The County Government of Nakuru is advocating for the use of a common packaging material, polystyrene, in construction to boost and reduce the cost of putting up affordable housing units.
County Executive Committee member (CECM) for Lands, Physical Planning, Housing and Urban Development, Mr John Kihagi, said the Expanded Polystyrene Panels (EPS) was expected to cut down on the time spent to construct a home or property by about 50 per cent.
Kihagi added that the technology targets middle and low-income class, as Kenya seeks to enable more citizens to own affordable and improved housing.
To make houses Polystyrene Foam is said to be sandwiched between two slabs of steel wire mesh and once these have been joined together, they are sprayed with cement to support and strengthen the walls.
Mr Kihagi said construction with Polystyrene is ecologically friendly as it uses very little water and less wood is needed to support the building, which could help reduce deforestation.
“If the new technology is correctly installed and accepted by Kenyans, it would enhance the ability of Kenyans to own affordable and better houses,” he said.
Kihagi made the remarks during a consultative meeting between the Lands, Physical Planning, Housing and Urban Development department’s senior staff and directors from the National Housing Corporation (NHC).
While announcing that the County Government intends to train artisans on Expanded Polystyrene (EPs) alternative Building Material Technology that replaces stones for walling.
Mr Kihagi indicated that the panels require very little concrete to reinforce the buildings and little manpower for the construction, which makes it cheap.
He said with EPS, they would reduce cost of construction materials by up to 30 per cent and labour by half, expenses that have made housing expensive in Kenya.
EPS, which is used a extensively in Europe, South America and Asia, also reduces the construction time.
Mr Kihagi said the houses could withstand shock from earthquakes better than those built using brick and stone.
The EPS foam is 90 percent air, meaning it is light and has outstanding thermal insulation due to the fact that air is a poor conductor of heat, added Kihagi.
NHC has invested billions of shillings in the production of the polystyrene panels for the construction of housing in the country.
Polystyrene is commonly known by its trade mark Styrofoam: The white, flimsy material used in the packaging of items such as electronic goods or in making takeaway food packs.
This is to be used as a replacement for stones and bricks, potentially slashing construction costs by up to 30 per cent.
The Italian technology has been used in Europe for over 60 years, but only penetrated the Kenya market a decade ago.
The County Housing Director Engineer, Benard Maruhi, agreed that EPS offers high quality housing material at a lower cost, faster speed and reduced labour costs.
Alternative building technologies are becoming increasingly popular in Kenya, and are one of the propositions that have been put forward to alleviate the perennial housing shortages.
The country’s annual housing demand for example is estimated at 150,000 units a year, but the combined efforts of both public and private developers result in an output of just 50,000 units a year.
According to a Report by the National Construction Authority (NCA) in Kenya, the adoption of EPS technology has been steadily increasing, with more developers and contractors incorporating EPS into their projects.
According to the Report, one of the key advantages of EPS building technology is its energy efficiency. Buildings constructed using EPS panels have superior thermal performance, reducing the need for artificial heating and cooling systems.
This not only leads to cost savings for homeowners, but also contributes to lower carbon emissions, making EPS a sustainable choice for environmentally conscious builders.
Moreover, EPS is known for its versatility and design flexibility. The lightweight nature of EPS panels allows for faster construction times, leading to overall cost reductions and increased productivity on construction sites. Additionally, EPS is a durable material that offers excellent resistance to moisture and mold, ensuring the longevity of buildings constructed using this technology, added the NCA Report.
By Esther Mwangi
