-Direct the use of Indestructible hammer test as a must
The governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, FNSE, FNATE has directed all contractors, site engineers and all those who are involved in the constructions in Ebonyi to ensure that they follow the quality specifications as contained herein or risk being disengaged.
According to the Special Assistant on New Media, Mr. Francis Nwaze, Governor Umahi is a seasoned Engineer who has put more than thirty years in the practice of construction across the Country. He is a Fellow of the Nigeria Society of Engineers (FNSE); Member, Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE); Member, Council of Registered Engineers (COREN) and Fellow of Nigeria Association of Technologists in Engineering (FNATE).
His attitude of always inspecting all ongoing projects in the state as an experienced Engineer is one of the reasons Ebonyi is being described as having the best in quality of projects.
His statement reads:
“I direct that all drainage casting henceforth must be done with only 1/2”(.05mm) chippings and grade 25- 1:2:4 mix ratio and vibrated with porker machine.
“Any drain work without this must be stopped.
“Reinforcement is y10mm rod spaced at 150mm bottom and sides. Drain cover is same grade 25, y12mm rod reinforced up and down and distribution with same y12 rod at 150mm spacing.
“Thickness of slab is 250mm and drain floor and wall is 150mm thickness and all works MUST be vibrated with porker rod.”
On the part of the specification for road construction, he said:
“I am highly worried about the quality of our road job. We are doing grade 40 concrete but many do not observe this and same grade with all building jobs with big volume.
“I henceforth direct that all concrete works on road must be of grade 40 meaning in every one bag of type 3xxx cement, we have river sharp sand to be 3head pans(water level of the pan) , 3head pans( water level of pan) of 1/2”(.05mm) of well graded chippings from approved tested quarry and 3head pan of 3/4”(.075mm) of well graded chippings from approved quarry.
“Water cement ratio remains such as to have zero slump. Three vibrators MUST be deployed at the same time with porker rod of 3” whether of diesel machine or electric.
“Use of paver is optional here provided the rule here is kept. Any job done without this rule will be demolished and all those involved will be prosecuted.
“Curing of concrete to be a minimum of two weeks. Road contractor to stop shipping the road but ensure it is well levelled and specially grooved as is seen in our airports.
“All drain sides to be properly back filled . Expansion joints vertical and vertical should be well defined and cut fully to sub base and filled with bitumen .
“The three big buildings at hospital college , mall, stadium , airport works, flyovers, retaining walls, culverts, bridges, pilling works and any other major concrete works must follow same.
“Other works like buildings must observe same with grade 25concrete or mix I:2:4 meaning for one bag type 3xxx cement, river sharp sand is 4head pans (water level), 1/2” chippings is 4head pans and 3/4” chippings.
“Vibration of all foundation and dpc here to be with two nos of 3” poker rod while other elements like columns, beams and slab shall be with deploying two porkers at the same time and rods shall be 2” rods.
“MOPME must henceforth post one person to every batching plant or mixer to observe this and such people must be rotated from time to time.
“Endeavour to carry out more tests cube crushing and none destructive tests. Must certify any quarry that will supply and chippings to all our concrete.
“These are the irreducible minimum acceptable to our projects”.
