New laws to cut building cost

Last Updated 14 years ago by Kenya Engineer

The proposed new building technologies will help reduce cost of building if incorporated in the Kenyan Building Code which is under revision for the first time. According to the government officials, the code is expected to allow new technologies of building which could cut the cost of building by up to half. The current code is not only termed by many as too rigid but is considered very expensive as well.

The alternative technologies of building the Public Works propose to adopt include prefabricated houses, interlocking bricks and PVC roofing sheets. These are locally available and facilitate quick and sustainable delivery of affordable housing to meet the demand estimated at 150,000 units annually.

The current code specifies that the stone for construction should be 200mm thick. This kind of stone is however found only in Kericho, Narok and Thika imposing a huge cost of transportation for builders away from these places.

The National Housing Corporation has already set up a factory to produce cheaper building panels referred to as expanded polystyrene foams. This is a tough kind of plastic sandwiched between a mesh of galvanized wire covered with a court of concrete plaster.

The code contains a set of rules that specify the minimum acceptable safety standards for buildings to promote public health, safety and general welfare. Experts involved in the review of the code say the new laws will enforce professional discipline and standards to curb rising cases of poor workmanship that have resulted to cases of collapse of buildings.

A body to guarantee decent, secure and planned building structures has also been established. The National Construction Authority will provide policy guidelines and direction so as to curb shoddy construction works.

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