-contracts.
The development of the construction industry may be attributed to the following:
(a) Economic factors: The need by human beings for a building to live in, perform his
duties in and for recreation purposes have resulted to innumerable erection of
buildings calls for materials, labour, transport resources, hence calling for the
collective participation of manufacturers, financial institutions, those sectors, thus
contributing to the economic development of a nation.
(b) Employment: The construction industry is one of the biggest employers of labour in
the country, hence utilizing most of the country’s manpower and helping in
improving the economy of the country.
(c) Fulfillment of human needs: Shelter is one of the basic human needs (food, clothing,
privacy, security, comfort being others) is provided by the building industry. The
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development and usage of many new building materials has continued fulfilling
human needs.
TYPE OF CONTRACTORS
There are basically five types of contractors in the construction industry.
1. Small contractors – employ less than 25 people with two or three permanent staff and
form the largest total of the industry – about 93%. They can undertake small building
projects e.g. a group of houses or flats or do maintenance work, alterations,
extensions and repairs – functions that are vital for the upkeep of homes, places of
work and pleasure. They usually have no offices or plant. They tend to specialize in
certain trades or areas e.g. formwork, steel fixing, joinery, plastering etc.
2. Medium sized contractors – employ between 25 – 200 people and form about 6% of
the industrial total. These are mainly family businesses. They also have offices but
not many permanent staff. On receiving major works; they will hire extra staff on
temporary basis. They have medium sized plants. They also undertake work or
medium sized estates.
3. Large contractors – normally undertake building and (or will works and employ
between 200 – 10 000 people and form about 1% of the industrial total.
Civil engineering contractors – undertake civil work e.g. bridges, airports, harbours,
highways etc on a national or international scale e.g. Sumitomo Corporation, HZ,
China Road and Bridge International etc. They have many employees, national
technicians etc. as fulltime staff.
4. Sub-contractors – are smallish groups of builders who specialize in one particular
field of construction, resulting in high standards of work at very competitive prices.
Can be large, medium or small e.g. lift installers, electrical installers, plumbers, air
conditioners, asphalt roofers, terrazzo pavers, pliers, under pinners, drillers etc.
They can also be man contractors in their own right.
5. Speculative builders – the builder takes a gamble (usually every calculated on) of
building house, office blocks etc. before having any client. He designs and builds
houses with the hope that he will get buyers or leasers
6. Nominated sub-contractors – are sub-contractors who have been appointed by the
architect.
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1. Contracting matters, issued etc., relating to the profession like disciplining its errant
members, ensuring that its activities measure to expected standards.
2. Looking after the welfare of its members
3. Development of specific area through training, research etc
4. Designing, guiding (advising or supervising proposed on works going on.
b Local Authorities
Ensure that the construction conforms to the set standards and also enforces the various
Acts of Parliament that control the erection, alteration and repair of buildings. Institutes
quality control of the building process. Most of the detailed work in relation to the
Building regulations is carried out by the Building control officer/Building inspector
responsible for the given area. He:
1. Approves building drawings on ensuring that they conform to the building code.
2. Sends inspectors to the site to ensure that the approved plans are the ones being
used.
3. Inspects the building during the construction to ensure that once completed, it will
not endanger lives of the inhabitants.
In order to facilitate the laws of the local authority, the contractor shall give notice
for the work commencement and progress of the work as follows:
(a) When the erection of the building begins
(b) When plumbing work and drain laying begins
(c) The following shall be ready for inspection and testing either in part or in
whole:
i) Foundation bed
ii) Foundation concrete
iii) Damp-proof courses
iv) Backfilling
v) Reinforcement placing
vi) Concrete after sheltering is removed
vii) Drainage
viii) Plumbing installation.
On the final completion of the project the local authority will carry out the final
inspection and issue certificate of completion so that the building can be ready for
occupation.
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