On July 28, 2026, students and professors participated in the technical seminar “Common Mistakes on Construction Sites and How to Avoid Them,” held at the Faculty of Geosciences Engineering (FICT). The event was jointly organized by the ESPOL student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the FICT, and INTACO Ecuador, with the aim of updating future civil engineering professionals’ knowledge of best construction practices and the proper use of specialized materials.
The event brought together students from the Construction Engineering program, led by Rafael Cabrera, M.Sc., and the Water Collection Systems program, led by Cristian Salas, M.Sc., as well as faculty members. Orlando Maica, a representative from INTACO Ecuador, presented the most common errors on construction sites and the technical solutions to prevent them, emphasizing the importance of correctly selecting materials and following technical specifications before beginning any construction process.
As part of the training, the classification of adhesive mortars from the Bondex line was discussed in accordance with ISO 13007, the international standard for evaluating adhesives used in ceramic tile installations. During the presentation, their properties, adhesion levels, and applications were detailed according to the type of project.
Attendees also learned about the advantages of industrialized leveling mortars over traditional mixtures, including uniform dosing, control over application thickness, and increased on-site productivity. INTACO also provided a technical reference chart as a resource to support the participants’ professional practice.
Another topic covered was the role of the adhesion promoter in leveling layers, a key element in ensuring the bond between building components and preventing failures such as delamination of coatings. The learning experience was reinforced through demonstration videos and a live hands-on exercise on mortar adhesion.
The activity exposed students to practical experiences and applied knowledge from the construction industry, complementing their education with technical guidelines aimed at improving the quality of construction projects and promoting more efficient and sustainable building practices.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
SDG 4. Quality Education. Strengthens students’ technical training through continuing education and applied learning activities.
SDG 8. Decent Work and Economic Growth. Promotes best construction practices that increase productivity and reduce costs resulting from on-site errors.
SDG 9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. Promotes the use of technical solutions and materials that contribute to safer and more resilient infrastructure.
SDG 11. Sustainable Cities and Communities. Proper execution of construction projects leads to safer, higher-quality buildings.
SDG 12. Responsible Consumption and Production. Preventing errors reduces the waste of materials, resources, and energy during construction.
