Nigerite promotes dry construction system

The Nigerian construction industry is under
pressure to evolve cost-effective systems for
delivering projects due to the sliding prices of
crude oil and high cost of funds, the Managing
Director, Nigerite Limited, Mr. Frank LeBris,
has said.

At the unveiling of Nigerite's Kalsi alternative
building solution in Lagos, LeBris noted that
mass housing development at both the federal
and state levels could readily be available
through innovative system of construction
either with a hybrid solution, the traditional
brick and mortar, or a complete dry
construction system.

He said, "With the demand for housing in
Nigeria growing at geometric rate while the
housing development is at arithmetic rate,
there is an obvious need to evolve more
practical methods to achieve mass housing
development.

"Nigerite has put all measures from raw
materials, machinery, factory personnel and
training in place to fully introduce this unique
building solution to the Nigerian market in the
second quarter of 2015."

He said the dry construction solution, known
as Kalsi boards, included application for both
internal and external building construction
such as ceiling, wall partitions, over-cladding
on existing masonry wall, facade applications,
suspended floors and integrated building
solution or complete building system.

"Our dry construction solution utilises Kalsi
boards, which are high performance autoclaved
cement boards, siniat plaster boards that are
high quality gypsum boards, galvanised steel
framings and other component finishing
accessories," he said.

The Kalsi boards, LeBris noted, were being
manufactured from cement, quartz, cellulose,
natural calcium silicate and water, and
processed under high pressure and
temperature for durability and dimensional
stability.

He added that the building solution had a high
fire resistant rating, with good acoustic and
thermal as well as moisture and pest resistant
properties.

"With many advantages over the traditional
masonry construction, dry construction is a
modern building system, which tends to
translate the building process into an
industrial process.

"The system is a more versatile and faster
construction method, allowing up to 70 per
cent construction and time saving when
compared with the traditional wet
construction using bricks and blocks," LeBris
said.

He noted that the dry construction method,
using the Kalsi system, unlike the conventional
method, required minimum use of water, with
minimum waste generation during construction,
and better room temperature preservation.

LeBris added that with dry construction, the
use of timber would be avoided, thus reducing
deforestation, with less soil disturbance and
minimum excavation, complementing the green
building idea for modern construction globally.

"In addition, the system is a lightweight
construction of about 10 times less weight
compared to the equivalent block and mortar
construction," he added.

The Head, Dry Construction Business Unit,
Nigerite, Mr. Wale Ogungbe, said harsh
weather condition had been considered in
creating the dry construction solution.

"Even in Indonesia and some other countries
where there are extreme weather conditions,
dry construction has been successful over the
years. It is a system that gives a lot of mileage
in construction and does not give room for
cutting corners," he said.

The Head, Roofing and Ceiling Business Unit,
Nigerite, Mr. Chris Adegbile, also said the
system would go a long way in reducing the
housing deficit in the country as it could be
used for any design idea by architects.

According to LeBris, the Kalsi solution will be
made available in the local market after its
unveiling in April.

"Nigerite, in partnership with other
stakeholders with skills in this system, has put
machineries in motion for skill acquisition with
regular training to ensure the technology is
domiciled within the Nigerian populace," he
stated.