Nigeria adopts global standards for making of ceramic tiles, sanitary wares

The country has joined the league of nations with safety guidelines for ceramic tiles and sanitary wares manufacturing, following the recent adoption of a national standard by stakeholders.

The long wait for a new set of guidelines for the manufacturing of ceramic tiles and sanitary wares may soon be over for stakeholders in the construction industry, as the authorities have approved standards for the country.

At the centre of this decision were the Standard Organisations of Nigeria (SON), other relevant stakeholders and CDK Integrated Industries Limited, one of the pioneer indigenous sanitary wares manufacturers in Nigeria.

Although, the new development will be made public in few weeks time, The Guardian learnt the standards followed the Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Guidelines with general and industry- specific examples of Good International Industry Practice (GIIP).
 
Industry watchers said with the harmonization of the regulation and adoption of national standards, users of users of ceramic, tiles and sanitary wares in Nigeria will heave a sigh of relief from unscrupulous importers who are taking advantage of huge market for the products and the real estate boom.

Before now, sanitary wares were being produced without guidelines for its production; users were left at the mercy of importers, who flood the market with substandard products.

Over 40 per cent of goods in Nigeria are substandard and counterfeit, resulting in the death of scores of Nigerians, loss of over N100 billion to the nation’s economy, and millions of job losses, among other devastating effects, in the last 20 years.

Nigeria has also for a long time been a dumping ground for all kinds of goods from different parts of the world. Many of these products are substandard, while some unscrupulous Nigerians have also been accused of conniving with some foreign manufacturers to lower the quality of goods to be imported into Nigeria.

Experts said laxity on the path of regulators, weak industrial base; porous borders; ineffective legislation and poor regulatory framework were responsible as Nigeria become a dumping ground for all kinds of sanitary wares leaving citizens at the mercy of unscrupulous businessmen.

Apart from physical injuries associated with broken materials, the country battles with the psychology of hopelessness as complaints mount.

But that narrative will soon be at the past, with the adoption of the standards by SON. The standards took cognizance of the height of centre line of outlet for both the pedestal for adult, children and disabled.

The Guardian learnt that the new standard outlined the external diameter of outlet, internal diameter of flush inlet socket, depth of flush inlet socket, dimension of fixing hole, depth of water seal, width of pan, clearance diameter around the outlet, length from seat bolt hole to front rim, diameter of seat bolt holes and width between centre of seat bolt holes.

It further provides the dimensions of pedestal squatting and wall hung WC pans, detailing the width of opening, length of opening, thickness of the appliance, around the fixing holes, distance of centre of seat bolt holes from rim at back of pan, the clearance below tip of plate, water surface among others.

The standard also detailed the flush volume under various WC type for Close coupled and one-piece WC pan, independent WC pan and Hybrid WC pan

Lamenting the effect of lack of standards in the country, the General Manager, CDK Integrated Industries Limited, Mr. Hossam Maher said, the adoption of standards to guide the sanitary wares will help in checking the importation of substandard sanitary wares into the country.

He said his experience as an international player has helped CDK in its operations as it complied with United Kingdom and other recognised sanitary wares standards.

But industry players and quantity surveyors have blamed it on lack of standards in key components in the built environment, stressing that it has impacted negatively on the image of the country and economy.

The latest of the complaints came, when the president, Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Obafemi Onashile and other members visited CDK Integrated Industries Limited in Ogun State recently.

They observed that Nigeria seems not to be prepared for the manufacturing of sanitary wares, as key component to the real estate industry.