Friday, February 22, 2008On Solid Ground

Sachkia BarnesSafe building practices for the BVI

The story goes that a wise man built his house upon rocks and a foolish man built his house along sand. As storms prevailed, it was the wise man’s house that stood firm and the foolish man’s home went flat along the shore. In our tropical islands, which are subject to hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters, it’s best for all of us to build our homes like the wise man. Not just on rocks, but on solid ground. With hurricanes becoming more violent, particularly during this decade, the Caribbean community has taken on the challenge of building safer structures to withstand the region’s changing weather pattern. With the implementation of newer building techniques and the use of modern resources, the building industry has become more sophisticated in its approach to construction. An approach that will no doubt lead to a stronger sense of security for dwellers and ultimately to a profitable bottom line for both building professionals and property owners.

In the British Virgin Islands the Department of Disaster Management and the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College have collaborated in an effort to deliver safer building courses for the construction industry.

“Based on all that has occurred recently in our region, the department wanted to ensure we include all aspects of our community to work together to mitigate possible damage to property and ultimately to life in the event of a disaster,” says Sharleen Dabreo, Director of the Department of Disaster Management.
The safer building course teaches contractors, construction workers, and other artisans in the building field how to incorporate modern methods in the construction process in order to alleviate property damage in the event of heavy rains, high winds, pressure and earthquakes.

In a press release issued by the college in February 2007, the president of the HLSCC, Dr. Michael O’Neal notes the increasing importance of measures used in all industries to minimize damage in the event of a disaster. He applauds the standardisation of methods in the BVI building industry, which he sees, will improve the quality of construction, resulting in safer, stronger and more aesthetically pleasing structures.

Alluding to recent events such as hurricane Katrina in the United States, the Indonesian Tsunami and, regionally, hurricane Ivan, Dr. O’Neal states, “The benefits of a more resilient BVI built environment and infrastructure are economic stability and growth and the reduction of loss of life and property.”
A 30-year veteran contractor, Clyde Bailey of Building and Property Maintenance, says the new methods taught in the course are different from what he learned in technical school over 30 years ago. About the programme offered at the community college, Bailey said, “The course helps us to improve our ability to build better structures. Learning to build safer structures is beneficial to all; contractors and homeowners alike.” In the course, industry workers learn how to better excavate the hilly terrain of the BVI. This helps to lessen erosion and flooding in low-lying areas. Persons are also taught how to implement proper drainage systems and to develop environmentally sound structures.

“More importantly, property owners will be able to avoid construction waste when contractors know how to build correctly,” Bailey says. “Understanding the principles of building, enables the contractor to carry out the job efficiently and this keeps the project within budget.”

Since the inception of the programme in 2006, over 200 construction practitioners have taken the safer building course and have successfully been certified as safer building agents.

A worthy note for the construction industry is the change in the approach and appreciation for the environment that companies around the world have taken on, advancing safer building to another level. It’s no longer just about building stronger structures for the least possible damage during disasters, but now safer building is also about building more environmentally friendly structures. The use of more natural and energy efficient products is being widely encouraged and contractors are beginning to understand and appreciate the connection between safer building and sustainability.

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