Building and Road Research Institute
Encyclopedia
The Building and Road Research Institute (BRRI) is a research Institute under the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research of Ghana
. It is based in Kumasi
in the Ashanti Region
of Ghana. BRRI is a research institute.
. It was made up of building engineers from Ghana and Nigeria
. The institute had a name change in 1960 when the institute's members from Nigeria left to form the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute
. This was because Nigeria had gained independence from Britain
. It became known as the Building Research Institute of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences
. The institute relocated to the campus of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
in Kumasi in 1963. This was to allow the institute's members to lecture at the university due to university under-staffing.
. The new site which is about 20 kilometres from the institute's former location is called the Kumasi Science City. It houses research institutions in Kumasi. The other institutions include the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana
(FORIG) and the Crops Research Institute
(CRI).
begun researching into Pozzolana
cement, an alternative cement
to the Portland cement
for building. Pozzolana cement cost less than Portland cement. In May, 2007, BRRI and PMC Global Incorporated of America
signed a contract for the commercial production of Pozzolana. The agreement included PMC offering 150,000 dollars to BRRI for expansion of the pilot plant for the production of the pozzolana at the institute and land acquisition for the building of a plant by PMC for the production process.
worked together on a program of national studies in Ghana for two years. The purpose of the collaboration was to research into developing building materials that would benefit both bodies. In 2009, the institutes and its Nigerian counterpart (NBRRI) signed a memorandum of understanding
to research into building and road construction materials.
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
. It is based in Kumasi
Kumasi
Kumasi is a city in southern central Ghana's Ashanti region. It is located near Lake Bosomtwe, in the Rain Forest Region about northwest of Accra. Kumasi is approximately north of the Equator and north of the Gulf of Guinea...
in the Ashanti Region
Ashanti Region
The Ashanti Region is the third largest of 10 administrative regions in Ghana, occupying a total land surface of 24389 square kilometers or 10.2 per cent of the total land area of Ghana. In terms of population, however, it is the most populated region with a population of 3,612,950 in 2000,...
of Ghana. BRRI is a research institute.
History
The institute was established in 1952 and was known as the West African Building Research Institute in AccraAccra
Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
. It was made up of building engineers from Ghana and Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. The institute had a name change in 1960 when the institute's members from Nigeria left to form the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute
Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute
The Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute is a Government of Nigeria institute responsible for researching and developing road and building materials for the Nigerian building industry...
. This was because Nigeria had gained independence from Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It became known as the Building Research Institute of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences
Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences
The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences is an arts and science institution of Ghana, based in the capital Accra. It was founded in 1959 by Kwame Nkrumah with the aim to promote the pursuit, advancement and dissemination of knowledge in all branches of the sciences and the humanities.It formally...
. The institute relocated to the campus of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology is a university located in Kumasi, Ghana.It is the second public university established in the country. The University has its roots in the plans of the Asantehene Agyeman Prempeh I to establish a university in Kumasi as part of his drive...
in Kumasi in 1963. This was to allow the institute's members to lecture at the university due to university under-staffing.
Professional bodies of the institute
The institute is made up of various professional groupings. They include architects, engineers, planners, quantity surveyors.Mandate and name change
In 1964 the government of Ghana expanded the functions of the institution to include road research. The name of the institution was changed to include the new function to the Building and Road Research Institute.Relocation
In1995, the institute moved from the KNUST campus to it present site at FumesuaFumesua
Fumesua is a town in Ghana. It is 15 kilometres from the centre Kumasi. The is a dormitory town. It serves mainly as a residential areas for workers in various companies in Kumasi. The town also host the Building and Road Research Institute of Ghana....
. The new site which is about 20 kilometres from the institute's former location is called the Kumasi Science City. It houses research institutions in Kumasi. The other institutions include the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana
Forestry Research Institute of Ghana
The Forestry Research Institute of Ghana is a research institution under the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research of Ghana....
(FORIG) and the Crops Research Institute
Crops Research Institute
The Crop Research Institute is a research institution under the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research of Ghana....
(CRI).
Aim of the institute
The institute was established as a research and development organisation in the construction industry with the purposes of offering research and development products and services to the building and road sectors for the development of Ghana.Researches
The institute works on developing alternative building materials that last longer and cost cheaper for the Ghanaian building industry.Pozzolana Cement
The institute in the 1990s1990s
File:1990s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: The Hubble Space Telescope floats in space after it was taken up in 1990; American F-16s and F-15s fly over burning oil fields and the USA Lexie in Operation Desert Storm, also known as the 1991 Gulf War; The signing of the Oslo Accords on...
begun researching into Pozzolana
Pozzolana
Pozzolana, also known as pozzolanic ash , is a fine, sandy volcanic ash. Pozzolanic ash was first discovered and dug in Italy, at Pozzuoli. It was later discovered at a number of other sites as well...
cement, an alternative cement
Cement
In the most general sense of the word, a cement is a binder, a substance that sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together. The word "cement" traces to the Romans, who used the term opus caementicium to describe masonry resembling modern concrete that was made from crushed...
to the Portland cement
Portland cement
Portland cement is the most common type of cement in general use around the world because it is a basic ingredient of concrete, mortar, stucco and most non-specialty grout...
for building. Pozzolana cement cost less than Portland cement. In May, 2007, BRRI and PMC Global Incorporated of America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
signed a contract for the commercial production of Pozzolana. The agreement included PMC offering 150,000 dollars to BRRI for expansion of the pilot plant for the production of the pozzolana at the institute and land acquisition for the building of a plant by PMC for the production process.
Collaborations
BRRI has research collaboration with other state and foreign agencies. In 2007, BRRI and the Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL) of the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
worked together on a program of national studies in Ghana for two years. The purpose of the collaboration was to research into developing building materials that would benefit both bodies. In 2009, the institutes and its Nigerian counterpart (NBRRI) signed a memorandum of understanding
Memorandum of understanding
A memorandum of understanding is a document describing a bilateral or multilateral agreement between parties. It expresses a convergence of will between the parties, indicating an intended common line of action. It is often used in cases where parties either do not imply a legal commitment or in...
to research into building and road construction materials.