BCPG explains the concept of ‘Storey Building’

The Building Collapse Prevention Guild has said it is important to understand the meaning and concept of storey building that has long been confusing to construction practitioners.

The body said in a statement signed by its President, Mr. Kunle Awobodu, that understanding the use of the word ‘storey’ in building construction would help to distinguish different heights of buildings for effective communication of specifications.

He said, “The collapse of a guesthouse within the precincts of the Synagogue Church of All Nations on Friday, September 12, 2014 has brought to the fore the misrepresentation created by the wrong use of the terminology ‘storey’ in Nigeria.

“The building that collapsed has been severally referred to as a six-storey building. However, the photograph of the building before its collapse, as revealed at the Coroner’s inquest, showed a seven-storey building. This misnomer has serious implications on the post mortem structural analysis of the loading exerted on the foundation of the building.

“Of course, there is a significant difference in the sizes of the isolated and combined pad foundations expected to carry a six-storey building and those of a seven-storey building, and with varying degrees of soil bearing capacities.”

According to Awobodu, the need to correct the constant wrong use of the word ‘storey’ has become imperative.

He added, “There is no ambiguity in the global use of storey. Ambiguity only exists in the counting or numbering of floors in different parts of the world. There are two major floor numbering methods in the world: The English or European method that counts ground floor as zero, and the American method that prefers to label the ground floor as the first level.

“In that case, first floor in the European method means the second floor (level) in the American method. Most countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa adopt either of these two methods of floor numbering.

“The meaning of storey is the same all over the world. Storey is defined as the floor or level in a building, including rooms on that floor. In that case, a storey extends from the floor to the ceiling or suspended slab. It is used for horizontal division of buildings. Hence, a bungalow, which is a house that has only the ground floor, is a storey building. An upstairs house that has a ground floor and one upper floor is a two-storey building.”

Awobodu said building control regulations were unanimous on the use of the word ‘storey’.

This item originally appeared on Punch News