Investigation of Technical Challenges in Quality Practices in the Installation of Electrical Conduit Wiring on Building Sites in Nigeria

Abstract

The technical challenges in quality practices in installing electrical conduit wiring on building sites in Nigeria have been investigated. This investigation aims to assess challenges in quality management practices in electrical conduit installation on building construction sites in Nigeria. To achieve this aim, both Survey and Descriptive research designs were applied. These were necessary to elicit relevant information from the study area. A total of 185 registered electrical professionals in the building industry from four geo-political zones of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory were considered respondents. The Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) was used to analyse data obtained from the questionnaires. It was revealed that the challenges encountered in electrical conduit installations were: Poor safety and durability of installations (mean score=2.40; RII =0.51), High costs of materials (mean score=3.45; RII =0.81), Complexity in installation (mean score=3.52; RII =0.82), Incompatibility of installation with existing wiring system (mean score=2.38; RII =0.47), Non-adherence to quality standards (mean score=2.35; RII =0.46) and Unfriendly environmental factors (mean score=2.33; RII =0.45). Also, the tools employed for quality assessment by the professionals were: the flow chart (mean score=3.42; RII=0.72), check sheet (mean score=3.89; RII=0.85), fishbone diagram (mean score=2.73; R=0.64) and control chart (mean score=3.55; R=0.79). The study concludes that the installation of electrical conduits in Nigerian buildings is prone to several challenges.