Abstract:
The building construction industry in Ghana is dominated by the use of conventional
sandcrete blocks for wall construction. However, there is challenge of delivering products
of maximum value to clients at an affordable cost and on time. Addressing this challenge
will require adopting lean construction principles towards minimising waste and
maximising value in the building construction process. This study aimed at making a case
for the use of interlocking blocks as an alternative building material in Ghana. It
investigates into the construction of housing with interlocking blocks as a concept can be
successfully incorporated into housing sector of this country as a means of providing an
additional support to the affordable housing pursuit in Ghana. A comparative study of
constructing a wall using the interlocking block system and sandcrete block system was
done. An observation of the processes was also made to identify the extent to which each
system contributes to speedy construction. The necessary data were collected using
primary sources of data collection. The data were processed, analyzed by SPSS and
interpreted using frequencies, percentages and charts. It was revealed from the study that
the use of the interlocking block system does not only lead to eliminating a number of
non-value adding activities associated with the use of the sandcrete block, but also makes
the wall construction process faster and cheaper. It also showed that buildings with
interlocking blocks provide a cooler temperature. It was also revealed that the absence of
mortar jointing in the interlocking system reduces the quantity of materials, like cement
and sand, required in the wall construction process. The study therefore concludes that
Hydraform’s interlocking block system could therefore be an appropriate tool for
implementing Sustainable and Affordable Housing in Ghana.
