This paper was presented at the Nigeria BuildExpo 2017, organised by ELAN EXPO https://elanexpo.net/ and supported by the leading engineering professional bodies in Nigeria. It took place between 02–04 November 2017, at the Landmark Centre, Lagos Nigeria. Till date, the insights of this my paper remain profoundly relevant. It addresses vital aspects of structural integrity evaluation and continues to offer invaluable perspectives on ensuring safety and reliability in building and infrastructure development. As Nigeria navigates its evolving landscape of construction and engineering, this paper’s enduring relevance underscores its pivotal role in shaping and informing industry standards and practices. Exhibition Theme: Construction & Building Materials, Technologies, Machineries and Infrastructure Presentation Description / Brief Structures—whether buildings, bridges or dams—form the backbone of our society. They withstand forces of nature, daily wear and tear, and the test of time. However, over time, even the most robust structures can experience fatigue, cracks, and vulnerabilities. The consequences of structural failure can be catastrophic, affecting lives, property, and the economy. In a country with diverse architectural heritage and rapid urbanization, ensuring the safety and reliability of our built environment is paramount. The Key Objectives of this Presentation are; Understanding the Basics: explore the fundamental principles of structural integrity assessment, including load-bearing capacity, material properties, and design considerations. Local Adaptation: How do international standards align with Nigeria’s specific needs? It highlights the adaptation of global guidelines to our local context, using a few case Studies - real-world examples to analyze both successful design and assessments and instances where standards fell short. Collaboration: It also highlight the required crucial synergy between engineers, architects, and policymakers, and the need for interdisciplinary collaboration. As we embark on this journey through the intricacies of structural integrity, let us remember that our commitment to safety extends beyond blueprints and calculations—it reaches into the lives of every Nigerian citizen and indeed evey life across the globe. Let’s explore the fascinating world of Structural Integrity Assessment Standards in Nigeria and beyond, to adopt and promote best practice!

1. Structural Integrity Assessment
Standards in Nigeria
BuildExpo 2017
By Engr. Nimot. Muili MNSE
November 2017

2. 2
Introduction
Yesteryears
Today
Challenges
Tomorrow
Recommen
dations
Outline
Outline

3. 3
Introduction
• Structural Elements : relate to the physical makeup of
a structure arranged in a systematic manner
• Structural Integrity:
ability for the structural
element to fit for
purpose

4. 4
Introduction
Structural Elements Components:
• Rebar
• Fine & Coarse Aggregate
• Cement
• Steel Sections
• Bolts
• Welds
• Workmanship
• Quality Control
• Construction methodology
• Post Construction management
• Maintenance
• Etc

5. 5
Structural Integrity in Nigeria in Yesteryears
Structural Member
System Capacity
Member
Capacity
Connection
Capacity
Identify
Redundancy
Design,
Tests
and
procedures
as
described
in
Code
of
Practice
and
later
replaced
by
British
Standard
and
American
Standard

6. 6
Structural Integrity in Nigeria in Yesteryears
What are Design/
Validation /
Verification
Standards?

7. 7
Structural Integrity in Nigeria in Yesteryears
The Good. The Ugly . . The Bad ????
Are we Reactive or Proactive?

8. 8
Structural Integrity in Nigeria Today
Efforts is geared towards instituting design regulations, construction
Standard, Legalising regulations and standards for the building industry.
They include;
 Nigeria General Specification for road and Bridges
 Extract - THE WEST AFRICAN COMPACTION TEST:-
This test is identical with Test 13 in B.S.1377 . . . .
 The aggregates (fine, coarse and all-in) for all grades of concrete and mortar
shall comply in all respects with B.S.882 and the Contractor shall test all
samples as described therein and in B.S.812 as often as the Engineer's
Representative may require to ensure that they are continuously up to these
standards.

9. 9
Structural Integrity in Nigeria Today
Federal Government of Nigeria: General Specifications (Roads and
Bridges) by Federal Highways Federal Ministry of Works & Housing
Headquarters, Abuja
Other efforts include the development of the following in the following areas
 Government of The Federal Republic of Nigeria: Highway Design
Manual – Volume 1 – 5 (Pavement & Design Material, Drainage, Road
Structural Design and Geometric Design)
 Nigeria Building and Road Research Institute Publications
on various local engineering material e.g. Road Subgrade Testing;
Periwinkle as concrete aggregate, Black Cotton, Solar Data for Building,
Survey properties of clay deposits in Nigeria etc.

10. 10
Structural Integrity in Nigeria Today
Other efforts include the development of the following in the following areas
 Nigeria Building Code
 1st Edition – Approved in 1991,
 2nd Edition - ???? Under review since presentation at the 2nd National
Council of Housing and Urban Development in November 2005. It
was widely circulated to enable all stakeholders for input to facilitate
and the production of an acceptable Nigeria code
• Due diligence integrity check using as built drawings
• Destructive and none destructive test

11. 11
In view of the spate of building collapse in Lagos State and the attendant
fatalities, loss of properties, bad reputations, setbacks amongst other things,
the Lagos State Government through Lagos State Building Control Agency is
making efforts to stem the tide.
The State Government has recently employed the services of about 350
professionals including engineers, architects, builders etc to extend the
dragnet of monitoring illegal development. Another effort the State
Government is exploring is that of "WHISTLE BLOWING". In the spirit of
ensuring a safer Lagos, LASBCA will appreciate your partnership with
government by whistle-blowing to tell us the on-going developments as
well as distressed buildings.
Structural Integrity in Nigeria Today
- Lagos as a case study

12. 12
Structural Integrity in Nigeria Today
- Lagos as a case study
Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABCA) role . . .
• Giving advice regarding the information that needs to be submitted
as part of an application.
• Checking and commenting on proposals for compliance with the
building regulations.
• Inspecting works at key stages as it progresses.
• Keeping records of project progress.
• Assessing damaged buildings and approving demolition when
necessary.
• Issuing a final certificate of fitness.

13. 13
Lagos State Material Testing Laboratory (LSMTL) test all building and
civil engineering materials for standard. Such test include:
• Soil Mechanics
• Sub-soil Investigation
• Aggregate
• Cement
• Water
• Chemical Test
Structural Integrity in Nigeria Today
- Lagos as a case study
• Concrete, Asphaltic Concrete(Bituminous Road)
• Blocks Bricks, Ceramics, Roofing Sheets, Wood
& Refractory Products.
• Test on Steel Reinforcements, round and flat bars.
• Calibration of all test Equipment/Registration
• Certification of Installed Lightning/Thunder
Arrestors on Structures and Telecommunication
Mast.

14. 14
Structural Integrity in Nigeria Today
Other efforts include the development of the following codes
 Nigeria General Specification for road and Bridges
 Government of The Federal Republic of Nigeria: General
Specifications (Roads and Bridges) by Director Of Federal Highways
Federal Ministry of Works & Housing Headquarters Abuja
 Development Nigeria Structural Engineering Code from Eurocode
National Annex by Nigeria Institute of Civil Engineers (NICE) &
Nigeria Institute of Structural Engineers (NistructE) - Ongoing
• Due diligence integrity check using as built drawings
• Destructive and none destructive test

15. 15
Structural Integrity in Nigeria Today

16. 16
Case Study
• The American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials is a standards setting body which
publishes
• specifications, test protocols and guidelines which are used in
highway design and construction throughout the United States
• AASHTO is a non-profit, nonpartisan association representing
highway and transportation departments in the 50 states, the
District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
• It represents all five transportation modes: Air, Highways, Public
Transportation, Rail, And Water.
• Its primary goal is to foster the development, operation, and
maintenance of an integrated national transportation system.

17. 17
• As the voice of transportation, AASHTO works to educate the
public and key decision makers about the critical role that
transportation plays in securing a good quality of life and sound
economy for our nation.
• AASHTO serves as a liaison between state departments of
transportation and the Federal government.
• AASHTO is an international leader in setting technical standards
for all phases of highway system development.
• Standards are issued for design, construction of highways
and bridges, materials, and many other technical areas.
Case Study

18. 18
Case Study
• AASHTO serves as a catalyst for excellence in transportation by
offering smart solutions and promising practices; critical
information, training and data; direct technical assistance to
states; and unchallenged expertise.
• AASHTO specifications, provisional standards, standard test
methods, recommended practices, guide specifications, manuals,
the Bridge Welding Code, annual meeting procedures, the
Reference Book of Member Department Personnel &
Committees, U.S. Numbered Highways, and interstates research.

19. 19
• Regulations
• Ambiguities
• Irrelevant Clauses
• Impropriate Standards
Challenges
• Designers use mainly British and American Standards and Codes despite
the fact that local requirements differs.
• There are a few existing National Standards relating to general
construction (Buildings, Roads etc) and the few are not even know.
• Lack of coordination on the few existing and proposed standards

20. 20
• Reluctance of contractors to embrace quality culture
• Frequent problems in drafting of structural standards and regulations
• Nigeria Building industry still use common (old) testing procedures
• Effort from researchers are not documented nor traceable to facilitate
adoption and implementation of the widely accepted Eurocodes
• No visible effort by professionals and Government to identify
relevant Eurocode Annexes that allows for adaptation for Local /
National parameters
Challenges

21. 21
• Prior to and since 2010 when the United Kingdom (UK) had
withdrawn all British Standards pertaining to structural design, many
counties have been taking the initiative and the lead in drafting the
of their relevant Standards to replace the existing BS structural
design
• Examples include Malaysia who started drafting MS EN Eurocodes
since her Independence in 1957. By 2010, five of the Eurocode parts
have been drafted into Malaysian National Annexes, relating to
structure design in concrete and steel buildings. standards used in the
construction industry
Way Forward

22. 22
• Bosnia and Herzegovina are not left out
• Globally, there are plans for Structural Eurocodes to Replace
British Standards -
https://www.google.co.za/search?q=adoptation+of+eurocode&rlz=1C1G
GRV_enNG761NG761&oq=adoptation+of+eurocode&aqs=chrome..69i
57.9876j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
• Eurocodes are 'designed by engineers for engineers' and they
break down technical barriers to trade across Europe and beyond
Way Forward

23. 23
• Nigeria is known to be “The Giant of Africa” . The Federal
Government can take the initiative to bring together other Africa
countries who is interested in the adoption and implementation of
the Eurocodes.
• The workshop will bring together representatives from the relevant
services of the European Commission, National Standardisation
Bodies, Scientific Community, Academia and professional designers
and the Civil Engineering community as a whole in the non-EU
countries in the Africa region to contribute to the adaptation of the
Eurocodes for Africa
Way Forward

24. 24
Testing
Implementation
Identify Requirements
Analysis & Design
Planning
Evaluation
Deployment
Enforcement
Strategise and Synergise
Government – Ministries Development Agencies

25. 25
Technical Professionals - Engineers
Civil / Structural Engineer
Mechanical Engineer
Electrical Engineer
Geological Safety, Cost, Environmental, Materials, Quality etc
Technical Professionals - Builders
Quantity Surveyors, Architects
Legal & Arbitrators
Technical & Non Technical
Researchers & Developers
Government:
Federal
State
Local
Manufacturers
Artisans
Recommendations

26. 26
• Construction Standards and Regulation in Nigeria by
RUYA Fadason, CHITUMU Danladi and JATAU Tchad Sharon
• Investigation on effort towards the development Nigeria
Structural Engineering Code
• Lagos State Government Agencies
• etc
References

27. 27