Design and construction supervision of residential apartments in Ssonde

Abstract

This report gives an account of my involvement in the design and construction supervision of residential apartments in Ssonde, Mukono district. The project, whose total cost was Uganda shillings 845,520,800 (VAT inclusive), was implemented by Skyem Development Limited from April 2020 to April 2021. Way forward Construction Company Limited was commissioned to design and supervise construction works for this project. I was assigned as an assistant civil/structural engineer and my roles included taking charge of site investigations, structural designs, civil engineering input into bills of quantities and supervision of civil/structural works. Broadly, the tasks on the project feed into the need to strictly guard the dented image of the civil engineering industry in Uganda where reports abound of an infiltration by incompetent and unscrupulous individuals and the resultant fatalities and losses associated with collapse of buildings. In light of these realities, I undertook structural designs in accordance with principles and application rules of BS EN 1992: Eurocode 2: Design of Concrete Structures, as well as supervising its construction, ensuring testing of construction materials used on site for conformity to the standards. Although the project was met with some challenges, at all times necessary measures were instituted to mitigate their toll on progress and quality of the works. Foremost among the challenges were the disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures adopted to control its spread: downsizing of work teams to comply with social distancing; provision of immunity boosters for all workers and treatment of three workers who contracted COVID in October 2020. Additionally, the client was unwilling to duly test the construction materials and the contractor reluctant to engage an Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) officer on site. The project management team however managed to convince the client to agree to test the concrete and I ensured that only the materials which passed the visual inspections were used. I also successfully proposed to the contractor to assign the site foreman an additional role of safety champion, in addition to holding some toolbox meetings and introducing punitive measures for non-compliance to OSH. Furthermore, together with other members of the consultant team, I advised the client on key aspects of operation and maintenance of building parts namely: rainwater gutters, painted metal surfaces, external painted surfaces, windows and burglar proofing, timber doors and cabinet shutters, as well as mechanical installations (plumbing and drainage works). Together with other consultants, I inspected possible defects during and at the end of the six-month defects’ liability period and ensured that the defects identified were remedied by the contractor. Out of this experience, I drew three key lessons. Firstly, prior project planning and scheduling of works is important to ensure timely and efficient delivery; secondly, it is important for all stakeholders (Consultant team, Contractor and Client) to maintain regular communication to avoid delays and potentially costly errors; and thirdly, clients need to be sensitized on the rationale of engineering practices to enable them appreciate and comply with professional procedures. There were also cross-cutting issues that needed emphasis including: ensuring both physical and psychological OHS for workers; complying with the country’s gender strategy to ensure that the contractor allows for equality at site; sensitizing workers and availing them with protective gear against HIV/AIDs and other STDs needs to continue for construction sites as is the case for other transient communities.