A Quantitative Investigation of Building Security Cost in Nigeria

Abstract

Private individuals express their security concerns through the provision of built-in security components in their houses, such as burglar proofing, perimeter fencing, guard huts and external floodlighting. The aim of this paper is to establish a parameter/model for predicting probable cost of security for middle-income buildings (e.g. four bedrooms flat residential bungalow building), and derive the line or curve that best fits the relationship. The paper employs a survey approach, by utilizing a data collection proforma to capture nine (9) different variables comprising three solid elements in building (i.e. substructure, wall and roof), and security components (i.e. anti-burglar proofing, gate house, fence, and external lighting). As % of total cost of construction, fence had 26.5% maximum and 8.7% minimum, while external lighting had the least percentage of 2.1% maximum and 0.1% minimum. Conclusions were reached that, costs of built-in security components increases as the Total Cost of Building increases. Finally, the study established a parameter for determining the costs per m2 of Building Gross Floor Area, which comprises of average cost, minimum and maximum cost of various components sampled in this study. This would go a long way in projecting a probable cost of security components.