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Technical Services
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2026
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07
Indonesia continues to strengthen the standardization of construction materials: SNI 8640:2018 provides a quality basis for AAC and CLC lightweight masonry block projects.
Indonesia’s SNI 8640:2018 standard for lightweight masonry units remains in force and covers both AAC and CLC products. This article outlines the product testing and certification procedures, as well as the preparatory steps—such as raw material testing, equipment planning, and quality‑control measures—that must be completed before establishing a lightweight masonry unit plant in Indonesia.
In recent years, as residential construction, industrial park development, and commercial building projects have continued to advance, the Indonesian market has shown growing interest in lightweight, high‑performance, energy‑efficient wall materials. For companies planning to invest in the construction of lightweight block manufacturing facilities in Indonesia, it is essential not only to assess local product prices, raw material availability, and market demand but also to familiarize themselves in advance with Indonesia’s product standards and certification requirements for lightweight blocks.
According to information released by Indonesia’s National Standardization Agency, BSN, SNI 8640:2018, “Code for Lightweight Masonry Blocks for Wall Construction,” remains currently in effect. This standard was published on December 31, 2018, comprises 21 pages, and serves as an important technical basis for the production, testing, and quality control of lightweight wall blocks in Indonesia.
It should be noted that SNI 8640:2018 is not a newly introduced policy slated for 2026; rather, it is a national standard that has been in force for many years and remains currently valid. In 2025, Indonesia’s public works authorities once again referenced this standard during a specialized event on construction-related SNI standards, underscoring the country’s ongoing commitment to ensuring the quality of building materials, construction safety, and standardized management.
SNI 8640:2018 covers both AAC and CLC lightweight masonry blocks.
According to publicly available information from the Indonesian Public Works Department, the lightweight masonry units covered by SNI 8640:2018 include:
- AAC autoclaved aerated concrete blocks;
- CLC foam concrete lightweight blocks.
Public information also indicates that the standard covers lightweight masonry blocks with a bulk density ranging from 400 to 1,400 kilograms per cubic meter.
This means that when establishing a lightweight concrete block production line in Indonesia, it is not enough to simply assess whether the product can be foamed, cut, or achieve an adequate light weight; one must also determine the product category based on its intended end use and establish robust systems for controlling density, strength, dimensions, and shrinkage.
In particular, for non‑autoclaved CLC or NAAC projects, it is not advisable to simply adopt formulations used in other countries. Local cement types, sand fineness, stone powder composition, water quality, ambient temperature, and curing conditions can all influence the final performance of the product.
Product inspection is more than just measuring density.
The SNI 8640:2018 product certification scheme published by IAPMO Indonesia indicates that samples will be classified according to whether they are intended for structural or non-structural applications, for indoor or outdoor use, and by product thickness.
The items covered by certification testing include:
- Product dimensions;
- Product weight;
- Appearance and surface quality;
- Average compressive strength;
- Compressive strength of a single specimen;
- Product thickness;
- Drying shrinkage.
Relevant samples must be tested in a laboratory that meets the required standards; such laboratories are typically accredited or comply with the relevant requirements of ISO/IEC 17025. If the test results fail to meet the specified criteria, the certification body may require resampling, retesting, or corrective actions to be taken on the product.
Therefore, when entering the Indonesian market for lightweight wall materials, simply being able to “float on water” does not mean the product has met the requirements for structural applications. Low density is only one of the characteristics of lightweight masonry units; compressive strength, dimensional stability, and drying shrinkage also play critical roles in determining whether the product can be used reliably in building walls over the long term.
SNI certification involves factory audits and ongoing quality management.
Based on the publicly available certification implementation plan, SNI certification does not conclude with a single laboratory test of the sample.
The main process typically includes:
- Submit the certification application;
- Review enterprise and product documentation;
- Enter into a certification agreement;
- Review the quality management system;
- Review the factory’s production process;
- Collect samples at the production site or in the warehouse;
- Send to the laboratory for testing;
- Review the test results and audit findings;
- Make a certification decision;
- Issue a certificate of conformity;
- Apply for a license to use the SPPT SNI mark;
- Undergo follow-up surveillance audits and recertification.
Certification bodies not only inspect the finished product but also assess the enterprise’s production equipment, raw materials, manufacturing processes, testing equipment, quality documentation, and its capability to control the production process.
IAPMO’s public program indicates that the certificate of conformity is valid for up to four years, and during the certification period, factory inspections, on-site sampling, and laboratory testing will be conducted to verify that products continue to meet the applicable standards.
The CLC project requires prior confirmation of the specific certification pathway.
Although Indonesia’s public works authorities have explicitly stated that SNI 8640:2018 covers both AAC and CLC products, the 2025 English-language certification scheme currently published by IAPMO specifies its scope as exclusively AAC autoclaved aerated concrete products.
Therefore, investors planning to produce CLC foam concrete blocks or other autoclave-free lightweight masonry units in Indonesia should, prior to finalizing equipment specifications, first verify with the local certification authority:
- Whether the certification body accepts CLC products;
- Products are declared according to whether they are intended for structural or non-structural applications.
- Are the requirements for indoor and outdoor products different?
- In which laboratory was the sample tested?
- What testing equipment does the factory need to be equipped with?
- Is it necessary to apply for the SPPT SNI mark?
- Are there any additional technical requirements from the local project or the procuring entity?
SNI 8640:2018 provides a technical basis for product quality; however, the specific implementation procedures—varying across certification bodies, product manufacturing processes, and engineering applications—must still be further validated in light of local regulations.
When establishing a factory in Indonesia, one should first determine the product and then design the production line.
For investors preparing to enter the Indonesian market, a more prudent project‑implementation sequence should be:
Market research — Product positioning — Local raw material testing — Sample testing — Process validation — Production capacity planning — Equipment selection — Factory construction — Certification preparation.
If equipment is purchased first and it is later discovered that local cement, sand, or stone powder cannot consistently meet the target strength and shrinkage requirements, it may be necessary to revise the mix design, adjust curing practices, or even modify the equipment configuration, thereby increasing project‑adjustment costs.
Conversely, by defining product density, compressive strength, dimensions, thickness, and intended application in advance, one can design metering, mixing, foaming, pouring, curing, cutting, and inspection systems tailored to these target specifications, ensuring that the production line establishes a robust foundation for consistent quality control from the very outset of its construction.
Guangzhou Hengde provides on-site support for the Indonesian lightweight block project.
Guangzhou Hengde Construction Technology Co., Ltd. can, based on the customer’s planned production type—AAC, CLC, or NAAC lightweight blocks—and taking into account local raw materials, target capacity, and site conditions, provide services including raw material testing, product trial formulations, production line design, equipment manufacturing, installation and commissioning, as well as technical training. Hengde currently offers lightweight wall‑material production lines with capacities ranging from 30 to 2,000 cubic meters per day, allowing for phased construction and subsequent capacity expansion tailored to the scale of each project.
For Indonesian projects, Hengde recommends that investors, prior to finalizing the full‑line configuration, first procure locally common materials such as cement, sand, stone powder, fly ash, or other planned raw materials; conduct sample‑block testing; and, in accordance with the requirements of local laboratories and certification bodies, refine the product design accordingly.
Hengde provides equipment, process, and production‑implementation support; whether the final product complies with SNI standards and local engineering requirements shall be determined based on test results from an Indonesian‑accredited laboratory and the official conclusions of the local certification body.
Conclusion
According to SNI 8640:2018, the Indonesian lightweight masonry block market is gradually shifting from a focus on comparing product weight and price to a more standardized approach that emphasizes strength, dimensions, shrinkage, and ongoing quality control.
For investors planning to build a lightweight concrete block plant in Indonesia, the key is not merely selecting equipment with a specific capacity; rather, it is essential to integrate considerations of local raw materials, target products, applicable standards, quality‑control procedures, and certification pathways right from the project’s inception.
Only by first ensuring product quality, and then scaling up production capacity and expanding into new markets, can the lightweight concrete block project establish a foundation for long-term, stable operations.
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