Sensibility for Sustainability: Using Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Material for Affordable Housing in Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16925302Keywords:
Advance Plastics, Affordable Housing, Expanded Polystyrene, Performance Perception, SustainabilityAbstract
In developing nations, affordable housing for the general public has long been a pipe dream, and the future appears bleak as well due to the rising cost of implementing traditional concrete material technologies and the current emphasis on environmental issues like climate change. In an attempt to buck the trend of inadequate housing supply, certain innovative building materials and technologies are being created to assist creative modular designs, labour reduction, a reduction in the depletion of exhaustible materials, time and money savings, and other aspects. One such substance is expanded polystyrene material.
The development of sophisticated plastic materials, especially expanded polystyrene building technologies, is a highly smart and helpful move that will assist in reducing construction costs and making cheap housing more accessible to the general population.
As a case study, an Abuja development estate that has mostly used expanded polystyrene building technology is being discussed. Clients and estate residents were given questionnaires, and statistical techniques were used to examine the collected data.
Findings from the study show that EPS construction is more well-liked by people who have lived in EPS-built homes for longer stretches of time than by those who have only recently moved into EPS facilities.
In conclusion, it is anticipated that more clients and residents will be open to employing EPS building materials for future residential projects, which will facilitate the provision of affordable homes for low-income workers in Nigeria.
References
Aina, O. O., & Wahab, A. B. (2011). Assessment of Build Ability Problems in The Nigerian Construction Industry. Global Journal of Research Engineering, 11(2).
Alam, M., Singh, H., & Limbachiya, M. C. (2013). Vacuum Insulation Panels (VIPs) for Building Construction Industry - A Review of the Contemporary Developments and Future Directions, London.
Alegiuno, V. (2015). Research on the Use of Expanded Polystyrene in Building Industries in Nigeria (a Case Study of Mount Pleasant Estate, Mbora, Abuja), An unpublished Students Projects, Department of Civil Engineering, Covenant University, Ota Nigeria, 2015.
Alireza, M., Chisomo P., & Ann-Marie E. (2023). Improving sustainability of affordable housing using innovative technologies: Case study of SIAH-Liveable. Scientific African, 2, (1-13).
Babu, K. G., & Babu, D. S. (2012). behaviour of lightweight expanded polystyrene concrete containing silica fume. Cement and Concrete Research, 33, (755 – 762).
Binici, H., Aksogan, O., & Shah, T. (2005). Investigation of Fabre Reinforced Mud Brick as a Building Material. Construction and Building Materials, 19, (313–318).
Bonacina, C., Campanale, M., & Moro, L. (2002). Analytical and Experimental Investigations on the Heat Transfer Properties of Light Concrete. International Journal of Thermophysics, 24 (5).
Briga-Sá, A. (2013). Textile Waste as an Alternative Thermal Insulation Building Material Solution. Construction and Building Materials, 38, (155–160).
Chen, B., & Liu, J. (2009). Properties of lightweight expanded polystyrene concrete reinforced with steel fibre. Cement and Concrete Research, 34, (1259 – 1263).
Cook, D. J. (1973). Expanded polystyrene beads as lightweight aggregate for concrete, Precast Concrete. Cement and Concrete Research, 4 (69).
Daniel, E. H., Stuart L. C., & William G. L. (2013). Polymers: Basic Principles. Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Biomaterial Science, 64-79.
Daouas, N., Hassen, Z., & Aissia, H. B. (2009). Analytical Periodic Solution for the Study of Thermal Performance and Optimum Insulation Thickness of Building Walls in Tunisia. Applied Thermal Engineering, 319–326.
Dodo M., Muhammad M. G., Faiza H. Y., & Kabir F. A. (2019). Factors affecting the use of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) for sustainable housing construction in Nigeria. In: Laryea, S. and Essah, E. (Eds) Procs West Africa Built Environment Research (WABER) Conference, 5(7), (590-600).
Doroudiani, S., & Omidian, H. (2010). Environmental, Health and Safety Concerns of Decorative Moulding made of Expanded Polystyrene in Buildings. Building and Environment, 45 (647–654).
Ede, A. N., & Ogundiran, A. (2014). Thermal Behaviours and Admissible Compressive Strength of Expanded Polystyrene Wall Panels of Varying Thickness. Current Trends in Technology and Science, 3(2), 110 -117.
Ede, A. N., & Oshiga, K. (2014). Mitigation strategies for the effects of climate change on road infrastructure in Lagos. International Journal of Science Commerce and Humanities, 2(1), 173-184.
Ede, A. N., Alegiuno, V., & Aawoyera, O. P. (2014). Use of Advanced Plastic Materials in Nigeria: Performance Assessment of Expanded Polystyrene Building Technology System. American Journal of Engineering Research, 3(4), 17–23.
Ede, A. N. (2011). Measures to Reduce the High Incidence of Structural Failures in Nigeria. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 13(1), 1520-5509.
EPSASA, (2006). Selection Guide Introducing Expanded Polystyrene (EPS). The Expanded Polystyrene Association of Southern Africa Administered by Association of Architectural Aluminium Manufacturers of South Africa.
EUMEPS, (2013). Fire Safe Construction with EPS,
Gardi, R. (1973). Indigenous African Architecture. Published by Van Nostrand Reinhold Company New York, 13.
Giuliania, F., Autelitanoa, F., Garillia, E., & Monteparaa, A. (2020). Expanded polystyrene (EPS) in road construction: Twenty years of Italian experiences. Transportation Research Procedia, 45, 410–417.
Haghi, A. K., Arabani, M. & Ahmadi, H. (2006). Applications of expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads and polyamide-66 in civil engineering, Part One: Lightweight polymeric concrete. Instrumentation Science and Technology, 13(4), 441-450.
Ibrahim, D. (2013). Assessment of The Strength Properties of Polystyrene Material Used in Building Construction in Mbora District of Abuja, Nigeria. International Journal of Engineering Research and Development, 6(12), 80–84.
Ismail, I., Saim, A. A., & Saleh, A. L. (2003). Properties of Hardened Concrete Bricks Containing Expanded Polystyrene Beads, Malaysia. Proceedings of the 5th Asia-Pacific Structural Engineering and Construction Conference (APSEC 2003), 26(28), 171 -179.
Kageni, L. G. (2014). Use of Expanded Polystyrene as a Solution to Low-Cost Housing in Kenya. University of Nairobi.
Lakatos, Á., & Kalmar, F. (2013). Investigation of Thickness and Density Dependence of Thermal Conductivity of Expanded Polystyrene Insulation Materials. Materials and Structures, 46, 1101–1105.
Lee, A. J., Kelly, H., Jagoda, R., Rosenfeld, A., Stubee, E., Colaco, J., Gadgil, A., Akbari, H., Norford, L., & Burik, H. (2006). Affordable, safe housing based on expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam and a cementitious coating. Springer Science, 6908–6916.
Lewin, A. C. (1981). Housing Cooperatives in Developing Countries, New York: John Wiley and Sons.
Michael, F. A. (2013). Material profiles. Materials and the environment, 15(459-595).
Moghayedi, A., Awuzie, B., Omotayo, T., Le Jeune, K., Massyn, M., Ekpo, C. O., Braune, M., & Byron, P. (2021). A Critical Success Factor Framework for Implementing Sustainable Innovative and Affordable Housing: A Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis. Buildings, 11(8), 317.
Ngugi, N. H., Kaluli, W. J., & Gairy, A. Z. (2017). Use of Expanded Polystyrene Technology and Materials Recycling for Building Construction in Kenya. American Journal of Engineering and Technology Management, 2(5), 64–71.
Ogundiran, I. A., & Adedeji, Y. M. D. (2018). Energy-Efficient Construction in Nigeria: The Adoption of Expanded Polystyrene Wall Panels in Abuja Metropolis. Journal of Energy Technologies and Policy. 8(1), 14-20.
Ogundiran, I. A., & Adedeji, Y. M. D. (2012). Urban housing delivery: Expanded polystyrene panels initiative in Abuja, Nigeria. Proceedings 4th West Africa Built Environment Research (WABER) Conference, 24(26), 1033-1042.
Olotuah, A. O. (2010). Housing Development and Environmental Degeneration in Nigeria. The Built & Human Environment Review, 3, 42-78.
Olotuah, A. O., & Ajenifujah, O. A. (2009). Architectural Education and Housing Provision in Nigeria in CEBE Transactions. Journal of Centre for Education in The Built Environment, 6(1).
Parker, A. J., & Beitel, J. J. (2006). Modern materials: Flammability requirements for plastic materials. Energy and Buildings. 37, (77-86).
Raj, R. (2014). Prospects of Expanded Polystyrene Sheet as Green Building Material. International Journal of Civil Engineering Research, 5(2), (145–150).
Raps, D., Hossieny, N., Park, C. B., & Altstadt, V. (2014). Past and present developments in polymer bead foams and bead foaming technology. Polymer, 56(5-19).
Sabu, T., & Visakh, P. M. (2011). Handbook of Engineering and Specialty Thermoplastics. Polyether and Polyesters, 3.
SDG, (2015). Sustainable Development Goals, New York.
Shi, W. (2016). Durability of Modified Expanded Polystyrene Concrete after Dynamic Cyclic Loading, Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 LASU Journal of Environmental Sciences

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
The copyright belongs to the Journal of Environmental Sciences (LASU-JES), faculty of Environmental Sciences, Lagos State University.