Acceptability and Use of Innovative Bamboo Products for the Construction of Residential Buildings in Nigeria

Abstract

The high cost and environmental and health hazards attributed to conventional building materials, coupled with the adverse effect of massive exploitation of forest resources for construction purposes, have necessitated the search for alternative construction materials that are eco-friendly, sustainable, economical and socially acceptable. This study aims to explore the acceptability and use of innovative bamboo products for residential building construction in Nigeria. One hundred and fifty-two survey questionnaires were distributed to built environment professionals within the Lagos region using the convenience sampling technique. The results show a likely disposition to the use of innovative bamboo products for building construction, except for roof beams and trusses, wall beams and columns, and composite roofing sheets. Major barriers to the acceptability and use of bamboo for construction include lack of knowledge about bamboo connections and detailing; the absence of governmental policy on bamboo as an alternative construction material; the absence of design standards for bamboo products; and poor public perception of the use of bamboo in building construction. The value of this study is that it provides an excellent platform for further research on the optimization of bamboo for construction, which will boost economic activities, reduce capital flight for the importation of machinery and the constituents of conventional building materials, and enhance the country's GDP.

Issues and perspectives of capacity development in embodied energy indices for building materials sourced in Nigeria: A review

“…Ameh, et al [44] Acceptability and use of innovative bamboo products for the construction of residential buildings in Nigeria.…”

Laminated Bamboo Board: A Sustainable Alternative to Timber Board for Building Construction

“…formwork and scaffolding) while noting the average level of awareness and experience on the application of bamboo as structural members, particularly for traditional roofs and wall construction. In a study of professionals' perception of acceptability and use of innovative bamboo products for residential building construction, Ameh et al (2019) further show likely disposition to use bamboo plywood, bamboo fiber board, laminated bamboo for general use as a substitute for wood, as well as bamboo board for wall partitions, and bamboo strips for both ceiling and flooring. Sharma et al (2017) found that laminated bamboo possesses structural properties comparable to timber and timber-based products.…”

“…Predominantly used conventional building materials include concrete, steel, and wood. Ameh et al (2019), listed the shortcomings of conventional materials such as concrete and steel to include: high cost, a substantial amount of energy required for their production and transportation, huge foreign exchange required for importation of constituent materials and heavy machinery for their production, and artificial ventilation necessitated by poor indoor thermal comfort in buildings made from modern construction materials. Wood and wood products on the other hand are eco-friendly conventional materials; however, the demand for wood as a forest resource continues to increase in proportion to the human population.…”

“…Panels similar to Oriented Strand Board (OSB), Medium Density Fiber board (MDF), Particleboard, and Mat board among others are also made from bamboo fiber and bamboo chips; but panel made from strips (laminated) or strands (strand woven) are by far the most used in Europe. In Nigeria, however, Ameh et al (2019) reported that current area of the major application of bamboo in the building industry is as temporary supports (i.e. formwork and scaffolding) while noting the average level of awareness and experience on the application of bamboo as structural members, particularly for traditional roofs and wall construction.…”

Comparison of Physical and Mechanical Properties of Bamboo Laminates With and Without Natural Fiber Reinforcement

“…This product has mechanical properties comparable to or superior to structural wood and plywood. The use of processed bamboo products in construction is still a developing field (Ameh et al, 2019; Comparison of Physical and Mechanical Properties of Bamboo Laminates With and Without 11 Natural Fiber Reinforcement Mochamad Chanan, Galit Gatut Prakosa, Aditya Galih Kurniawan Khandkar-Siddikur et al, 2012;Akwada & Akinlabi, 2015). This study will reveal differences in physical and mechanical properties between combination treatments (fiber bonding and non-fiber bonding) and the relationship between variables including moisture content, density, modulus of elasticity (modulus of elasticity, MOE, Eapp), and flexural strength (modulus of rupture, MOR, SR).…”