KEBS announces new standards for major construction materials

Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has reviewed the standards of major construction materials in a bid to ensure the country builds formidable homes and commercial units.

The move which comes after the return of the Kenya Homes Expo which ceased operations after the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak in 2020 will see major construction materials such as cement and steel products in the country upgraded.

According to a statement issued by KEBS Managing Director Bernard Njiraini on Friday, the bureau outlined some of the products which will see the upgrade.

“We have developed standards for major constructions materials such as cement (KS EAS 18-1), steel for the reinforcement of concrete (KS EAS 412-1,2&3), Structural steel for construction (KS 572), Natural Aggregates for Concrete (KS 95), Natural Building Stones (KS 965),” read the statement.

“Stabilized Soil blocks (1070), Concrete Masonry Units (KS 625), Concrete (KS 594 ), Factory Made Products of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)-KS 2620, Clay Roofing Tiles (KS 431), Concrete Roofing Tiles (KS 444), Burnt Clay Bricks (KS 300) among others.”

Under the scheme, he explained, all these products would be manufactured in a controlled environment where the finished products would be subjected to periodic testing at KEBS Materials Laboratories.

“All complying products are awarded the Standardization Mark for locally manufactured products, Diamond Mark of Quality and the Import standardization Mark for imported products,” he said.

He added: "The standards bureau also conducts periodic market surveillance to ensure materials offered for sale in the market meet the gazetted/approved standards and the Non-complying products are removed from the market for destruction."

In the new standards, the MD says that the bureau has developed product, service and technological standards to be used in the construction, a move he says is aimed at attaining President Uhuru’s Big Four Agenda under the housing Pillar, and construction industry.

The move, according to Njiraini will also affect the SMEs and local innovations and manufacturing for continuous conformity assessment (through QA, MS, Imports and Testing) to ensure the products used in the construction meets the set criteria.

“The standards developed in support of SMEs include KS 2913: 2020 Plastic composite paving blocks –Specification, KS 2928:2021 Plastic composite roofing tiles – Specification and KS 2620:2019 Structural and thermal products for Building - Factory made products of expanded polystyrene (EPS)-Specification,” he noted.

Njiraini went forth to note that KEBS is now in the process of developing standards for alternative building materials for more diversity.

Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga who also graced the Expo which was held at KICC, on his part reiterated the government's commitment to delivering affordable houses.

“Some 565,000 affordable housing units across the country valued at Sh2.8 trillion have been registered to the National Construction Authority. So far, about 225,000 had received approval and were in various stages of implementation,” the PS said.