Cocoa Bean Shell`s Ash as Stailizer in Production of Soil Bricks

Adequate shelter is a basic human need,yet about 50% of the urban population in developing countries still live in slums as they can not afford the high cost of building materials. Soil bricks / blocks have been identified as a low cost material with the potential to redress the problem of shelter backlog. The use of soil bricks as a building material has left much to be desired because of it low performance in terms of durability, resistance to water, high maintenance cost and other environmental problems. One way of improving the properties of these soil bricks is by the addition of stabilisers. This work examines the mechanical and durability properties of soil bricks that were stabilised with cocoa beans shells ash, at seven different levels of percentages,through a laboratory experiment. The work therefore recommend soil bricks stabilised with 20% cocoa shells ash for construction of affordable housing project, because of lower cost of production. This work will be useful to professionals in the building construction industry and academicians in the related fields.