This study assessed the factors affecting maintenance of the various elements of both indoor and outdoor sports facilities as well as the methods used in of maintaining them. Twenty questionnaires were administered to managers and maintenance officers of the sports facilities in the North Central Nigeria. Relevant factors which where peculiar to each of the facilities where obtained from related literatures and validated. The respondents assessed the effects of the factors on the maintenance of the various facilities. Also, the respondent's opinion was sort on issues relating to methods used for procurement of maintenance works for the sport facilities, and whether there are variations in efficiency of the facilities based on the procurement methods adopted. The results obtained where analyzed using the Relative Importance Index (RII) and simple percentages. RII was used to determine the degree of significance of each factor and how significantly each element of the sport facility is either being insourced or outsourced. From the results, the effect of the factors on the maintenance of the facilities ranged from "not significant" to "very significant", depending on the facilities in question. The procurement methods used for maintenance works was mostly a combination of insourcing and outsourcing. It was observed that variations exist in the efficiency of maintenance depending on the method of procurement adopted too. It was recommended that more attention be given to the factors affecting maintenance rather than of attempting to address both at the same time. Also it was recommended that the method of procurement of maintenance works should be dependent on the competencies of the in-house staff available and not by taking such decisions without taking into considerations the capabilities present in-house.
Although disasters can occur anywhere, certain types of disasters are more likely to have more effects on some buildings than others, especially on those in urban areas. Buildings in Lagos have had nasty experiences from both natural and artificial disasters, claiming lives and properties in the past. This study aims at evaluating the disaster risks, vulnerabilities and response strategies in the high rise buildings in Lagos municipality. Structured questionnaire was administered to building owners, estate managers and disaster managers who manage the high rise buildings. The information obtained was supplemented by personal interviews conducted with tenants and rescue organizations. The study identified collapse of building, fire out break, and communication and power failure as the most likely potential disasters, power failure and collapse had the highest severity of impact, and the degree of preparedness achieved to confront the disasters was below satisfaction. However, the specific status of the response strategies was as expected, but there was room for improvements. The potential disasters were natural, human and environmental and the most vulnerable sectors were other properties rather than the high rise buildings themselves. The magnitude of risk levels could be contained with the level of response strategies already achieved if coordinated.
Degradation of timbers in building due to microorganisms was reported to cause enormous economic loses and species of Aspergillus are among the major cause of degradation of timbers in Nigeria. This research aims at evaluating the cost of implications of biodegradations of Khaya grandifoliola by Aspergillus spp in residential buildings empirically. Decayed Khaya grandifoliola samples were collected on residential buildings to extract, cultivate and identify the Aspergillus spp present. The cultivation went through serial dilutions and inoculations on sabouraud dextrose agar in petri dishes before incubation for 72 hours at 30 o C. The species were identified through visual and microscopic observations. Percentage rate of degradation was determined under laboratory conditions by inoculating known weights of Khaya grandifoliola with the Aspergillus and incubating in a minimal medium for 24 weeks at 30 o C. Weight loses and spore counts were recorded at four weeks intervals. A pattern of the degradation was forecasted. Accumulative weight loss of 16% for this period was obtained. Methods and costs of repair and replacement of decayed portions were evaluated. Residential Buildings constructed of Khaya grandifoliola experienced low cost of maintenance in this region but may not be in wetter regions where the conditions could be more favorable.
Abstract:Moulds have been reported to destroy volumes of timbers in buildings annually. As a result, timber components within the built environment decline and fail to fulfill their basic requirements. This research focused on the isolation and evaluation of the prevalence and effects of deteriorating moulds in the rain forest and swampy rain forest regions of Nigeria where the water activity is as high as 0.7. To accomplish this, decayed timber samples were aseptically collected on buildings from six strategic locations. The samples were serially diluted and inoculated onto Sabouraud Dextrose Agar medium in Petri dishes. The Petri dishes were incubated for 72 h at 30 °C. Thereafter, moulds were isolated through visual and microscopic observations. The commonly encountered moulds were evaluated and analyzed. It was observed that, prevalence of moulds on buildings used for non residential purpose were higher. There was no significant difference between the prevalence on the components located inside the building and those outside the building. Ceiba pentandra exhibited highest degradation while Masonia altissima resisted most. The most deteriorating moulds were Aspergillus, Mucor, Rhizopus and Gliocladium. The deteriorations of Ceiba pentandra, Afzelia africana, Lophira alata, Anogessus leocarpus and Gossweilerodendron balsamiferum timbers under Aspergillus attack were projected.
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