Volunteer Work in Africa 1

[Lazzaroni]

I am considering volunteering to help design small classrooms and churches in very small villages in Africa. The areas where they will be constructed are very poor and they don't have the money/materials to construct to the codes/standards we have here in the States. Has anyone had experience with this type of work? What standards are used in designing these structures?

 

[civilperson]

The codes and standards used in the United States are not for rich countries only, but for the life and safety of the public who will be using the buildings. You assume there is a cost cutting lesser standard, I think you are treating the inhabitants as lesser clients desrving a lesser standard of safety. The savings are not in code compliance, but in clever economical use of materials and deletion of high price aditions such as HVAC.

 

[Lazzaroni]

I agree with you, but having seen pictures and speaking with people who have worked building these structures, it is apparent that they are not designed to our standards. The available materials do not appear to meet the quality/tolerances of what I've worked with. My intent is not to come up with my own load/phi factors or cheat them of a safe design....I'd just like to know if there is an accepted method of designing these structures.

 

[concretemasonry]

If you are going to small villages, do not even look toward any construction being done in Cairo, Joberg, etc.

Based on what I have seen in Africa and similar locations, you will have to use your engineering background on what materials are currently used and available. Looking at already constructed buildings will give you insight into the short term performance. Do not expect to get any meaningful test reports on the materials.

Much of the needed construction is low rise without great loads due to ability of the available flooring/roofing systems to span large areas or carry heavy loads. You will find many traditional construction methods that have been made more effective because of excellent "local engineering".

The range of construction is very broad. You will find a great deal of masonry construction because of the historic development and local availablity. Poured concrete can be extremely variable because of the raw materials and limited batching facilities. Delivery in portions of the country limit the size of pours. Masonry units can range from rammed earth block to low quality concrete brick to very high quality colored concrete.

If you are going to be in somes countries (South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, etc.) you will find a tradition of good construction based on some British standards, but mainly German (dating back about 50 years or more). As you go out of the cities, your selection of materials will decrease. In a large portion of South Africa, there are some very fine low cost homes built using basic 6" block and readily available materials. I have also seen some very good construction in Ghana, where quality masonry is common and many floor systems are a traditional beam with block fillers and a concrete topping/fill.

Do not understimate the local professionals. - When I saw construction techniques that amazed me in South America, I asked the engineer what code he used and his answer was "We use your codes, but we use them better".

 

[GoddyMgwasa]

Most of rural areas in Africa do not use codes and they do not design buildings. What they do they just construct reffering the historical function of existing buildings. People are lucky in rural ares because no multi storey buildings needed as the land is vast.
Im a Tanzanian and we are using British standard codes for designing and we are doing great.
Dont panic Lazzaron, just go in that part of Africa and try to look on existing structures and try to relate your design with those structures, I think you shall succeed. Bear in mind also we dont encounter harsh climatic conditions in Africa, no big earthquakes like in middle east and also no strong winds as in other part of the world.
Just help the needy ones!!!!!!!!!
GOD bless u.

 

[xxpegasus11]

I am not sure what you mean by volunteering to design - do you mean being in Africa yourself or designing from overseas?
I have spent several years in Africa on design and construction projects and could help with any specific questions/help you need. On bigger projects, designs were to normal codes and standards (european or US) but these were generally oveseas funded. On "local" projects, again designs would obviously need to be safe irrespective of what code is used.
More important than codes however is knowledge of local conditions and availability of materials and skills. It would not be sensible for example to design a steel/concrete building in an area where the only realistic materials that would be used would be timber/local bricks and corrugated roofing sheets. Design is therefore dictacted by the materials and their local characteristics.

Greetings to Florahaule (Many happy memories of Tanzania

 

[renko]

No one can fault the design if it is to 1st principles. I believe design by inspection / comparison to existing structures is also valid.

There are a lot of alternative materials being used in 'trials' developing countries - polystyrene blocks, straw bales etc. because they are cheaper and/or locally available.
Many of these materials would not be accepted in richer, developed coutries because they may not give the desired long term finish.

In any case the design should strong, stable & robust, but you may have to accept deviations from 'normal' servicibility standards.

 

[csd72]

Lazzaroni,

Are you a member of an engineering association? Many of these associations have societies that specialise in disaster relief e.t.c. and may be able to put you in contact with someone experienced at this.

A mentor will be very useful.

 

[MikeE55]

I've had experience in Burkina Faso and Uganda with classrooms and churches. In the places I worked there were no codes enforced, just common local techniques which were considered good practice. Lots of weak block with little reinforcing for load bearing walls, and wood trusses with corrugated metal roofing. The trusses have very poor connections - I think if you designed to a roof live load of 10 psf you would exceed the quality of design typically in use.

 

[lexim]

Hi Lazzaroni,


I am a Nigerian and having practiced structural engineering for close to two decades, I can tell you that the engineering is the same as what you'ld have anywhere else in the world as per analysis & design is okay to be done using teh British standard or European codes

Only consider carefully safety in your design, the prevailing method of construction that will be used, the materials available for construction and I guess you will be the quality and supervising engineer.

The only challenge you may have is the foundation design and this is largely dependent on the type of soil encountered in the area that you are going to be construting and as well as your experience in foundation design. ( you may not haev any sub-soil investigation test except for visual and feel of soil type)

Good Luck in your endeavor.

 

[Lazzaroni]

Thank you all for your input....very infomative and helpful.