Category Archives: International Journal of Environmental Studies and Safety Research 2017

Evaluation of the Factors to Consider for the Development of Appropriate Guidelines for Designing Markets in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria with Less Fire Problems

Odaudu, Ugbede Sunday

Department of Architecture

Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria

Email: arcodauduugbede@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Nigeria does not have an original National Fire Safety Code; frequent fire outbreaks in market places is a serious challenge Nigeria is facing and they have led to loss of lives of many people and destruction of valuable properties. In order to reduce this problem, a study was carried out on markets in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria to determine the development of appropriate guidelines, in order to improve the designs of markets in Nigeria with less fire problems. The primary research data are from the discussions that were made with staff of the Federal Fire Service of Nigeria, National Association of Nigerian Traders, and managing company of the markets that were studied with regards to fire outbreaks in markets. They are also from the direct observations of the current conditions of the markets with regards to fire outbreaks. The secondary research data are from the reviews of the relevant literature. The results of the research showed that there is no provision for water reservoir(s); there is no proper market keeping in markets that were studied. The results also showed a wrong allocation of electric control fuses in shops; indicated absence of mini fire service stations in markets in the study area. Among other recommendations for this research are: in the development of guidelines for designing markets in Nigeria with less fire problems, there must be water reservoirs of a minimum capacity of 16,000 litres (4,000 gallons) at different intervals or a specified location for fighting fires, depending on the sizes of markets. The walls of the front verandahs or corridors should be where electrical power distribution boards will be mounted to allow open and quick access for the removal of electrical power fuses. All markets must have a mini fire service station for the immediate fighting of fire outbreaks before the arrival of major firefighting vehicles from the main fire service stations.

Keywords: Designs, Fire, Guidelines, Markets, Nigeria.

Comparative Study of the Relationship between Physical Properties and Compressive Strength of Commercially Available Block Produced with Quarry Dust Produced in Abuja.

Dimgbah R.U¹,Datok E.P²andAchuenu .E³

^1,2,3Department of Building, Faculty of Environmental Sciences,

University of Jos, Nigeria.

Email: rdimgbah@gmail.com

Corresponding Author: Dimgbah R.U

ABSTRACT

The need to investigate the quality of commercially available blocks produced with quarry dust has become necessary due to non-adherence of commercially available sandcrete blocks produced with river sand to Nigeria industrial Standard (NIS) for compressive strength. This is due to ignorance on the part of the sandcrete block manufacturer of the existing standard requirement or compromise on the quality of materials used in block production. This study, as such, is a comparative study of physical properties of stone dust from selected commercial block manufacturers with view to determine their relationship with mechanical properties of the blocks produced. Ordinary Portland cement of grade 42.5, mix ratio of 1: 10 and 0.8 water/cement ratio was used for this study. Sample of mortar cubes were produced and crushed at 7, 14 and 28 days of curing ages and their values converted to compressive strength of blocks using uzomaka correlation. The results revealed at various curing ages, that sample C showed an optimal compressive strengths of 4.04N/mm², 4.98N/mm², 5.87N/mm²in comparison with A= 1.60N/mm², 1.93N/mm²and 2.00N/mm², B= 2.59N/mm², 3.22N/mm² and 3.70N/mm², D= 2.62N/mm², 4.71N/mm²and 3.83N/mm²and E= 0.78N/mm², 1.08N/mm²and 1.19N/mm² respectively. And sample E shows the lowest compressive strength at the various curing ages and there was a decline in the compressive strength of sample D between 14 and 28days curing age. From the results of grading of the quarry dust, sample A, B,C and E are not well graded because Cu= 18 and Cc =0.54(for sample A); Cu= 37.5 and Cc= 3.29(for sample B); Cu = 14.29 and Cc= 0.46(for sample C) and Cu = 20.83 and Cc= 0.53(for sample E) respectively. These values are not in line with (Arora 2011) that indicated when Cc is between 1 and 3, and Cu ≥ 6, for a well graded soil, while Sample D is well graded because  Cu = 19.35 and Cc= 1.9 respectively. The study therefore, suggested that sample C should be used in production of dense load bearing walls blocks and sample D is not a good material block production.

Keywords: Compressive Strength, Physical Properties, Block, Quarry Dust.