Continental Application of Foamed Concrete Technology: Lessons for Civil Engineering Infrastructures Development for Africa

The properties of foamed concrete as a variable density concrete, is now being tapped for effective
application in the global construction industry. Foamed concrete is applicable in various continental
climates. In hot continental climates, with very hot days and cold nights with temperatures of 90°C
and 10°C respectively, it is successfully used in Kazachstan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. This
study presents the properties and applications of this type of concrete at varying densities highlighting
the advantages and circumstances for its use. Economic and Other Considerations together with its
multipurpose applications were also presented. Comparative study of the involvement levels in the
use of foamed concrete technology economy by the various continents was undertaken. Results
indicated that Asia and Europe alone accounted for 50% and 33.3% respectively, totaling 83%.
Africa’s exposure level to foamed concrete technology is only 5.6% which is grossly noncommensurable
to the population on the Continent compared with shares from other parts. Some
research and development efforts were presented to show that there are opportunities for
groundbreaking research works in this field. Africa and Australia each has a share of 5.6% in global
involvement in foamed concrete technology economy. This stresses that Africa’s exposure level to
foamed concrete technology of 5.6% only is grossly non-commensurable to the population on the
Continent compared with shares from other parts of the globe. The world experience has shown that
the special technological feature of foamed concrete allows it to be used for multipurpose applications
in the building and other infrastructural developments industries as highlighted in the text. This implies
that Africa needs to rise up to tap opportunities that abound in this context to improve her
infrastructural development rates. There are also opportunities for new ventures on the platform of
foamed concrete applications and equipment.