Evaluation of the compressive strength of commercial sandcrete blocks produced in two metropolises of Delta State, Nigeria

The mechanical properties of sandcrete block greatly influenced the durability of structures built from it. This study was carried out to assess the compressive strength of sandcrete blocks produced in two major developmental and rapidly urbanizing zones of Delta State, Nigeria. 150 and 225 mm sandcrete blocks were sampled from 18 blocks moulding factories in Ndokwa East and Ughelli North Local Government Areas of Delta State, Nigeria. Five sandcrete block was sampled from each block moulding factory, at the rate of 9 factories per Local Government Area. The compressive strength of the sampled blocks was determined in accordance with the ASTM International standards. The results of compressive strength test showed that the compressive strengths of the blocks, regardless of the block size ranged from 0.61 to 16.19 MPa. Analysis of the results revealed that apart from the customized blocks, the compressive strengths of all the other blocks fell below the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) recommendations of 2.5 MPa for non-load bearing walls. The general poor quality of the sandcrete blocks is attributed particularly to the poor mix ratios adopted by the block producers which fell short of NIS recommendations. Thus, this study recommended that standard regulatory agencies should closely monitor all the block making factories in the state, to ensure that sandcrete blocks produced or brought into the state met NIS recommendations