Acceptance Criteria Of Alternative Building Materials And Technologies For Walling: A Case Study Of Nairobi City County

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the acceptance criteria of Alternative Building Materials and Technologies (ABMTs) for walling. The overall objective was achieved by: (a) investigating the various ABMTs currently in use in Nairobi City County and the rate of adoption; (b) identifying the parameters that need to be considered in acceptance of ABMTs thus developing a conceptual model including the most critical factors that influence the acceptance; (c) investigating end users level of awareness and factors they would consider in acceptance of ABMTs; and (d) identifying various strategies that can be put in place to increase uptake of ABMTs. The study was conducted through a cross section survey method. Primary data was collected from developers, architects, manufacturers, government officials from Department of Housing and Urban Development, Kenya Bureau of Standards and end users using questionnaires and interviews for data collection. Data was analysed using Microsoft excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The study was based on eight dimensions of acceptance criteria of Alternative Building Materials and Technologies for walling, which are economic, social, technical know-how, environmental sustainability, quality, government policies, time and logistics. The study adopted 32 parameters from the literature review out of which respondents identified 18 parameters from the various eight dimensions to be considered in acceptance criteria. A hypothesized mean of 4 and above was set as a critical cut-off point and considered in the final acceptance model for ABMTs. The study therefore recommends that these eighteen parameters that assisted in developing the acceptance model should be considered in future for any study or even by stakeholders in the construction industry who seek to measure or chose the best option from the available ABMTs. The findings from this research provide useful information on an efficient set of parameters which will also serve as a Decision Support System for various actors in the construction industry. This efficient set of identified parameters will assist various construction industry players to select the most appropriate technologies for construction of buildings from the approach of affordability and sustainability and also strategies that can be put in place to accelerate adoption of ABMTs through well designed marketing strategies for these materials, policy incentives and educational programs.