Case Study: Evaluation of Materials Used in the Construction of Collective Cells in a Prison Unit in Pará

Abstract

The prison environment must have its structures, finishes and accessories thought out, planned and prepared to receive prisoners in a way that brings security, comfort, positively stimulates individual-collective behavior and finally enables resocialization. In this work, the construction materials of the structure and finishes of a prison unit under construction in the county of Santa Izabel/PA, and the practical implications of these choices were evaluated. The research was a case study with qualitative analysis of data obtained from site visits, visualization of projects and literature review of technical specifications, decrees, laws and national guidelines of the prison system. The results showed that the construction materials, in this case, the reinforced concrete of the cell structure (slabs, walls, bunk beds and other accessories), followed the recommendations of the guidelines and technical specifications, with only one caveat. The finishing materials of the cells (high-resistance industrial flooring, acrylic paint and PVA) followed all the recommendations present in the national and state prison guidelines and technical specifications. In this way, the use of these construction materials was evaluated in a thoughtful way, taking into account the degrading reality of the current national penitentiary system. A more detailed study is necessary in other works, considering the standards of habitability and performance in residential buildings. Paying attention to the purpose of imprisonment, the prisoners will receive an environment, within the limitations that the prison system provides today, with materials that can provide a minimum of comfort in the face of regional variables and security.