Material quality first

Engineer Md. Arifujjaman Research Engineer ,Structural Engineering & Construction Division,Housing & Building Research Institute (HBRI) talked about  activities at HBRI and contribution to the construction sector.

:We have four Divisions here: Structural Engineering & Construction Division, Soil Mechanics & Foundation Engineering Division, Material Division and Housing Division. Structural Division works with earthquake. Besides, Material Division is working with material development which also helps to design the earthquake resilience buildings. We are trying to use flexible bricks so that the whole building will be flexible. Structural Division also works with lateral load (load of air, earth quake etc.) in the event of earthquake. It researches with bricks by which we are making our buildings. We also research with the behavior of the buildings made with normal bricks. We have completed first phrase in 2012.We hope we can reach our totally developing technology to the common people. Actually we are a research based institution. So implementation part will come later. Only HBRI is making Ferro-cement in which micro reinforcement (wire –mesh) is used. As a result, we can build very thin wall whose crack is very narrow. There are a few cracks in the Ferro-cement. We are making floating house with this Ferro-cement especially in the flood-driven areas. We are making water tank with Ferro-cement which was very popular in the 90s.And water kept in it remains very cold and hygienic. We also make pre –stressing precast piles which fulfill the demands of the people. We are going to formulize the standard of building construction materials. It is under processing. We have also made Ikra Wall which has a wall of bamboo with plastering.

T.D.S: Do you think that construction material manufacturers are making quality steel rod, cement, bricks etc.?

Engr. Md. Arifujjaman: Yes, there are some good companies which try to uphold their quality. But some are below standard. So people should go to the experts to take advices from them.

T.D.S: Why should they go to the experts? What is the process?

Engr. Md. Arifujjaman: I think one should go first to a good architect who will make a good architectural design for him. Then he/she will take the help of a good structural engineer. Besides, implementation and construction should be well-planned. An experienced engineer who has a lot of experience in the field work should be deployed for supervision. An experienced diploma engineer should be kept for all time supervision. He who will design for the construction should be set for top supervision.