The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and stakeholders in galvanised steel roofing sheets have partnered to introduce an improved stone coated roofing steel sheets into the market.
According to SON, the composite steel sheets have superior qualities and better performance and efficiency over the zinc coated sheets
The standards body said it has been inundated with complaints over the thickness and coating of galvanised steel sheets in the country, hence it noted that the need to improve on the quality and thickness of steel roofing sheets cannot be overemphasized.
Speaking on the development, the Director General, SON, Osita Aboloma, stated that the new zinc, aluminum and magnesium steel sheets is five times better and stronger than the existing zinc coating roofing sheets.
He spoke during a technical committee meeting with stakeholders in the galvanised roofing sheets to elaborate on standards for Zinc, Aluminum and Magnesium coated steel sheet for general application in Lagos,
The SON DG who was represented by the Assistant Director and Head, Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) Unit, SON, Fred Akingbesote, said “It is a new technology and this is why we are preparing a standard in conjunction with all the stakeholders. To us, the end user is our priority in drafting standards. We have considered the cost and the longevity, because there is no need to put a product into the market and nobody buys it. The zinc, aluminum and magnesium coating will be suitable and would also give the common man value for money spent.”
He however stated that the zinc coated steel sheets would still be in the market, stressing that the zinc, aluminum and magnesium would serve as alternatives depending on the choice of the consumers.
“This standard is not just for roofing sheets, but for general application. There are various thickness and coating levels depending on the application,” he said.
The Executive Director, Midland Galvannising Products Limited, Raj Singh, said zinc, aluminum and magnesium coated roofing sheet is a five time better corrosion resistant product suitable for the Nigerian environment, pointing out that the life span of the product is five times better than the zinc coated steel roofing sheet.
He added that once the standards are approved, they will start exporting to neighbouring countries.