Govt to develop guidelines for steel-timber construction method

The National Building Review Board has said it will come up with guidelines for using the banned steel-timber concrete building method before the population can start using it.

The Executive Director of the board, Flavia Bwire, says that in 2020, they undertook a study that revealed significant barriers that rendered this building risky and unsafe hence posing danger to the public.

According to the key findings from the study, the board observed inadequate skilled workforce in structural steel strictures in terms of design, erection, and construction supervision.

The board also established that the timber, one of the materials being used is currently not graded and its quality parameters are not known and there are no design standards and guidelines to support the technology both during design and implementation.

It is against this that the board is slated to develop guidelines for the safe design, fabrication, and erection of structures using these building methods.

She says that the board is slated to set up a technical committee to develop the above guidelines to fit the Uganda’s aspect.

Written by Damali Mukhaye