Evaluasi Penggunaan Bata Merah Berbasis Foam Agent terhadap Efisiensi Material dan Produktivitas Pekerjaan Dinding

Abstract

The use of lightweight construction materials is one approach to improving project implementation efficiency while maintaining material quality. This study aims to analyze the effect of foam agent addition on the characteristics of clay bricks and to examine its implications for material efficiency and wall masonry productivity from a construction project management perspective. An experimental method was employed using four foam agent variations of 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%. Laboratory testing included density, compressive strength, and water absorption of clay bricks. The data were analyzed using quantitative descriptive analysis by comparing the average values of each variation. Material efficiency was evaluated through comparative analysis based on the percentage reduction in density, while the impact on wall masonry productivity was assessed interpretatively using a construction project management approach. The results indicate that increasing the foam agent content reduced the brick density from 939.48 kg/m³ to 836.44 kg/m³, representing a 10.97% reduction at the 15% variation. The addition of foam agent also affected the compressive strength and water absorption of the bricks. The reduction in density provides the potential to improve material efficiency by facilitating transportation, storage, material handling, and installation processes. These conditions also have the potential to enhance wall masonry productivity by reducing workers' physical workload and improving material handling efficiency. The findings suggest that the application of foam agent has the potential to improve construction project efficiency through material weight reduction while maintaining an appropriate balance between the physical and mechanical properties of clay bricks.