PROPERTY NEWS

PROFESSSIONALS in the building sector have explored ways by which to put pressure on policy makers to facilitate durable project execution by contractors, at a forum held with international consultants last week.

At a session tagged 'DuPont Day with Architects and Engineers,' South Africa-based business conglomerate, DuPont, which hosted the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) and the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), provided an insight to new technological developments in road construction, interior decoration and kitchen surface materials, among others.

In a presentation, the Head, Management and Maintenance for DuPont, Mr. Richard Ntombela, a South African, introduced the product 'Dupoint Elvaloy RET,' also known as "asphalt modifier," designed to fight "four major failure mechanisms" on roads.

The product, which he said had been widely used in Tanzania, has the capacity to fight road rutting, fatigue cracking, cold cracking and binder stripping.

The asphalt modifier, he added, is more resistant to hot weather rutting, as laboratory tests show that soft asphalt modified with Elvaloy RET is even more resistant than the conventional non-modified asphalt.

"Given the elasticity and resilience provided by an elastomer, Elavoy RET works like shock absorber in asphalt, helping the pavement resist breakdown under the relentless pounding of traffic, thus, making the fight on fatigue and cold cracking a reality."

Noting that Asphalt modifier is storable and easier to lay down and to compact, he said it is also a reactive elastomeric termopolymer that chemically reacts with binder, "so, there is no opportunity for separation during transportation or paving, or if the asphalt is placed in storage prior to paving or due to weather-related job delay.

The firm's interior design product, 'Corian,' described by the Nigerian representative of DuPont, Dr. David Ehikheuemen, as "architecturally friendly," is a solid surface material made for kitchen worktops, sinks and other domestic and office needs.

Urging professionals involved in projects to mount pressure on government towards ensuring that contractors abide by specifications, Mr. Yemi Afolayan, an engineer, stressed the need for professional bodies to ensure that quality is not compromised on road construction.

While commending the newly introduced modified asphalt, which was recommended for use in Nigerian environment, other commentators believed however, that there was a need for modification in the contract administration procedure in Nigeria, if the innovations are to benefit the country.

This, according to one participant, Mr. Lawrence Adewale, was because "though it is not difficult to have a road construction that could have a 25-year life span or more, those who administer contracts believe that such project would deny them the personal gains of awarding contracts on a regular basis on the same project."