Abstract  

The construction sector based on industry or Industrialized Building System (IBS) is a method of construction using the industrialized building materials at the manufacturing plant. This method can replace the conventional method and is able to; reduces the amount of foreign labor, improve the quality of construction, lower the cost, and reduce construction time. This study is intended to create a guideline that can be used to encourage all private construction projects in Nigeria to implement the IBS System in 2015. Therefore, this study was undertaken to assess the level of IBS usage in the building construction.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Industrialised Building System is an advancement of the new construction technology for the time being. It is an alternative of construction that can change many aspects in building construction. The industrialized building system is a construction system that is built using pre-fabricated components and is systematically done using machine, formworks and other forms of mechanical equipment (Rahman & Omar, 2006). The components are manufactured offsite and once completed will be delivered to construction sites for assembly and erection (Rahman & Omar, 2006). It is also can be interpreted as a system which component is manufactured in factory and then installed on site based on the size and dimension of the component required. Furthermore, a system in which concrete components, prefabricated at site or in factory are assembly to form the structure with minimum in situ construction (rikha, 1999).

Industrialised Building System (IBS) is a term used in Malaysia for a technique of construction where by components are manufactured in a controlled environment, either at site or off site, placed and assembled into construction works. Worldwide, IBS is also known as Prefabricated/Pre-fab Construction, Modern Method of Construction (MMC) and Off-site Construction. CIDB Malaysia, through IBS Centre is promoting the usage of IBS to increase productivity and quality at construction sites through various promotion programmes, training and incentives. The content of IBS (IBS Score) is determined based on the Construction Industry Standard 18 (CIS 18: 2010); either manually, web application or fully automated CAD-based IBS Score calculator. IBS was first introduced in mid-sixties with the Circular Road Flat construction project that used pre-cast concrete; this was government’s beginning effort to use this smart method in public project (CIDB 2003). CIDB had placed the target to achieve a minimum IBS score that totalled 70% IBS content in public projects which involved state tender acquisition (Treasury 2008). Malaysian Government, through CIDB, has launched Road Map IBS 2003-2010 and 2011-2015 aimed to encourage IBS usage that can reduce construction industry’s reliance to on foreigner workforce (Nawi et al. 2012; Azman et al. 2011). IBS effectiveness study for government project carried out aims to assess IBS effectiveness on the use of foreign workers to that does not exceed 15% level towards year 2010 (CIDB 2010). IBS usage will put high standards in construction field through building material quality control (Nawi et al. 2011). As such, cases involving usage of low quality material and sub-standard construction practices would be reduced with the increased use of IBS. IBS is a construction system built by using prefabricated components; where component manufacturing is systematically performed using machinery, molds and other mechanical equipment (Azman, Ahmad, et al. 2012). Component that have been produced and completed off-site or in factory are sent directly to building site for installation (Rahman and Omar 2006; Azman, Ahamad, et al. 2012). Among advantages seen in IBS include; improved quality, cost effectiveness, health and security, waste reduction, efficiency and productivity (Nawi et al. 2014; Abedi and Fathi 2011). IBS is said to be able to replace the conventional labor oriented method (Hassim and Jaafar 2009). IBS usage in Malaysia is still at a lower scale and usually used in concentrated works like bridge construction and tunnel (Bakar 2009). Nigeria, like any other developing country, considers the construction industry as one of the main contributors to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It, influences the country’s economic activity, adds up to the government revenue, creates investment benefits and creates employment to specially trained workers. The population of Nigeria is about 160 million and with a claim of about 17million housing deficit, the country will continue to embark on developing an affordable and sustainable low and medium house. Furthermore, the increasing demand for construction witnessed shall continue as long as the Population increases and there is improvement in the quality of life of the populace. Meeting the housing need of Nigeria within the framework of sustainable development will require that new technology and sustainable strategies be adopted. Waleed et al., 1997 stated that to meet the ever- increasing housing demand by sticking to the current traditional building process requires a large workforce (mostly unskilled). This is due to the low productivity rate in such an outdated system. Agus, 1997 and Senturer, 2001 opine that the traditional construction method, which is commonly practiced, is high in cost, unable to respond to this huge demand within a short space of time and failing to produce acceptable quality construction products and slow in considering sustainable development strategies. Industrialized materials in the building process minimizes accident rate in the construction industry. Aladeloba, 2003 opines that bad construction is an accident waiting to happen, no matter the length of time, surely; it must happen. Building construction activities have to do with the effective management of all resources namely money, manpower, methods, materials and machine at an appropriate time. Aladeloba, 2014 posited that material is a substance of which a thing is made or composed and industrialized is the act of producing something by efforts or some mechanical or industrial process

An industrialized building system (IBS) may be defined in which all building components such as wall, floor slab, beam, column and staircase are mass produced either in factory or at site under strict quality control and minimal on site activities (Rollet, 1986; Trikha, 1999). Esa and Nuruddin (1998) asserted that an IBS is a continuum beginning from utilizing craftsmen for every aspect of construction to a system that make use of manufacturing production in order to minimize resource wastage and enhance value for end users.it is in view of this that the researcher intends to investigate the efficacy of the adoption of industrial building system in Nigeria.

The main objective of the study is to ascertain the effect of the adoption of industrialized building system in Nigeria. But for the successful completion of the study, the researcher intends to achieve the following objectives

1. To ascertain the effect of industrial building system in Nigeria
2. To ascertain the relationship between industrial building system and the availability of housing in Nigeria.

• To ascertain the impact of industrial building system in cost reduction of building

1.    To evaluate role of industrial building system on the affordability of building project.

For the successful completion of the study, the following research hypotheses are formulated by the researcher

H0: industrial building system does not have any significant effect in the availability of housing in Nigeria.

H1: industrial building system does have a significant effect in the availability of housing in Nigeria

H02: industrial building system does not have any significant impact on cost reduction in building construction

H2: industrial building system does have a significant impact on cost reduction in building construction.

• SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It is believed that, at the completion of the study, the findings will be of graet importance to the federal ministry of land and housing; who are saddle with the responsibility of providing affordable houses to her citizens. The study will also be of importance to the management of construction companies and building contractors respectively; because the study seek to enumerate the benefit of the adoption of industrial building system in the execution of building projects. The study will also be beneficial to researchers who intend to embark on study in similar topic as the study will serve as a guide to their study. Finally the study will be beneficial to academia’s students and the general public.

• SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

the scope of the study covers the adoption of industrial building system in Nigeria. But in the cause of the study, there are some constrain which limited the scope of the study;

(a)Availability of research material: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study.

(b)Time: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.

(c)Finance: The finance available for the research work does not allow for wider coverage as resources are very limited as the researcher has other academic bills to cover

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Building

A building or edifice is a structure with a roof and walls standing more or less permanently in one place, such as a house or factory. Buildings come in a variety of sizes, shapes and functions, and have been adapted throughout history for a wide number of factors, from building materials available, to weather conditions, to land prices, ground conditions, specific uses and aesthetic reasons.

Housing System

The house system is a traditional feature of schools in the English-speaking world, particularly in Commonwealth countries, originating in England. The school is divided into subunits called ‘houses’ and each student is allocated to one house at the moment of enrollment.

Affordable housing

Affordable housing is housing which is deemed affordable to those with a median household income as rated by country, State (province), region, or municipality by a recognized Housing Affordability 

1.8 Organization of the study

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), statement of problem, objectives of the study, research question, significance or the study, research methodology, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlight the theoretical framework on which the study its based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion and also recommendations made of the study.