ISSN: 2971-673X
Model: Open Access/Peer Reviewed
DOI: 10.31248/JEIA
Start Year: 2018
Email: jeia@integrityresjournals.org
https://doi.org/10.31248/JEIA2022.022 | Article Number: 3EF4CAF71 | Vol.1 (2) - August 2022
Received Date: 02 August 2022 | Accepted Date: 25 August 2022 | Published Date: 30 August 2022
Authors: Odoh, F. E , Ebisine E. E. and Okieke U. J.*
Keywords: mechanical properties, Electrical resistivity, Building materials, electrical wires, substandard materials.
The utilization of counterfeit and substandard building materials for residential building construction had become a major concern, due to the hazards the occupants of those buildings are being subjected to. This research was carried out to appraise the quality of electrical wires used for residential building wiring in Delta State, Nigeria, and to also investigate the reasons why property developers still use these substandard materials despite the glaring negative consequences. Three commonly used electrical wire sizes (1.5, 2.5 and 4 mm2) for residential building electrical wiring were randomly selected within the Delta state, and their electrical properties (electrical resistance and electrical resistivity) and mechanical properties (area, tensile strength, and tensile strain) were determined following the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE 400), Nigeria Industrial Standard (NIS), and America Standard Testing Material (ASTM) International recommended procedures; also, well-structured questionnaires were administered to four groups of respondents. The findings indicated that the mechanical and electrical properties of most electrical wires, used for residential building wiring in Delta State failed to meet NIS standards. Across the five sampling locations, the mean electrical resistivity of the 1.5 mm2 wire ranged between 2.04±0.07x10-7 and 2.09±0.08x10-7 Ωmm, while the 2.5 mm2 wire's mean electrical resistivity varied from 1.90±0.06x10-7 to 1.97±0.13 x10-7 Ωmm, and the 4 mm2 wire’s mean electrical resistivity varied from 1.75±0.08 x10-7 to 1.87±0.06 x10-7 Ωmm. Also, across the five sampling locations, the mean tensile strength of the 1.5 mm2 wire ranged between 144.1 and 163.3 MPa, while the 2.5 mm2 wire's mean tensile strength varied from 163.2 to 177.4 MPa, and the 4 mm2 wire’s mean tensile strength varied from 169.4±20.6 to 185.4±17.2 MPa. Furthermore, the analysis of variance indicated that sampling location had no significant effect on the wires' mechanical and electrical properties (p≤0.05); portraying that this fraudulent practice is widespread across the state. The analysis of the questionnaire results confirmed that financial constraints and inappropriate actions of many building contractors were the major contributing factors to the utilization of substandard wires for residential building wiring in Nigeria. Based on this study's findings, it is recommended that standard regulatory agencies should step up their efforts against substandard building materials, to avoid its impending danger in Nigeria.
Adekoya, F. (2019). SON warns of substandard electric cable in circulation. Link |
||||
Adetoro, A.K. (2012). Assessment of the quality of cables produced in Nigeria. Global Advanced Research Journal of Engineering, Technology and Innovation. 1(4), 97-102. | ||||
Agbakwuru, J. (2019). Nigerian markets flooded with counterfeit goods - Buhari. Link |
||||
Agbi, G. G., Akpokodje, O. I., & Uguru, H. (2020). Compressive Strength of Commercially Produced Sandcrete Blocks within Isoko Metropolis of Delta State, Nigeria. Turkish Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research, 1(1), 91-103. Crossref |
||||
Akinyemi, A., Dare, G., Anthony, A., & Dabara, D. I. (2016). Building collapse in Nigeria: issues and challenges. Conference of the International Journal of Arts & Sciences, 9(01), 99-108. | ||||
Akpokodje, O. I., Agbi, G. G., Uguru, H., & Nyorere, O. (2021). Evaluation of the compressive strength of commercial sandcrete blocks produced in two metropolises of Delta State, Nigeria. Applied Journal of Physical Science, 3(2), 61-71. Crossref |
||||
Calebella, C. (2021). Effect of using substandard materials in construction work. Link |
||||
Electrical Engineering (2020). Resistance of wire. Link |
||||
Ezeagu, C., Udebunu, J., & Obiorah, S. M. (2015). Destructive and non-destructive assessment of collapsed structures in Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria. American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences, 12(8), 170-186. | ||||
Faremi, O., Ajayi, O., & Faremi, O. (2020). Factors influencing the use of substandard materials in the construction of residential buildings. CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development, 3(1), 40-50. doi:10.32783/csid-jid.v3i1.88 Crossref |
||||
Haddad, A. (2009). Advances in high voltage engineering ‖. Haddad, A., & Warne, D. (eds.). The Institution of Engineering and Technology. | ||||
Hawkins, J., Walters, A., Harvey, M., Walshe, M., Matthews, R., Saggers, G., & Nembhard, A. (2013). How to note : Reducing corruption in infrastructure sectors. In Climate and Environment Infrastructure. Crossref |
||||
He, D., Zhang, T., Ma, M., Gong, W., Wang, W., & Li, Q. (2020). Research on mechanical, physicochemical and electrical properties of XLPE-insulated cables under electrical-thermal aging. Journal of Nanomaterials, Volume 2020, Article ID 3968737, 13 pages Crossref |
||||
Knych, T., Mamala, A., Kawecki, A., Smyrak, B., Korzeń, K., & Sieja-Smaga, E. (2022). Influence of plastic deformation on the change of electrical and mechanical properties oxygen-free (of) copper and copper alloy wires. Metalurgija, 61(3-4), 737-740 | ||||
Lewachi, A. (2022). Empirical analysis of electromechanical properties of electric distribution cables manufactured in Nigeria. Online Repository, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. Link |
||||
Li, H., Li, J., Li, W., Zhao, X., Wang, G. & Alim, M. A. (2013). Fractal analysis of side channels for breakdown structures in XLPE cable insulation. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics, (24), 1640-1643. Crossref |
||||
Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission - NERC (2014). Nigerian electricity supply and installation standards regulation. Link |
||||
Obukoeroro, J., & Uguru, H. (2021a). Analysis of electrical and mechanical properties of electrical cables sold in Anambra State. International Journal of Innovative Scientific & Engineering Technologies Research, 9(1), 30-38. | ||||
Obukoeroro, J., & Uguru, H. (2021b). A Survey of electrical materials counterfeiting in Bayelsa State: A case study of Yenagoa Local Government Area. Journal of Physical Science and Environmental Studies, 7(1), 9-14. Crossref |
||||
Obukoeroro, J., & Uguru, H. (2021c). Acute epileptic electricity supply in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State: Its causes and remediation. Applied Journal of Physical Science, 3(1), 13-20. | ||||
Obukoeroro, J., & Uguru, H. (2021d). Acute epileptic electricity supply in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State: Its causes and remediation. Applied Journal of Physical Science, 3(1), 13-20. | ||||
Onyekachi, E. M., & Nduka, N. B. (2019). Empirical analysis of core diameter and insulation thickness of house wiring and installation cables in Nigeria. International Journal of Advanced Research in Science, Engineering and Technology. 6(9), 10689-10694. | ||||
Schneider Electric (2015). Survey on electrical counterfeiting in Africa. Link |
||||
Steward, W. E., Stubbs, T. A., & Williams, F. O. (1998). Modern wiring practice. Oxford University Press. Pp. 268-283. | ||||
Ugochukwu, O., & Okechukwu, C. (2014). An appraisal of the sources, quantities and prices of imported building materials in Nigeria. International Journal of Advanced Research, 2(9), 871-889. | ||||
Uguru, H., & Obukoeroro, J. (2020). Physical characteristics and electrical resistivity of electric cables sold in Delta State. A case study of Isoko Metropolis. Journal of Engineering and Information Technology, 7(7), 155-162. | ||||
Zhang, W., Xue, X., & Bai, H. (2021). Mechanical and electrical properties of Cu-steel bimetallic porous composite with a double-helix entangled structure. Composite Structures, 255, 112886. Crossref |