Assessment of Defects in Building Structures in Nigeria

Abstract

Detrfective construction works resulting from non-compliance to the expressed requirements of construction contracts, such as drawings and specification have been identified as one of the major causes of complete structural failures. The causes of building construction causes are varied and at times not easy to determine. The study aimed at determining the effect of various factors responsible for defects in building structures in Nigeria by identifying common defects in buildings through intensive literature search. A second objective was to determine the impact of these defects on the health of the building and its occupants with the aid of a structured questionnaire. The study found that total collapse of the building is the major consequence of defective building, while permanent deformity of the building element and loss of prestige were ranked second and third respectively.