Challenges of Finishing Works on Integrated Modulus System (IMS) Building Technology: A Case Study on Projects under Construction in Addis Ababa
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2020-12
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
In Ethiopia prefabrication was introduced by a technical assistance from the former Yugoslavia.
Government in 1980’s, former Prefabricated Building Parts Production Enterprise PBPPE is now
under the Ethiopian Construction Works Corporation Building Technology and Construction
Sector (ECWC BTCS). Though the company has changed its name, it is still using the same
system at the time of installation of the plant in the 1984 without updating the technology and a
major renovation work on the production plant.
Obviously, this posed a challenge on the adaptability of the Integrated Modulus System (IMS)
with time as technologies develop and the standard of living improves especially, with the
finishing touches of a building. That is what this research tries to address the problem that arises
with the issue of an updated technology on the building construction sector of our times.
The study was made by conducting a detailed observation and analysis on three projects namely
ICT G+7 Incubation Center, former Addis Ababa Meles Zenawi Leadership Academy
AAMZLA (now Ayat Mothers and Children Hospital MCH) and Kotebe Metropolitan
University Administration Building which are under construction and employ IMS building
construction system to identify the inconveniences that comes with the beginning of finishing
works on a site. A through interview was also conducted to further strengthen the issue at hand.
The results of the study show that the building system has regressed in our country as compared
to the international practice, as difficulties arises in coping with finishing works that needs a lot
of piping and wiring in our days of construction period. These difficulties had led to an
additional spending in terms of cost, time and quality of the projects under consideration.
And finally a recommendation is forwarded for the concerned bodies that the system needed to
be updated before this technology is lost with the decaying power of time to get a better result
that comes with the use of a controlled production of building elements or prefabrication.
Description
Keywords
Construction Cost, Construction Quality, Construction Time, Finishing Works, IMS Building Technology, Precast Construction, Post Tensioning