Recycling waste for use as a building material constitutes a big step towards sustainable development. This research study reports on the results of the utilization of recycled wastes such as wastepaper and rice hull ash on the material development of the Interlocking Compressed Papercrete Blocks (ICPBs) and identifying the best mixture ratio for the ICPBs. For each of the mixture design of cement-rice hull ash-wastepaper pulp according to volume, namely: ICPB1, ICPB2 and ICPB3. The sample blocks created per mixture design were subjected to compressive strength test, water absorption test and flammability test. These blocks had a slow rate of water absorption, had high compressive strength results and were proven to be non-flammable under one hour exposure to fire. The cost per ICPB block and the total construction cost for a concrete hollow block (CHB) wall piling and an ICPB wall piling was also estimated and compared. Results show that ICPB wall piling alone is cheaper and more economical in terms of labor because the interlocking method of construction is faster and provides a smoother wall finish, requiring less plaster. Overall, the tests revealed that the ICPB1 and ICPB2 proved to acquire great potential to be proposed as a building material. The study also identified that these ICPBs are most suited for non-load bearing walls, possessing lighter weight than other conventional masonry units sold in the market.

Thesis (BS Architecture) -- University of the Philippines Mindanao, 2015