IBS Implementation: Industry Responses

Malaysia has seen 40 years of IBS planning and implementation. Although the pace was slow during the late 1960s and 1970s, the momentum was steadily increased and gradually became part of the industry. In present day, IBS has marked its presence by successful projects throughout Malaysia. Among significant projects that use IBS are:

2007 - Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART Tunnel), Kuala Lumpur, The Spring Shopping Mall, Kuching, Sarawak

2006 - Kuching International Airport, Kuching, Sarawak, Persada Johor International Convention Centre, Johor Bahru

2005 - Serdang Hospital, Serdang, Selangor, The Curve, Mutiara Damansara, Selangor

2001 - Kuala Lumpur Sentral (KL Sentral), Kuala Lumpur, Likas Stadium, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

1998 - Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Sepang, Selangor, Malawati Indoor Stadium, Shah Alam, Selangor

1997 - PETRONAS Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Jalil Hockey Stadium, Bukit Jalil, Selangor

1984 - Dayabumi Complex, Kuala Lumpur

1981 - High end bungalows and low cost houses throughout Selangor

1978 - 1005 units of low-cost, five-storey walk up flats, Taman Tun Sardon, Gelugor, Pulau Pinang

1969 - 6 blocks of 17-storey flats, 3 blocks of 18-storey flats and 66 units of shop houses, Jalan Rifle Range, Air Itam, Pulau Pinang

IBS Pilot Project – 7 blocks of 17-storey flats, Jalan Pekeliling, Kuala Lumpur


Other projects include:

Residential
1. 10,000 units of Teachers’ Quarters, nationwide
2. High-rise apartments in Putrajaya
3. Apartments in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur and Puchong, Selangor
4. CyberVilla Town House, Cyberjaya, Selangor
5. Pangsapuri Dahlia Akademi Audit Negara, Negeri Sembilan
6. Seremban II Township Project, Negeri Sembilan

Schools & Universities
1. Kolej Sains Kesihatan Bersekutu, Johor Bahru, Johor
2. Lim Kok Wing University, Cyberjaya, Selangor
3. Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Semambu, Kuantan, Pahang

Hospitals
1. Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM), Cheras, Kuala Lumpur
2. Kidney Dialysis Centre, Kuching, Sarawak

Shopping Malls
1. Mid Valley Megamall, Kuala Lumpur
2. IKEA, Mutiara Damansara, Selangor
3. Jaya Jusco, Kepong, Kuala Lumpur
4. Jusco Tebrau City, Johor Bahru, Johor
5. MYDIN Hypermarket, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu
6. Carrefour Hypermarket, Seberang Prai, Pulau Pinang

Factories & Warehouses
1. Pelikan Factory, Warehouse and Office, Puchong, Selangor
2. Distripark Warehouse, Westport, Pulau Indah, Selangor
3. Nippon Express Office and Warehouse, Pulau Pinang
4. Flextronics Factory Senai, Johor Bahru

Why Modular is Better?

Traditional method of building process brings all the workers, machineries, and materials to the ground where the building is to be constructed. It contributes to the same problems plaguing construction industry for so long; over-reliance of cheap labour, inconsistent quality, prone to delays, substantial material waste, and dangerous working environment to name a few.

IBS provides means to improve this building process which give advantages to the industry. Among the benefits of IBS are:

Cost
• Requirement of few on-site workers significantly reducing labour cost for contractors (installers).
• Minimum material waste through quality control and continuous improvement.
• Sustainability as component moulds could be used repeatedly for different projects, allowing economic of scale and reduction in amortisation cost.
• Exemption of the Construction Levy on residential developments with at least 50% of IBS content

Quality
• Consistent high quality-controlled products through practice of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
• Eliminate substandard product through ‘zero-defect’ programme.
• Skilled workers with specific scope of works improve efficiencies and reduce errors.

Time
• Faster completion of projects due to advance off-site preparations and efficient installations.
• Manageable construction schedule by the use of planning control, estimated lead time and forecasted down time.
• Not affected by weather element as off-site production allows 24-hours operation.

Safety
• Promote safe and systematic factory working environment.
• Safer working environment as minimal work is required on-site.
• Cleaner sites due to timely material delivery, systematic components storage, reduction of construction material and waste on-site.

Modular Home Industry Leading in Construction Innovations

Modular homes are becoming more standardized in their over all construction making them more appealing to potential buyers. This standardization, that makes retrofit and repair constructions for the home owner easier and more convenient have made modular homes look even better when it comes time to construct a new home.

With materials for remodeling and repair easily available, those DIY projects are easier to handle. In the early days of modular home construction, many manufacturers used fit and finish materials that didn't match mainstream construction, materials. They often used materials that were especially designed for fast and machine or special tool construction. Now more and more, because of new innovations in building materials in general, modular home manufacturers are using the same types of tool, equipment and materials that are used in finish for conventional construction methods. None the less, being able to use common materials and supplies has added one more facet to the booming market for modularly constructed homes.

The two very different methods of construction have actually closed the gap between themselves in that with the development of new tools and equipment that first started out only being used in modular home construction facilities, many of the methods of construction once only used in modular construction are now being used in both industries. Contractors like the idea of the quicker methods of framing used in modular factories. Many of the new tools and fastener systems that were developed for factory constructed homes are now common items found at conventional home construction sites.

Many years ago, as new fasteners and finish materials started to emerge into the modular construction industry, they often didn't meet the standards set down for conventional construction methods. Not to say there was any thing wrong with how modular homes were constructed; it was more an issue of how the construction process was handled and what types of materials and fasteners needed to be used under varying construction methods. Inside factory setting vs. outside exposed to the elements conventional construction.

As time progressed and the modular construction industry enhanced, improved and developed new materials, equipment, fasteners and methods, the gap between the standards closed. Today, many types of fast, yet durable methods of construction that were once only used in modular construction are not regularly used in conventional construction. What was once done only with hammer and nails is now done with nail guns and glue. Nail gun and brad nailers were once exclusively used in the modular home construction industry. But as the types of equipment and strength of fasteners improved, they became increasingly popular in the conventional construction trade as well. The increase in speed and durability added greatly to the effectiveness of conventional construction.

Not only were faster durable framing techniques born from the modular housing industry, but also many other aspects of home construction as well. From drywall, electrical and plumbing all the way through to the fit and finish of cabinetry in some manner or fashion today employ methods that were first proven in the modular home construction industry. So today, with the gap between the two methods, material and construction wise ever closing and the gap in costs still significant, modular homes are becoming a better choice for many homes buyers, with good reason

New methods and techniques are always on the horizon and the modular home industry, being in the forefront , always looking for ways to improve, will certainly bring to light new ideas and innovations that will only make modular homes even more durable, affordable and appealing to home buyers.

Source:-
Scott Best is a freelance writer in association with http://newmodularinfo.comRead more of his articles at http://newmodularinfo.com/articles/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_Best

Modular Buildings - A Portable and Low Cost Construction Alternative

We are often surprised by the rapid transformation of a vast landscape - a shopping center, a business park etc. Some of those buildings are built using modular construction techniques. These buildings are constructed in a factory and then shipped in sections to the chosen building site. Modular buildings can be built as offices, medical buildings, portable classrooms, and buildings for retail businesses. Modular building solutions can also be used for healthcare, education, commercial, construction, or government purposes. Whether you need a modular building for extra storage or for your up and coming business, there is a modular building solution available for these types of buildings as well as many others.

Modular buildings have great solutions to all of your building needs. When you need a mobile office, a portable classroom, a new building for your retail business, or an arena for sports and entertainment do not hesitate to consider modular buildings. Even if you desire a building for medical uses like a clinic or a lab, modular building solutions can be the answer to your building prayers. If you desire temporary office space, a mobile office will give you just that. These types of buildings offer a faster building time and the construction is dependable and durable. Modular buildings are built in a factory and therefore they do not suffer from weather damage like traditional buildings do when they are constructed at the chosen building site. Modular buildings are energy efficient, the buildings are inspected, and they met all building codes.

When looking for flexible construction that can be built to meet your specific wants and needs, look no further than modular buildings. Modular building solutions are of service for construction offices, industrial or commercial buildings, and residential sales offices. Almost every type of building, business, or home can be easily built through modular construction. Modular buildings guarantee high quality construction with an attractive finish.

Floor plans are available to give you the look that you desire or you can customize your new modular building to achieve a unique floor plan not found anywhere else. You also get to choose the interior and exterior designs of your modular building to fit your wants and needs. All you will need to do is to find a company who is willing to work around your ideas and then they will help you to create a floor plan that is a one of a kind modular building for your business, home, or storage needs. Modular building solutions are an easy and effective way to get the look that you want for the business or home that you are creating at a price and floor plan that you can live with.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Natalie_Aranda

IBS Modular Homes

IBS Modular Building

IBS Gaining Ground

Source: News Straits Times, March 1st, 2008

It's still early days, but the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) is confident that usage of the Industrialised Building System (IBS) in construction will pick up momentum. "In the Klang Valley, we are noting an increased use of IBS in certain construction activities," said its chief executive officer Datuk Ir. Hamzah Hasan. "Before, many builders preferred to use cheap foreign workers to perform labour-intensive construction activities, but they are now recognising the advantages of IBS - speed, better quality and saving the environment. "We hope that with the promotions made by our IBS Centre, the system will become accepted as the normal way of construction. "

CIDB is aiming for an industrialised construction sector by the year 2010." UM Land Bhd operations director Zulkifly Garib said the prospect of IBS succeeding is good, but said its usage "depends on the type of project being undertaken". "It would be more feasible in the development of certain higher-end properties as the cost of engaging (IBS) isn't economically attractive enough ... at least not at the moment," he said. Zulkifly also said before it can be implemented full-scale, developers "have to ensure that the infrastructure and operational requisites are in place". National House Buyers Association secretary-general Chang Kim Loong, said there is a 2005 incentive that exempts developers from paying the CIDB construction levy of 0.125 per cent for projects that have at least 50 per cent IBS content. Except for projects costing less than RM500,000 as well as low-, low-medium- and medium-cost houses, all projects were previously imposed the levy. "

The system will improve productivity, reduce site wastages, give rise to better quality end products, make the industry less dependent on foreign workers and help the environment," Chang said. As much as 70 per cent of the waste created in the home-building process can be removed by adopting IBS. Among the developers that are using IBS are SP Setia Bhd, Bina Puri Holdings Bhd, IJM Building System Sdn Bhd, and MTD-ACPI Engineering Bhd. Buildings that have been built with the system include Kuala Lumpur Sentral, Petronas Twin Towers, Putrajaya and the KL International Airport. Coined in America in the late 80s, IBS involves making various components that go into a building's construction in a factory and thereafter transporting them to a worksite for assembly.