Over the years the corporation has used tradition construction methods which have proven to be costly in terms of time and effects on the environment.
Inorder to meet the escalating housing demand in the country the corporation is embarking on a different building technology that would reduce the current challenges.

Robust is a building technology system that uses expanded metal panels with cement mortar to form the core structure of the walls.
Robust system can be used to meet any building design.
The system has been in use in several Sadc countries including Angola, Zambia, Namibia and South Africa for the past 7 years.

Why use robust building?

- Robust SYSTEMS ALLOW FOR QUICKER CONSTRUCTION BECAUSE THE CORE OF THE WALLS ARE FACTORY PREFABRICATED THEY ARE EASY AND FAST TO ASSEMBLE AND ERECT.
- Less RAIN TIME DELAYS, THE ROOF IS ERECTED BEFORE APPLICATION OF MORTAR.
- No ADDITIONAL TIME SPENT ON BEAM FILLING DUE TO TRUSSES RECESSED INTO WALL STRUCTURE.
Cost effective - ROBUST IS A COMPACT SYSTEM THEREFORE IT REDUCES TRANSPORT COST DRASTICALLY. - Labour COSTS ARE DRASTICALLY REDUCED DUE TO REDUCED CONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
- Material WASTAGE AND SHRINKAGE ARE KEPT TO A MINIMUM.
Stronger ; ROBUST WALL STRENGTH IS 15 – 25 MPA AS OPPOSED TO BRICK WALL WHICH IS AT 7MPA. ◦ - RESISTANT TO TORNADOES, EARTHQUAKES, AND HURRICANES.
- THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR COLUMNS IN BUILDING WITH DOUBLE STOREY OR LESS.
EASY TO BUILD - ROBUST IS A LIGHT WEIGHT STRUCTURE MAKING IT EASY TO HANDLE.
- 95% OF WORKFORCE IS UNSKILLED INCLUDING WOMEN.
VERSATILE - Can BE ADAPTED INTO ANY BUILDING DESIGN.

The SYSTEM CAN BE USED TO DO BUILDING ALTERATIONS INTO EXISTING BRICK STRUCTURES. The CORPORATION HAS CONSTRUCTED THREE (3) DEMONSTRATION HOUSES IN Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu TO CHECK THE FEASIBILITY OF THE SYSTEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDUSTRY ENVIRONMENT IN TERMS OF:
◦ ECONOMIC CONSTRAINTS.
◦ SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE.
◦ CLIMATIC CONDITIONS.

Benefits OF THE SYSTEM TO THE CORPORATION:
◦ The SYSTEM IS EASY TO LEARN, SKILLS ARE HIGHLY TRANSFERABLE.
◦ It IS EASY TO MONITOR AND CONTROL MATERIAL USAGE.
◦ System USES LESS LABOUR MAKING IT CHEAP FOR THE CORPORATION.
◦ It ALLOWS FOR EXCELLENT PROJECT CORDINATION.
◦ Time IS NOT LIMITED BY BUILDING MATERIALS.
◦ Due TO REDUCED CONSTRUCTION PERIOD MORE HOUSES WILL BE DELIVERED.

This IS A VERY ENVIROMENTALLY FRIENdLY TECHNOLOGY. The POLICY OF THE CORPORATION IS TO MOVE FROM USE OF BURNT BRICKS WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO ENVIROMENTAL DEGRADATION. Using THIS TECHNOLOGY, A COMPLETE HOUSE CAN BE COMPLETED IN LESS THAN 30 DAYS. This SPEED WILL ENABLE MALAWI HOUSING CORPORATION TO ASSIST THE GOVERNMENT IN MEETING THE DEMAND FOR HOUSES IN Malawi.
The RESEARCH BY UNITED NATIONS REVEALED THAT MALAWI NEEDS TO BE CONSTRUCTING 21,000 PER ANNUM. This DEMAND CAN ONLY BE MET WITH SPEEDY DELIVERY OF HOUSES WHICH IS POSSIBLE WITH ROBUST TECHNOLOGY. This TECHNOLOGY WILl ASSIST MHC TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE EFFORTS OF THE GOVERNMENT TO MEET ITS INSPIRATION OF PROVIDING ADEQUATE SHELTER TO Malawians AS STIPULATED IN THE Malawi Growth and Developments Strategy ( MGDS).

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