Building exterior paint performance in tropical salty environment of Lagos

Materials that are used for exterior finishes of buildings are their last line of defence against the elements of climate. The compliance of the materials with the environment will determine their performance and consequent repainting. A high percentage of buildings? exterior surfaces are finished with paint in Lagos in the south-western region of Nigeria that has additional climatic stress of saline air from the Atlantic Ocean. This research examines the factors that influence the use of paint and the occurrence of salt impact indicators as parameters for measuring its performance in Lagos, Nigeria, in order to determine the repainting requirement when applied as exterior finish. A mixed approach of qualitative and quantitative methods was used. Survey was done to collect data for the analysis. The study area was bifurcated into two zones (Zone A & B) in order to compare the performance of painted exterior of the buildings along the coast with the hinterland. After exhaustive literature search, variables identified were used to investigate the phenomenon. While some variables were measured using Likert?s scale, some were simply measured through categorical and continuous scales. A total of 317 questionnaires were returned out of the 384 sample size of the first target population. Guided interview was conducted on sixteen (16) architects and six (6) paint manufacturers provided information on salt resistant paint of the second and third target population respectively. Various appropriate statistical models were used with the significance level set at p<0.05 in processing the data to obtain results for inferences. Findings show that the choice and usage of paint as exterior finish for buildings in the study area depend on experience, professional advice, availability, cost, societal influence and cultural values. The performance and climatic compliance are jettisoned because of cultural attachment to colour that paints make available with relative ease. All salt impact indicators appeared earlier in Zone A than Zone B. These also necessitate earlier and frequent repainting in Zone A. The number of years required for repainting in Zone A and Zone B are 2 and 4 years respectively compared with 5-7 years established in past researches as required for repainting in other parts of the tropical region. The outcome of the research facilitates maintenance forecast and schedule for painted exterior in the tropics

Parameters for building materials specifications in Lagos, Nigeria

The responsibility of specifying materials for building construction purposes within Nigeria rests on the architects. Understanding the appropriate parameters for specifying building materials that could lead to immense financial proportion is required from the architects. The level of understanding and knowledge of architects is germane to the optimum performance of buildings throughout their life cycle. The methodology applied for this research involved the administration of a structured questionnaire on professional architects within the study area to determine the basis of their decision on the materials they specify or chose for building finishes. The parameters used to measure the specification of materials for finishes are client's choice, cost, climatic compliance, and maintenance demand of materials. Findings show that the maintenance demand of materials is the most important factor that determines the specification of materials irrespective of the choice of client and climate. However, cost occupies a prominent role in the decision process. It also shows that most architects are not fully aware about the role of climate in determining the life cycle of materials in tropical environments. The compliance of materials to ever-changing climate does not constitute a major factor in the specification of materials in the area

One City; Two Conditions: Exigent Parameters for Paint Performance in Lagos, Nigeria

Tropical buildings are subjected to many militating elements of climate, prominent among which are insolation and rainfall. However, the study area has an additional influence from the Atlantic Ocean which is just a few meters away from the buildings. The sea breeze is laden with high salt content which has adverse effects and reactions on the materials used for building finishes. The outer skin-external surface of any building does not have any protection in most cases due to its function as the protective layer. However, the influence of this prevalent saline air differs from one part of the study area to another due to distance. The study bifurcated the city through a survey approach into two zones A&amp;B to obtain data for empirical analysis. Various correlations were drawn while regression analysis was carried out. The means of the two zones were determined through ANOVA to establish the performance of paint in service in the two locations. Frequencies and all the analysis were run through SPSS version 15.0 for the study. Data was also obtained from practicing Architects in Lagos through a structured interview. It shows that depreciation of paint sets in faster and repainting is required earlier in Zone A than Zone B due to more aggressive impact of saline air. The established research findings that stipulate 5-7years for maintenance of paint does not hold in areas subjected to saline air. The research is geared towards establishing the appropriateness of the use of paint in a saline laden environment when compared with other parts of the tropical region. Specifiers/architects, developers and property owners are hereby educated on the implication of their choice. Manufacturers are equally advised to develop paint that will retard the effect of saline air the more. This study is the first attempt to analytically investigate the impact of saline air on the maintenance requirement of paint in the tropical region. Keywords: Atlantic Ocean; external finishes; climate; frequency; impact; maintenance; paint; performance; saline air; sal

Maintenance Challenges of Multi-Owner Multi-Storey Residential Buildings in Lagos, Nigeria

It is noted that in Nigeria, buildings begin to demand for maintenance almost immediately after completion and handing over to users. As a single building belongs to several owners, corporate decision is required in maintaining it. The process of arriving at a workable decision remains a problem in the maintenance of such buildings due to protracted consultation and individual differences. This paper analytically investigates the frequency of maintenance of multi storey buildings compared with single owned building within the area Lagos, Nigeria. This paper examines these processes, the challenges and possible resolution for meeting point of ideas in order to sustain the commonwealth without jeopardizing the interest of any through a field survey. Structured questionnaire and non-participant case study were adopted in collecting quantitative and qualitative data. This study adopted quantitative analysis in form of tables to evaluate the attitude of respondents towards the maintenance of external surface of buildings vis-à-vis painting in the area. Three hundred and eighty four structured questionnaires were administered in six randomly selected Local Government Areas within the study area in April-May, 2012. The findings show that buildings that belong to single owners are better maintained than buildings that belong to multi-owners due to sense of ownership and ability to take decision on maintenance issues swiftly. Multi ownership system requires some level of enlightenment and thorough education in the area. The primary culture of the people in the selected area supports the compound system which multi ownership denies

User’s Preference of Activity in Akure Public Spaces

Users' preferences of activities in public spaces are influenced by a variety of factors, such as personal interest, social types, available facilities, and the surrounding environment. This paper examines users' preferences for activity in Akure public spaces to explore and understand the activities that users prefer engaging in within shared spaces. Information on respondents’ socio-economic characteristics, the availability of public space, and their activities was obtained from a structured questionnaire conducted with 334 respondents from the core, transitional, and peripheral zones in Akure. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. The result shows that public spaces in the study area are used for social and religious activities, as they ranked 1st and 2nd, respectively. The result of the hypothesis testing shows that there is a significant relationship between the availability of public spaces in the study area and the activities that take place. This study recommends enforcement of the proper use of public spaces for their primary purpose of curbing indiscriminate and inappropriate use. Urban planners, architects, and policymakers should engage in designing and managing public spaces to meet the diverse needs and interests of the users

One city; two conditions: exigent parameters for paint performance in Lagos, Nigeria

Purpose: Tropical buildings are subjected to many militating elements of climate, prominent amongst which are sunlight and rainfall. However, the geographic area in which the study was conducted has an additional influence from the Atlantic Ocean, which is just a few meters away from the buildings. The sea breeze is laden with high salt content that has adverse effects upon and reactions with the materials used for building finishes. In most cases, the outer skin/external surface of a building does not have any protection, due to its function as the protective layer. However, the influence of prevailing saline air in the present case differs from one part of the study location to another due to distance. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach: The study considered two areas of the city, referred to as zones A and B, using a survey approach to obtain data for empirical analysis. Various correlations were evaluated and regression analysis was carried out on the survey findings. The mean behaviour of each zone was determined using the F-value of the results to qualify the performance of paint in service at each location. Data obtained during the study were evaluated using SPSS version 15.0 software. Data were also obtained from architects practicing in Lagos using a structured interview. Findings: The results demonstrated that degradation of paint set in faster and repainting was required earlier in Zone A than was the case in Zone B, due to more aggressive impact of the saline air. The established research findings that stipulate five to seven years for maintenance of paint were found not to hold good in areas subjected to saline air. Practical implications: The research was geared towards establishing the appropriate use of paint in saline-laden environments as compared to its use in other parts of a tropical region. Specifiers/architects, developers and property owners may understand better the implications of their choice. Manufacturers should endeavour to develop paint that will retard the deleterious effects of saline air. Originality/value: This study is the first attempt to investigate analytically the impact of saline air on the maintenance requirements of painted structures in the tropical regions

Performance and resistance of paint used as exterior finish in salt laden environment

Purpose: Painting of buildings predates civilization. The primary purpose was to add beauty or aesthetics to the built environment. It was also to showcase the level of civilization, taste and fashion drive of the people. However, modern findings have proved that paint (when applied as a finishing coat on buildings) can elongate the service life of such buildings due to some characteristic properties it contains and modern additives that are included at production stage. This paper aims to examine some of the properties inherent in paint through which resistance to failure and better performance is enhanced, aesthetics is maintained and maintenance is reduced. It also examines whether these qualities subsist in all environments. Particular attention is given to its resistance to the impact of saline air when used around the Atlantic Ocean. Design/methodology/approach: The research adopted a qualitative and quantitative approach with empirical analysis in examining the performance of paint used in salt laden environment. Findings: It shows that paint used in an environment where saline air and salt is prevalent begins to deteriorate after two years and requires repainting as against the established norm of five to seven years (5-7) in areas that are not exposed to saline air. The impact of saline air is significant at p<0.01. Practical Implication: Maximum life span of current paint products in the area is determined to provide adequate information for the preparation of maintenance schedule for painted exterior. Paint with higher resistance to salt attack is required to enhance the longevity of painted exterior in areas at close proximity to sources of salt. Specifying current available paint for exterior finish will be uneconomical and non-compatible with the principle of sustainability. Originality/value: The authors made a fresh attempt at investigating the life's span of paint used as exterior finish in salt laden area around the Atlantic Ocean due to the peculiarity of the stresses of the tropical region on external finishes. It also compared the result with existing researches. Differences in paint performance are established

The Impacts of Elevated Carbondioxide (CO2) on Users’ Comfort in Residential Building at BawakSabo, Auchi, Nigeria

This research work establishes the effects of CO2 on users’ comfort in residential building with specific residential neighborhood in Bawak Sabo as the study area. There is an existing complaint of sneezing, tiredness, sweating and headache at dawn from resident of this neighborhood documented in a medical report of a medical hospital within the community. The research is set to investigate the cause of these problems. The methodology adopted was the combination of experimental-field survey and review of existing literature. Measurement of CO2 concentration was conducted in a given 10% sample population (cases). Measurement was taken in tenement and bungalow accommodation of varied room sizes (9.0m 2 and 12.6 m 2 floor area), population (one to two occupants per room) and window opening adjustment. Measurements were taken 8 hours day time and twilight with varied user activity and ventilation rate respectively. The results show that CO2 concentration was higher in rooms with larger numbers of persons. CO2 concentration was closely related to room size and density and increased rapidly when doors and windows were locked. Elevated carbondixoide was low in bungalow accommodation with more numbers of window openings in comparison with tenement accommodation. Differential levels of CO2 concentration have negative impacts on the users’ in ways such as shortness of breath, sneezing sweating and increased breath rate among others. It was concluded that CO2 concentration was responsible for the reported discomfort experienced by BawakSabo residents