Towards the achievement of affordable housing in Ghana; the use of expanded polystyrene (EPS)
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Date
2021-06-17
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Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the prospects of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) in the
provision of affordable housing in Ghana. Data were gathered from a total of 44 architects
and quantity surveyors through a questionnaire survey. The data was analysed with descriptive
statistics using frequencies and percentages and a Relative Agreement Index (RAI) model.
Analysis of the data revealed significant economic impacts of using EPS. The highly rated
impacts were that "EPS enhances speed of construction", "EPS reduces construction period",
"EPS provides durability of project" and "EPS enhances waste reduction", with respective
RAI values of 0.909, 0.905, 0.859 and 0.850. The relatively high RAI values implied a positive
economic impact of the use of EPS as being a cost effective technology. Building cost
estimations revealed a significant difference in cost of a building using block work and the
one using EPS panels resulting from the relatively high cost of the block work component and
the concrete component. The total estimated cost of the structural system was 37.6% higher
than that of the EPS building. The results further showed knowledge of EPS among the general
public was low as indicated by about 66% of the respondents. Surprisingly, about 45% and
43% of the respondents further indicated that design professionals’ knowledge of EPS was
average and low respectively. This had translated into a low adoption rate of EPS for housing
within the Ghanaian construction industry. The study concludes that the prospects of EPS in
providing affordable housing lies in its marked economic benefits given the widespread need
of housing requirement in the country. However, limited knowledge of EPS and its
widespread unavailability are notable challenges to its adoption and as such the study
recommends that professional and public education of EPS should be enhanced to increase
the knowledge, awareness and confidence in EPS for providing affordable housing in Ghana.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Department of Construction Technology and Management, Kwame
Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi in partial fulfilment
of the requirements for the Degree of
Master of Science
Keywords
Achievement, Affordable, Housing, Ghana