Assessment of Sandcrete Blocks Quality in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

This study assessed the production management practice being adopted in the manufacture of quality sandcrete blocks in selected sampled parts of Owerri municipal, Imo State, Nigeria. Myriads of literature identify sandcrete blocks as a significant material being used in the building & civil engineering practice and assert that its application as a walling material cannot be over emphasized. Sandcrete block manufacturers in Owerri, Imo State were used for the assessment of the quality of their products in line with the Nigeria Industrial Standard (NIS) specifications. The study adopted field sampling, experimentations and work study methods to determine the compressive strength and water absorption rate properties of the selected sampled sandcrete blocks. The results of the study reveals among others that the mean compressive strength values obtained were as low as 1.92N/mm2, and about 17% water absorption rate from sampled commercial blocks. The results obtained did not compare favorably with the NIS specified acceptable minimum standard values. The study therefore underpinned poor production quality control practice as well as lack of impact of regulatory bodies in Imo State as among factors that contributed to the negative results obtained.