Abstract: “Part of Katsina city in Northern Nigeria experienced serious building collapse during the previous and current rainy season. The collapsed buildings turned into heap of rubbles which can hardly be used as hardcore. This study assessed the quality of sandcrete blocks manufactured by block industries in Katsina city where sample of blocks from various block-making industries were collected in the study area. Water absorption ratio was determined prior to the determination of the compressive strength of individual blocks. The values of water absorption ratio for samples D1, H1 and H2 are above the maximum water absorption of 12% recommended in the Nigerian Industrial Standard. The result of the compressive strength indicates that none of the block-making industry in Katsina city conforms to the NIS minimum 2.5 N/mm2 standard for strength characteristic. All stake holders should put hands together to salvage the hopeless situation in the block-making industries in Nigeria.”

Keywords: compressive strength, NIS standard, sandcrete block, water.