Techno-Economic Feasibility Study of Stone Dust Fly Ash Cement Bricks Over Ordinary Clay Bricks in Affordable Housing

Construction cost in India is increasing approximately by 15% every year, primarily due to increased cost of basic building materials such as bricks, steel, cement, timber etc. & of-course labour. This has led to cost of construction to such level that it has become difficult for persons of low & middle income group to afford a decent house. Therefore there is a need of the hour to make materials more cost effective using local & economic materials which are found in abundance nearby. Fly Ash is a material disposed off as a waste from various thermal plants and if used in the making of fly ash cement bricks shall be very cost effective and technically sound. The Affordable housing policy, wherein the houses/flats are to be provided to economically weaker section at an affordable price with the application of efficient material, finance & technology is implemented by various states, particularly in Rajasthan lot of initiative has taken place by the Government & private developers. In Rajasthan various projects of Affordable housing are being constructed. Stone dust, available from various stone crushing plants (considered to be waste) which is also available in abundance in Rajasthan, if mixed with fly ash & cement, can be used in making non conventional bricks, which has proven to be a better alternative to conventional clay bricks functionally, economically & technologically. Various tests have been performed to ascertain different parameters to conclude that fly ash Stone dust Cement bricks are much feasible techno-economically.