KEBS Develops Standards for Major Construction Materials

Last Updated 3 years ago by Kenya Engineer

Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has developed new standards for major construction materials, a move primed to ensure that the country builds formidable homes and commercial units.

The standards enforced through product certification and market surveillance ensures that quality is upheld during manufacturing stated Lt Col (Rtd.) Bernard N. Njiraini, Managing Director, Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).  He stressed that all products manufactured in the country are subjected to periodic testing at the KEBS Material Laboratories.

KEBS also conducts periodic market surveillance to ensure materials offered for sale in the market meet the approved standards and the non-complying products are removed from the market for destruction.

“We have developed standards for major construction materials such as cement (KS EAS 18-1), steel for the reinforcement of concrete (KS EAS 412-1,2&3), Structural steel for construction (KS 572), Natural Aggregates for Concrete (KS 95), Natural Building Stones (KS 965), Stabilized Soil blocks (1070), Concrete Masonry Units (KS 625), Concrete (KS 594 ), Factory Made Products of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)-KS 2620, Clay Roofing Tiles (KS 431), Concrete Roofing Tiles (KS 444), Burnt Clay Bricks (KS 300) among others,” said the industry regulator.

“While all complying products are awarded the Standardization Mark, the Diamond Mark of Quality and the Import Standardization Mark which is awarded for imported products.” Said Njiraini.

The standards bureau, in an effort to uphold the Presidential Big Four Agenda under the Housing Pillar, and construction industry, has developed product, service and technological standards to be used in the construction especially those affecting the SMEs and local innovations and manufacturing for continuous conformity assessment (through Quality Assurance, Market Surveillance, Imports and Testing) to ensure the products used in the construction meet the set criteria.

The standards developed in support of SMEs include KS 2913: 2020 Plastic composite paving blocks –Specification, KS 2928:2021 Plastic composite roofing tiles – Specification and KS 2620:2019 Structural and thermal products for Building – Factory made products of expanded polystyrene (EPS)-Specification.

KEBS is now in the process of development of standards for alternative building materials for more diversity.

The expo which was held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre was also graced by Charles Hinga, Principal Secretary Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, who expressed Government’s commitment towards delivering affordable housing units to Kenyans.

“Some 565,000 affordable housing units across the country valued at Sh2.8 trillion have been registered to the National Construction Authority. So far, about 225,000 had received approval and were in various stages of construction,” the PS said.

We encourage the general public to be vigilant and inform KEBS upon encountering any products suspected to be substandard. Wajibika Na KEBS is a program that allows the public to report cases of substandard products. To Wajibika, verify whether the S-Mark permit on your product is valid by sending the code underneath the S-Mark to 20023 (SM#Code) to get product manufacturing details.  If the details are different, invalid or not traceable to the platform, kindly report to KEBS through Toll Free Number 1545 during official working hours 8.00 AM to 1.00 PM and 2.00 PM to 5.00 PM, Monday to Friday.  If you are aware of any kind of foul play by any manufacturer, also report those cases to KEBS through the toll-free number.