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PurposeThe purpose of this study is to enhance material conservation and further the knowledge of efficient material management practices on construction sites. This study investigated contractors’ material management practices on construction sites in Nigeria. The factors influencing material conservation on construction sites were also examined.Design/methodology/approachData were collected through a survey of 125 contractors who were administered with structured questionnaire, which resulted in 82 valid returned questionnaire. Data collected was analyzed using frequency, importance, utility and severity indexes.FindingsThis study found checking materials delivered to a site for specification, use of security personnel to safeguard materials and analysis of materials as key material management practices used on construction sites. Critical factors influencing material management are materials double-handling, management of surplus materials, subsequent design changes, excessive paperwork and not receiving materials at the expected time.Practical implicationsThe implementation of the material management practices identified in this study will support contractors to efficiently manage materials on construction sites. The factors influencing material conservation reported in this study will also help contractors understand the critical factors that may affect material management in their construction sites and make better plans for future projects.Originality/valueThis study has reported key issues confronting contractors on the conservation of materials on construction site and various material management practices suitable for application in a wide range of infrastructure projects. This is significant because the construction industry is recording outrageous cost and time overruns of infrastructure projects, which are vital to economic prosperity of nations. The issues and panaceas presented in this study had received scant consideration in construction literature in the sub-Sahara Africa. This study represents a novel synthesis and adds value to knowledge in a manner that has not been reported in previous studies.

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to advance the application of pulverised cow bone ash (PCBA) as a partial replacement of cement in soil stabilisation for the production of bricks. The study investigated the impact of PCBA substitution on the characteristic strength of clay bricks under variant curing media.Design/methodology/approachDried cow bones were pulverised, and an energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence test was conducted on PCBA samples to determine the chemical constituents and ascertain the pozzolanic characteristics. Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and PCBA were blended at 100%, 75%, 50%, 25% and 0% of cement substitution by mass to stabilise lateritic clay at 10% total binder content for the production of bricks. The binder-to-lateritic clay matrixes were used to produce clay bricks and cylinders for compressive and splitting tensile strength tests, respectively.FindingsThe study found that PCBA and OPC have similar chemical compositions. The strength of the clay bricks increased with curing age, and the thermal curing of clay bricks positively impacted the strength development. The study established that PCBA is a suitable substitute for cement, up to 25% for stabilisation in clay brick production.Practical implicationsConstruction stakeholders can successfully use a PCBA-OPC binder blend of 1:3 to stabilise clay at 10% total binder content for the production of bricks. The stabilised clay bricks should be cured at an elevated temperature of approximately 90°C for 48 h to achieve satisfactory performance.Originality/valueThe PCBA-OPC binder blend provides adequate soil stabilisation for the production of clay bricks and curing the clay bricks at elevated temperature. This aspect of the biomass/OPC binder blend has not been explored for brick production, and this is important for the reduction of the environmental impacts of cement production and waste from abattoirs.

PurposeThe construction industry in Nigeria has a complex environment, comprising several combinations of consulting professions, clients, contractual arrangement and investors, with longer working hours than other industries. Work–life balance (WLB) strategies are used to balance professional life and personal life. This study aims to assess the extent of implementation of WLB strategies among construction companies in Lagos, Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopts a survey research technique. Snowball sampling technique was adopted to identify the targeted respondents for the administration of questionnaire. A total of 156 questionnaires were distributed and a response rate of 66% (103 questionnaires were completely filled and returned) was attained. Data elicited were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.FindingsResults from this study provides evidence that the level of implementation of WLB strategies among construction companies in Lagos state, Nigeria is on the average. The results also revealed organisational understanding, paternity/maternity leave and flexible working arrangement as the top most three WLB strategies implemented among the construction companies in Lagos, Nigeria.Originality/valueThis study contributed to more effective WLB studies by identifying new information on the extent of usage of WLB practices in the Nigerian construction sector as well as offers a fresh perspective on the usage of WLB in a developing country. An understanding of these strategies is significant for companies’ stakeholders, such as management personnel, top construction professionals and policymakers, and for facilitating the adoption and implementation of WLB strategies among construction organisations.

Contractors, among other construction stakeholders, are vital in achieving the set goals of a project. Adequately engaging a capable contractor is an important task for a client. This study aims at determining the reasons for clients contending with contractors that are not committed to health and safety (H＆S). The study was conducted through a literature review, a questionnaire was developed and distributed to 286 construction stakeholders in the Nigerian construction industry. Cronbach alpha was used to test the reliability of the questionnaire used for data collection. Mean scores (MSs) were adopted to determine the major factors that influence clients' selections and factor analysis was used to cluster variables of high inter-correlations. Findings from the survey reveal that H＆S is not a clients' goal or a project value hence, H＆S is not viewed as a vital pre-qualification criterion for contractor selection. This results in a poor checklist concerning contractors' quality assurance and inadequate verification of contractors' H＆S history. Therefore, appointing non-compliant H＆S contractors. The findings provide information on the influence clients have respecting H＆S as a prequalification criterion and towards construction workers' H＆S. This will enable construction stakeholders to make the right decision in the pre-qualification of contractors.

The need to address the adverse effect of plastic waste on the environment as well as the increasing housing deficit in developing countries prompted this study. This paper reports the application of melted waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles as a binder for the production of polymer bricks. Melted waste PET bottle resin and natural sand were mixed at 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, 1:5, 1:6, 1:7, and 1:8 PET/sand ratios by mass, and the mixture was cast in moulds to prepare the polymer bricks. The physicomechanical properties of the polymer bricks were examined for suitability of use as an alternative masonry unit. The study found that the compressive strength, flexural strength, and Poisson’s ratio of polymer bricks increased with sand content up to 1: 4 PET/sand ratio with values of 17.96 N/mm 2 , 9.01 N/mm 2 , and 0.34, respectively. The elastic modulus-to-compressive strength ratio reveals that polymer bricks produced with 1:3, 1:4 and 1:5 PET/sand ratios satisfied minimum requirement. Minimum sand content of 75 wt% is essential for substantial splitting tensile strength performance, and the maximum water absorption is 4.42% obtained for polymer bricks produced with 1:8 PET/sand ratios. Low sorptivity values of zero to 1.76 × 10 −3  kg/(m 2 h 0.5 ) were found, implying that polymer bricks could be used as a damp proof course.