Babatunde E. Jaiyeoba

Design for Deconstruction (DfD): Critical success factors for diverting end-of-life waste from landfills

The aim of this paper is to identify Critical Success Factors (CSF) needed for effective material recovery through Design for Deconstruction (DfD). The research approach employed in this paper is based on a sequential exploratory mixed method strategy. After a thorough review of literature and conducting four Focus Group Discussion (FGDs), 43 DfD factors were identified and put together in a questionnaire survey. Data analyses include Cronbachs alpha reliability analysis, mean testing using significance index, and exploratory factor analysis. The result of the factor analysis reveals that an underlying factor structure of five DfD factors groups that include stringent legislation and policy, deconstruction design process and competencies, design for material recovery, design for material reuse, and design for building flexibility. These groups of DfD factor groups show that the requirements for DfD goes beyond technical competencies and that non-technical factors such as stringent legislation and policy and design process and competency for deconstruction are key in designing deconstructable buildings. Paying attention to the factors identified in all of these categories will help to tackle impediments that could hinder the effectiveness of DfD. The results of this study would help design and project managers to understand areas of possible improvement in employing DfD as a strategy for diverting waste from landfills.

Total Building Performance Approach in Building Evaluation: Case Study of an Office Building in Singapore

Although the individual building system has been designed to meet the specific performance criteria, the way people will perceive and react to a total office environment is only known after it is in use and subjected to diagnostic. Evaluation of office space has gone beyond looking at a single building requirement. There exists the need to look at the interrelationship of performance mandates to provide healthy buildings for building occupants and most importantly, to reduce energy consumption during the construction and operation of buildings. This study aims to demonstrate the use of total building performance (TBP) evaluation and diagnostic to assess the performance of an existing office building in Singapore. Two floors of the evaluated high-rise commercial building have been evaluated by using the TBP paradigm. Objective measurements and observations (walkthrough) coupled with occupant survey (subjective measurement) has been conducted. The analysis demonstrates that there is concurrence between the ...

Critical factors affecting construction quality in Nigeria: evidence from industry professionals

The overall aim of this study is to improve construction quality in Nigeria through the identification of pertinent factors affecting the process. Relevant factors were identified from the literature and studied by means of questionnaire survey sent to construction industry professionals that include architects, engineers, quantity surveyors and builders. The importance of each factor was computed for all the professionals via the severity and frequency responses of the factors. Data analysis includes ranking comparison among the professionals using severity, frequency and importance indexes. Percentage rank agreement factor (PRAF) was used to measure agreement of the importance ranking among construction professionals and one sample t-test was conducted to determine the significance of each factor. Finally, correlation analysis was used to measure the degree of correlation among all professionals.The results shows that the five most important factors are ‘poor quality of materials delivered to site’, ‘lo...

Are sustainable buildings healthy? An investigation of lifecycle relationship between building sustainability and its environmental health impacts

Purpose – There have been speculations as to whether environmental friendly buildings are always healthy. Using lifecycle assessment (LCA) methodology, the purpose of this paper is to investigate lifecycle relationship between building sustainability and its environmental health impacts Design/methodology/approach – In order to achieve this, a block of classroom was modelled with the aid of Revit software, and its lifecycle global warming potential (GWP) and human health impacts were analysed using green building studio and ATHENA impact estimator tools. Sensitivity analyses of the block of classrooms were then carried out by varying the building materials and energy use pattern of the original typology. The LCA was performed for seven alternative typologies that were achieved through variation in the building materials and energy use patterns. Findings – For all the eight building typologies, the study shows a direct relationship between GWPs and human health impacts. This confirms that the more sustaina...

Critical Factors Affecting Effective Management of Site Personnel and Operatives in Confined Site Construction

The aim of this paper is to identify and classify the numerous managerial issues encountered in the management of personnel in confined site construction. For the purpose of this research, a confined construction site is defined as a site where permanent works fit the site footprint, extending to levels above and/or below ground level, leaving spatial restrictions for other operations e.g. plant and material movements, materials storage and temporary accommodation etc. and require effective resource co-ordination beyond normal on-site management input. A literature review and analysis, case studies incorporating interviews and focus groups, and a questionnaire survey were used in order to gain a comprehensive insight into the issues of management of personnel in a confined construction site environment. The following are the top five leading issues highlighted; 1 Accidents due to an untidy site, 2 One contractor holding up another because of the lack of space, 3 A risk to personnel because of vehicular traffic on-site, 4 Difficult to facilitate several contractors at one work location, and 5 Numerous personnel working within the one space. In todays modern environment, spatial restrictions are quickly becoming the norm in the industry. Therefore, the management of personnel on-site becomes progressively more difficult with the decrease in available space on-site. Where such environments exist, acknowledging the numerous issues highlighted above, aids site management in the supervision and co-ordination of personnel on-site, thus reducing accidents, increasing productivity and increasing profit margins. As on-site management professionals successfully identify, acknowledge and counteract the numerous issues illustrated, the successful management of personnel on a confined construction site is achievable. By identifying the numerous issues, on-site management can proactively mitigate such issues through adopting counteractive measures and through successful identification of the traits identified.