Low Cost Strategies in Design

EiABC Addis Ababa University

2. EfficientManagement
2.1 Definition Management can be defined as a means of integrating resources (human, financial, material, information, etc.) to achieve organizational/project objectives. Project management further involvesplanning,organizingandmonitoringresourcestomeetprojectgoals. Basically, project objective can be defined as optimization of the three major attributes of the processnamelyquality,timeandcost. Fourkeyelementscouldbesitedwithrespecttoconstructionmanagementtowardscosteffective buildingdesign. Materialmanagement Labor/Equipment/Machinerymanagement Timemanagement/schedule Wastagemanagement It is important to bear in mind that all the elements mentioned above are interrelated and interdependentasthepropermanagementofonewouldhaveinfluenceontheother. 2.2 ConstructionMaterialsManagement Use of prefabricated elements: Fabricating items in a factory is always faster and cheaperthanonsite.Thisisbecausethereisnotalwaysagoodsupplyofshelter, materials, specialized machinery and labor on site. However, transportation costs shouldbeconsideredintheselectionofthemethod.Theextentofprefabrication can range from individual components, right up to a totally prefabricated home. Thereareseveraldesignsofprecastunitsandtheyincludewallpanels,slabpanels, columnsandroofingunits. Useofwallfillersasaformwork Standard dimensions: Many building products come in standard dimensions. Designingwiththisinmindcanreducecuttingandwastage.Fabricatedcomponents such as aluminum windows and doors come in standard sizes. Standard sizes are alwayscheaperthancustommadesizes. Amalgamatingservices:Locatingbathroomskitchensandlaundrysetcadjacentor aboveeachother,canreducethecostofprovidingservices(particularlyplumbing) as the length of concealed pipe work and conduit is reduced. Similarly amalgamatingseveralservicesinthesametrenchorductcanreducecosts. Admixturesforabetterconcretequality Reasonably regular geometry: Simple geometry with minimal reentrant angles minimizes external wall length while maximizing area. Similarly, simple roof geometry minimizes junctions and materials. Planning to reduce circulation space canmaximizetheusableareaofahomeandminimizewastedspace.
January 2012

Chair of Appropriate Building Technology

Low Cost Strategies in Design

EiABC Addis Ababa University

Single storey buildings: Single storey construction is always cheaper than two storeysbecauseofthecostofscaffoldingandtransportingmaterials.Floorsabove ground are always more expensive than floors on ground because of the extra beams and support required. Above ground slabs require considerably more reinforcementandformworkingthanslabsonground. Simplicity and repetition: The use of simple structural elements repeated throughoutaprojectcanreducetheoverallcostasdesignandsetoutneedonlybe doneonce.Duplicatingelementscanreducecostsbecausefabricationcanbedone inbulk. Numberofamenityareas:Kitchens,laundriesandbathroomsaremoreexpensive tofitoutthanotherroomsbecauseoftheintensiveuseofplumbing,electricaland gasservicesaswellasintensiveuseoffixtures,fittings,wetareatreatment,tiling andjoineryitems.Agoodwaytoreducecostistominimizethenumberofamenity areas. Economiesofscale:Asinotherindustries,thelargertheorder,thelowerthecost. Generally medium to large construction projects are more economical, per sqm(m2), than smaller ones. This is largely because of the high setup cost of constructionprojects. Through intelligent dualusage of building elements as building parts and as formwork the construction costs are reduced. In the construction process, the amount of wasted materials for formwork can be reduced as well the time for buildinganddismantlingformwork. Reusageofmetalformwork,whichcanbeadaptedtoeverykindofhouse,helpsto economizeontheconstructioncosts.

Fig1Modularbuildingblocks
Chair of Appropriate Building Technology January 2012

Low Cost Strategies in Design

EiABC Addis Ababa University

Fig2Dualuseofblocks Examplesaccordingtolocationsinabuilding: Foundation:similargeometry,similarmaterials Structural elements: similar geometry (crosssectional and elevation), similar technical specifications (concrete), reasonably close reinforcement diameters and spacing,reduceformworkusage,reuseofmaterials External walls: regular shapes, dimensions of walls in multiple of standard wall fillingmaterials(blocks) Partitionwalls:integermultipleoftheavailablepartitionmaterials Ceiling:integermultipleoftheavailableceilingmaterials Truss systems: truss elements with similar geometry, truss members of similar materialpropertyandreasonablycloseorsimilarcrosssection Roofcoverings:integermultipleoftheavailablepartitionmaterials

Thefollowingtechnologiescanalsobeintroduced: Differenthollowblocksizesmoreeconomical,easiertohandle. Ushapedblock,samesizeashollowblockusedforprefabricationoflintelsandbeams. Reinforcement for columns inside of the hollow blocks no formwork required for columns. Combinedstripandslabfoundationaptforanykindofsoil. Prefabricatedslabsystem(beamsandhollowblocks)noformworkrequired. Modulararchitecturalsystemadjustedtovaryingrequirements Designstobeadaptedtodifferenttypesofsoilandgeographicconditions.

Chair of Appropriate Building Technology

January 2012

Low Cost Strategies in Design

EiABC Addis Ababa University

Fig3 Fromthestructuraldesignpointofviewsafeandcostefficientbuildingscouldbeobtainedby: PrecastbeamsandHCBribsystemscanbeusedtoavoidslab/beamformworkandto reducethenumberofskilledcarpenters. ForuptoG+1buildingsnocolumnformworkisrequiredasthecolumnsareembeddedin theConcreteHollowBlocks. Modular structured elements can be used to simplify work and production of pre cast beamsandConcreteHollowBlocks. Simple structural systems can be used to ensure safety and stability without requiring difficultandexpensivedetails.Inaddition,anoptimalstructuralsystemandlayoutcanbe usedtoreducecostwithoutcompromisingquality.Theoptimalsystemcanbechosenafter makingtrialanderrorwithmanyalternatives. Differentfoundationtypesandembedmentdepthscanbeconsideredandtheonethatis optimalfromfunctionandcostaspectsisselectedandadapted. 2.3 Most conventional methods require a variety of skill levels to undertake even the simplest of structures.Inarecentsurveyofbrick/blockyards,lackoftraining(skills)wasidentifiedasamajor weaknessintheindustry. Thus, any new or proposed techniques must aim at either provision of training as part of the package ormust have a relativelylow requirement for specialized skills. Techniques such as the use of precast concrete panels as building elements have shown a tremendous reduction in specializedskillsrequirements. ManpowerManagement ExamplesoftypicallowcostbuildingsinEthiopia

Chair of Appropriate Building Technology

January 2012

Low Cost Strategies in Design

EiABC Addis Ababa University

Workforceinconstructionprojectwouldincludeprofessional,skilled,semiskilled andunskilledlabourers. Target:todojobsinalessertime=>lesserconstructioncost=>buildingwithalessercost Techniquestowardsefficientmanpowermanagement: Avoidvariabilityofitemsofworks(Repetitiveness) Useofreadily/locallyavailableworkforce One approach, engineering wise, to developing a viable solution is to focus on building modules that are lightweight, simple to assemble, and require minimum skilledlabor. The use of unskilled and the unemployed: There is often an abundance of unemployed building workers in informal settlements; building workers with the lowest levels of building skills. Skilled building artisans are in short supply throughout the world. However, building technology has also in some respects advancedbeyondtraditionalbuildingtechniquessothata highleveloftrainingis notalwaysnecessary.Someofthisdoesnotneedheavymanuallaboursothatthe erectionofhousingnolongerneedstobegenderspecific.Whateverextraskillsare neededcanbeobtainedwhilebuilding. Manualsandguidelines 2.4 TimeManagement A building construction method that is faster not only utilizes labor more efficiently but also reduces the daily onsite costs such as building foreman, fencing, scaffolding, site services, insurancesetc. Objective:Deliverinalessertime=>lessercost Techniques: Reduction of construction time can be achieved by using prefabricated materials whichareinstrumentalinreducingcostandenablesbetterqualitycontrol. Prefabricationofconstructionmaterials Prefabricated homes: These are homes fabricated in a factory complete with all fixturesandfittings,transportedtositeonalargevehicle,thencranedintoplace. Repetitiveness Admixture:Eg.Rapidhardeningcement Useofreadily(locally)availablebuildingmaterials/workforce 2.5 WastageManagement Wastecanbedefinedasanylossesproducedbyactivitiesthatgeneratedirectorindirectcostsbut donotaddanyvaluetotheproductfromthepointofviewoftheclient. Objective:Minimizewastage=>minimizeexpense=>costeffectivebuilding Techniques: Modularbuildingmaterials Precastconcrete Buildingmaterialswithvariousshapesandgeometry
Chair of Appropriate Building Technology January 2012

Low Cost Strategies in Design

EiABC Addis Ababa University

Dimensioningspacestakingintoaccounttheavailablestandardbuildingmaterials andtheoverallbuildingproject Reuseofmaterials

Fig.4Demolitionwastecouldbereused

Chair of Appropriate Building Technology

January 2012