Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 50 ( 2012 ) 369 382

1877-0428 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the Centre for Environment- Behaviour Studies (cE-Bs),
Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.08.042
AcE-Bs 2012 Bangkok
ASEAN Conference on Environment-Behaviour Studies,
Bangkok, Thailand, 16-18 July 2012

Adaptable Housing of Precast Panel System in Malaysia
Asiah Abdul Rahim
a
, Zuhairi Abdul Hamid
b
, Ismawi Hj. Zen
a
, Zulkefle Ismail
a
*
& Kamarul Anuar Mohd Kamar
b

a
Kulliyyah of Architecture & Environmental Design, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

b
Construction Research Institute of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Abstract
The paper identifies the potential solutions to deliver quality housing for the Malaysian as well as to solve and ever
harmonizing the architectural design with the innovation of precast panel system in construction. The adaptability is
the design which allows for any additions or changes in order to make it more flexible. This will ease for any
renovation or extension that currently limited in housing using Industrialized Building System (IBS). A case study
including questionnaires survey of housing using IBS was carried and the finding shows that there are two
innovations in the project which are the Plug & Play and Support & Infill. As a conclusion, the application of IBS
will facilitate users to renovate or extent his or her building to suit their needs thus allows flexibility in architecture.

2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the Centre for Environment-
Behaviour Studies (cE-Bs), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
Keywords: Industrialized Building System (IBS); precast wall panel; adaptability; plug and play
1. Introduction
Precast concrete has been used as cladding on buildings since the 1920s and has become increasingly
popular since the 1950s. Recently the range of products has broadened as manufacturers have
incorporated new design aesthetics of the variety of shapes and finishes. Year round construction is
possible with panels that are quickly erected at the site, providing the opportunity to rapidly enclose a
building and speed up construction. This can be very beneficial since the building industry in Malaysia is
growing towards industrialization in construction by implementing Industrialized Building System (IBS).

*
Corresponding authors. Tel.: +6-019-313-3554; fax: +6-03-6196-4053.
E-mail address: [email protected]

Available online at www.sciencedirect.com
2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the Centre for Environment- Behaviour
Studies (cE-Bs), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
370 Asiah Abdul Rahim et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 50 ( 2012 ) 369 382
However, the gap still exists between manufacturing industry and construction industry buildings are
still being produced in conventional ways. To understand the relationship between manufacturing and
construction, the parameters for joint design and product selection (Foley, 2002; and Tan, 2006) need to
be studied. The joint of plug-in concept for the prefabricated component need to meet the design standard
(Zulkefle, 2007) for IBS to be green (Al-Waer et al, 2008; and Tam 2007). Thus, a logical rule-based
geometry that describes the connections between elements (Mac Gairbheith, 2009) is need to look
carefully on what aspect of IBS could be contributed to the development of Open Building System for
housing in Malaysia.
Therefore, the purpose of the study is to empirically and systematically investigate the effectiveness of
Open Building System and how the results for adaptable housing in terms of socio-economic (users
satisfaction) and cultural (design and construction). The study aims to explore the process of
manufacturing and installation of IBS precast components for housing. In addition, the study tends to
identify the level of satisfaction of users, and to develop a model of Open Building System for adaptable
housing of precast panel system in Malaysia.
2. Adaptability in Housing Using Precast Concrete Wall Panel
The advancement of technology has touched every part of our lives over the last century including
construction industry. A conventional construction is the result of many factors which can be
technological, social or financial, and this gap still exists between manufacturing and construction
industries in Malaysia. However, construction industries practically continue to produce residential
buildings in conventional ways. The world has currently been alarmed with the issue of environment and
sustainability, and indeed the construction industry has constantly been worried by the increasing cost of
building maintenance and lifecycle issues. Therefore, in the last decade, IBS was promoted to enhance
the importance of prefabrication technology rather than conventional method in construction.
Historically, frames and infilling became the most universally accepted principle of British residential
buildings construction in the early 1950s. The architects and engineers adopted the box frame method
(consist of large precast concrete panel wall and slab) for construction of houses (Glendinning &
Muthesius, 2000). Therefore the load bearing large-panel precast concrete construction residential
buildings was introduced in England in 1956.
In order to maximize volume production, the Modulor system has proponents of an open system
approach in the interchangeability of parts throughout the construction industry of Europe in the 1960s
(Glendinning & Muthesius, 2000 and Abel 2004). Modular Building System consists of modular parts at
different hierarchical levels that can be joined together according to the connection rules to form a
functional whole. The modular is an intermediate stage towards an eventual evolvement of open system
which allows for easy adaptation of prefabricated components to any layout and their interchangeability
within the building.
Kendall (2005) reported that France began their prefabricated building through George Maurios who
adopted Open Building System in 1975. Earlier, the applications of renovation using Open Building
System have been developed such as ENTRA and MOBIT. Since the early 1970s, the Finnish BES
system for housing widely used a basic design unit and a multi-module of 12M. It employed slabs, walls,
bathroom, staircase and several components of standard dimension. According to Kieran & Timberlake
(2004) and Zulkefle (2007), the adaptable prefabricated bathrooms with easy access for services systems
have been develop and fully utilized in Japan and Europe. In addition, complete single-sourced Infill
Systems are used widely in Finland. The advantages of open industrialization are not only implicit in
greater efficiency and economy for the production of a building but also accompanied by other important
aspects such as sustainability.
371 Asiah Abdul Rahim et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 50 ( 2012 ) 369 382
Construction industry in Malaysia began in the early days of Federation of Malaya in 1948, together
with the formation of the various states in the country. The construction of the Malay traditional house
mainly relies on its strength of a complex jointing system made rigid by the use of timber wedges (Wan
Hashimah, 2005). According to Rodd (2003), timber that is relatively light-weight has always been at
what might be regarded as the cutting edge of the building technology of the era. However, Kamaluddin
(2009) claimed that concrete is the material of choice for housing in Malaysia by a significant margin.
In 1960s, mass production of housing using precast concrete is not new to the Malaysian construction
industry. The Danish Larsen-Neilson System were constructed in Pekeliling Flats in 1966 and French
Estiot System were used in Riffle Range Road Flats in 1967. In 1978, 1,200 units of houses was built in
Penang using British Precast System and in 1980, 2,800 units of houses was constructed using Hazama
Gumi System from Japan. However, the adoptions are limited only for proprietary and stand-alone
systems (closed system) rather than Open Building Systems.
Following these pilot projects, Modular Coordination (MC) measurement. From 1981-1993, precast
concrete technology from the Praton Haus International, Germany were given numerous housing projects
to be constructed in Shah Alam, Selangor. PKNS Praton Haus Berhad was formed in 1981 as a housing
provider for Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (Mohd Sufian, 2009). There are two (2) types of
construction systems which have been introduced which is large panel systems and skeleton systems.
Connections in such system of reinforced concrete structure are potentially the most critical part of the
IBS components (Tan, 2006). Joint are required for durability, fire-proofing and water-proofing for
architectural performance, strength, rigidity, and ductility for mechanical efficiency and the ease of
handling and clearance for expansion as well as contraction. Constructively, it is the main factor in
controlling the performance of IBS residential building. In addition, it is equally important that the detail
design attributed must be able to be constructed. The purpose of connections is to maintain the integrity
of the structure under the applied load. According to Elliott (2003), the definition of a connection is the
action of forces (tension, shear, and compression) and/or moment (bending and torsion) through an
assembly comprising one (or more) interfaces. The design of connection is therefore a function of both
the structural elements and of the joints between them.
Essiz and Koman (2006) in their study found that design demands (artistic and technical) increase with
each further step towards industrialization. The combination of sociological and ecological standards
together with functional and aesthetic designs could utilize the full advantage of industrialization without
creating lifeless buildings and environment. Erman (2002) claimed that aesthetic considerations became
an inseparable part of the joint without putting its primary function aside. On the other hand, the
mechanical fasteners that have been developed as a substitute for intricate interlocking joints played the
major role for industrialization, mechanization and mass production. Feasibility of demountable joints
can be improved with the advance working tools. The highly developed electronic working tools enable
the prefabrication of intricate interlocking joint (Erman, 2002). Therefore, the concept of adaptability and
flexibility for homes could be realized.
Adaptability in general is the ability of individual modifications to suit new conditions. The ability to
adapt to changing needs by changing internal walls and installation inside a dwelling unit while
maintaining a constant area may be described as internal variability. Practically, adaptability covers all
internal changes, including changes of character in both the availability of space and the structure of
space, subdivision, and the combination of spaces. A basic interpretation of adaptability is the refitting of
a physical environment as the result of a new circumstance. Friedman (2002) defined adaptability for
homes as providing occupants with forms and means that facilitate a fit between their space needs and
the constraints of their homes either before or after occupancy. However, homes in Malaysia have
followed another path. It has always been conceived as something necessarily static and safe. What
happened to the sustainability and machine habiter that Le Corbusier proposed at the beginning of the
20th century?
372 Asiah Abdul Rahim et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 50 ( 2012 ) 369 382
The organized and accessible systems such as IBS-Housing will no longer be useful except for the
lowest commodity products for which competition is weak or nonexistent, or for which there is a public
monopoly (Kendall, 2005). Therefore, the standard plug and play joint and connection are vital in
prefabricated component of IBS to avoid monopoly of IBS component in Malaysia construction industry.
The concept of plug and play of joint and connection are ease for construction and enhancing the ability
to effectively access, repair, and modify over the lifecycle of the house. Similarly, the design of IBS-
Housing and its systems such as the interior space can be reconfigured in a relatively straightforward
manner as occupant living requirements change over time. Thus, the concept of adaptability and
flexibility strongly overlaps in this matter. And while these concepts are being discussed, in practice they
are very much related and a single design approach or technology may support both simultaneously. In
fact, the ultimate goal of the IBS-Housing research is to develop solutions that satisfy both of these
principles.
According to Abu Hammad et al (2008), research and project experience shows significant savings can
be made when applying this approach. The potential to develop 3D volumetric IBS-Housing in Malaysia
needs combination of innovative design and construction methods. It is important for an industry that is
constantly alarmed by the increasing cost of building maintenance and lifecycle issues (CIDB, 2009).
Hence, it is very significant to select the appropriate building systems, components, and materials that
require minimum maintenance (Chew & Das, 2008) to form the prefabricated IBS-Housing.
Durability is a key point to prevent the deterioration of structures and members of buildings over time
and to maintain the safety, comfort and health of the users. According to Asiah et al (2009), most of the
users in Malaysia are fairly satisfied with their house finishing, such as noise transmission from outside
into the room, and the defect of building component. Crack remains the highest case of defect recorded
for the houses in Malaysia, especially for single and double storey terrace housing. As for these cases,
maintenance of external wall tiles is needed once every 20 30 years, simply in terms of masonry joint
repair. In addition, most Malaysians prefer to improve their house by doing renovation and extension.
Therefore, the plug and play precast panel for external walls will enhance the durability and
waterproofing properties. The plug and play panel could be fixed manually in place to maintain constant
performance quality as well as ease for maintenance and renovation. Since the precast panels have a fine
surface irregularity in order to maintain the high hydrophilic properties, they remain clean for a long
period. Unlike painted external walls and siding board external walls, this may considerably reduce the
amount of maintenance work, such as waterproofing and repainting, which may be required.
3. Methodology
The methodology for data collection used in this research is case study including questionnaire survey.
Stake (2000) described three types of case studies that were used for this research as follows:
Intrinsic: Explores a particular case to gain a better understanding of it
Instrumental: A particular case is examined to provide information or insight on issues or the
refinement of theory.
Collective: A number of cases are studied jointly in order to inquire into the phenomena, population,
or general condition.
The questionnaires were distributed to the tenants of teachers quarters in the urban, suburban and rural
area of Selangor and Perak. The teachers quarters which were constructed during 1998 to 2002 remain
as the biggest housing in Malaysia constructed using IBS. The research examined the needs and
satisfaction of residents for every internal space of the quarters such as the living area, dining area,
kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom.
Interviews were conducted with the Project Manager from the Developers side and the other was with
the Project Manager from the Main Contractors side; both of which were in charge of local projects
373 Asiah Abdul Rahim et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 50 ( 2012 ) 369 382
involving the use of IBS construction. The key questions regarding IBS precast components that were
asked in the interviews are as follows:
Programming: Clear directives from the developer on decision of whether to adopt IBS precast
components should be decided at early stage of the project.
Adaptability: Control of the programme and project reliability.
Buildability: Capacity and capability for hoisting and assembling IBS precast components during
construction.
Quality Control: Mass production and mass customization of IBS precast components.
Plug & Play: Maximum efficiency and fewer mistakes on erection of IBS precast components.
Modular Coordination: Application of adaptability, modularity and buildability according to the
Malaysian Standards.
A major methodological contribution of the study is the case study for design with adaptability for
IBS-housing. The observation has been validated through content analysis, and criterion validated
through the pictures and drawings, where the relationships with other variables in the theoretical model
were tested with significant relationships. Based on the validated observation, it was believe that crucial
Moreover, the items in the instrument have shown a high level of reliability since the study offers a
logical bounding of the case which promoting Open Building System.

4. Users Satisfaction of Internal Spaces in Teachers Quarters
The project was known as Privatization Project for the development and construction of teachers
quarters for Ministry of Education, Malaysia. The project was launched in 1998 and consists of 10,000
units of apartments on 107 sites for teachers quarters throughout Malaysia. Each apartment unit has 3
bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a living room, a dining room, and a balcony.
The Kendalls coefficient of concordance (W) was computed to measure the level of consensus among
tenants for the factors proposed. The Kendalls coefficient of concordance and p-value for scored ranking
were 0.233 and 0.000 respectively. Since the p-value was less than 0.05, the study was found to be
statistically significant and consistent as shows in Table 1 as follows:
Table 1. Test Statistics

N Kendall's W
a
Chi-Square df Asymp. Sig.
233 0.233 217.226 4 0.000

The correlational analysis was performed between adaptability and the other five variables: living
area, dining area, kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom. Based on the correlational analysis, all five variables
were significantly and positively correlated with adaptability. The highest Pearson correlation value was
0.254 for bedroom, while the lowest Pearson correlation value was 0.205 for bathroom. However, based
on the finding in Kendalls coefficient of concordance, the orders of importance for the five spaces in the
house are kitchen, dining area, bathroom, bedroom, and living area, as shows in Table 2 as follows:
Table 2. Analysis between adaptability and the other five variables.


Living Dining Kitchen Bedroom Bathroom
Kendall's Coefficient of Concordance (Mean Rank)
Pearson Correlation Analysis
3.87
0.209
2.82
0.222
1.94
0.230
3.25
0.254
3.11
0.205
374 Asiah Abdul Rahim et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 50 ( 2012 ) 369 382
In addition, the Kruskal Wallis tests were conducted to test differences of mean ranking of items
related to adaptability as shows in Table 3 as follows:
Table 3. Mean ranks and statistics for Kruskal Wallis tests

Activities
Asymp.
Sig.
Age of Respondent
Asymp.
Sig.
Location of House
21 to 30
(N=46)
31 to 40
(N=116)
41 to 50
(N=51)
Above 50
(N=20)
Urban
(N=154)
Semi-
Urban
(N=46)
Rural
(N=33)
Daily family activities 0.005 124.07 123.67 113.55 70.85 0.056 121.73 97.05 122.71
Teaching, learning and studying 0.016 122.78 126.35 102.98 85.20 0.003 116.50 97.47 146.56
Family gathering 0.004 130.53 124.51 101.38 82.15 0.304 118.97 104.83 124.76
Social meeting 0.031 119.82 126.06 106.40 85.00 0.254 119.54 103.40 124.09
Society Meeting 0.453 115.89 121.12 116.77 96.20 0.508 117.15 109.64 126.58
Family ceremony 0.127 115.41 125.79 106.46 96.55 0.403 118.23 106.82 125.45
Family celebration 0.257 110.55 125.27 109.84 102.10 0.339 117.67 106.74 128.20
Open house 0.058 106.73 123.58 123.30 86.40 0.797 119.01 112.51 113.89
Discussion and consultation 0.444 124.64 113.63 123.66 101.98 0.571 116.90 110.79 126.11
Exhibition 0.459 125.58 112.32 124.15 106.20 0.570 114.06 120.10 126.42

Based on the results shown in Table 3, out of the ten attributes of adaptability, four items are shown to
have significant difference in mean ranking of Age of Respondent based on its p-values being less than
0.05. The difference in ranking of certain attribute of adaptability is highest for tenants with aged from
21 to 30 for the family activities (breakfast, lunch, dinner, etc), and family gathering (interaction between
non-neighbour), while tenants in age from 31 to 40 years old for the activity of teaching, learning and
studying (preparing lesson plan), and social meeting (interaction between neighbour) in their house.
Out of the ten attributes of adaptability, only one item is shown to have significant difference in mean
ranking based on its p-values being less than 0.05. This implies that there is a difference in mean ranking
of teaching, learning and studying based on zone. The mean ranks are 116.50 for urban, 97.47 for semi-
urban, and 146.56 for rural. This implies that the biggest impact for teaching, learning and studying
activities in the house is from quarters located at rural area.

5. Precast Structural Insulated Wall Panel in Malaysia
Precast Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) walls provide an economical solution when compared to the
conventional column/beam/infill wall system. The primary advantages are speed of construction and
elimination of wet trades. To minimize the requirement to lap vertical bars, the walls are recommended
to be designed as plain concrete members in accordance with MS1313 and MS1064.
The Permanent Concrete Formwork (PCF) double walls system provides innovation through re-
engineering in SIP walls. The wall is a combination of prefabrication and conventional in-situ
construction. In essence, the PCF system is a semi-prefabrication system which provides the benefits of a
precast system while maintaining the flexibility and integrity of the conventional system. This concept is
made feasible through a systems approach driven by sophisticated CAD/CAMS applications of advanced
technology. In planning and incorporating as much of the building scope of works during manufacture, a
faster construction period is achieved as several activities and requirements will be eliminated or reduced
375 Asiah Abdul Rahim et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 50 ( 2012 ) 369 382
in scope. Quality of finish is enhanced through quality control and assurance at the state of the art of
manufacturing facility.
The PCF double walls system is an alternative method for wall construction. It could be used as both a
load bearing and non-load bearing wall. Double walls are made from two half slabs elements formed into
a sandwich-type wall panel with a void in between. Half slabs are 50mm thick precast reinforced
concrete form elements to be utilized as permanent structural concrete formwork for cast in-situ final
concrete. The concrete used conforms to the requirement to the concrete grade as per original engineers
design.
The structural steel requirement for the tensile and shear reinforcements consists of lattice girders and
longitudinal and transverse steel bars which are incorporated in the precast planks during production. As
highlighted by Elliot (1996), lattice girders are provided in order to:
ensure mechanical bond between precast and in-situ concrete,
provide the precast plank with vertical stiffness in a temporary condition,
contribute to the flexural reinforcement, and
help during lifting of precast panels.
These prefabricated walls will be transformed into a solid reinforced concrete wall once installed on
site and the void is filled with concrete.
The most important performance mission of precast SIP wall panels is to keep rain and other weather
elements from penetrating the building. The design and execution of these joints is therefore of the
utmost importance and must be accomplished in a rational and economical manner. A key advantage of
precast concrete over other exterior precast SIP wall systems is its relative impermeability water does
not penetrate precast concrete.
5.1. Typical Dry Joint Design
Typical precast SIP wall panel joints are 15 mm to 20 mm wide on the exterior and 13 mm on the
interior. The typical joint between precast SIP wall panels has a single line of sealant for weatherproofing
and a closed-cell insulating backer rod to set the depth and shape of the sealant. Exterior sealant selection
should be based on the ability to maintain elastic properties, weather performance and resistance to
harmful UV rays.
Equal in importance to the width of the sealant joint is the depth. For joints designed with 13 mm to
25 mm width, the depth should be equalled to one half of the widths. In plan view, the shape of the
sealant should concave, similar to an hourglass. The backer rod provides the interior concave shape; the
sealant applicator provides the tooled concave shape at the exterior. It is essential to avoid depths too
shallow or too deep to prevent premature debonding of the sealant to the concrete surfaces.
5.2. Wet Vertical Joints
The vertical and horizontal wet joints form a structure with a high quality and great tolerance and so
quality is controlled by the system not by the engineer. What distinguishes this system is the use of the
vertical joints which helps a lot with the buildings quality. It has many types that differ based upon its
functions. The method of constructing them is a great advantage of the system which contributes to the
speed of works execution. The thickening of edge of the precast SIP wall panel allows for a reasonable
size of vertical recess to be formed as follows:
The construction joint of oval shape cavity for two adjoining panels.
Panel and column are assembled together and provide a space of tolerance for easy installation.
This large cavity can be filled with chipping concrete well vibrated to form a strong wet joint. This
wet joint also acts as a cast-in-situ stiffener (once a vertical steel bar has been inserted and concrete has
376 Asiah Abdul Rahim et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 50 ( 2012 ) 369 382
been poured into the core) and bonds the panel to the column. As such, it can prevent the ingress of water
effectively. This joint is able to transfer lateral load by shear action of the concrete infill to the adjacent
columns. This can be further improved by adding non-shrinkage cement-plaster to finish the construction
joint of all external walls. There are seven types of wet vertical joints as part of the O-Stable Panel
System which was patented by Baktian Sdn. Bhd. The joints are shown in Fig 1 as follows:


Fig. 1. Isometric View of Standard Detail of Wet Vertical Joints. Source: Baktian Sdn. Bhd. (2011)
All precast panel walls of O-Stable Panel System were designed as a braced slender plain wall. The
in-situ floor slab and columns between these walls act as a diaphragm in both direction and thus this
combination will behave like a rigid concrete box. The bottom connection of the wall is categorized as
pinned joint while the top connection is fixed. At typical units with precast walls as structural members,
all provision for ties are met and these joints are mainly transmitting compression load. Progressive
collapses are also taken into consideration.

5.3. Embedded Services
A variation of prefabricated wiring chases is to go one step further and actually install wiring in the
wall panels in a factory setting. This requires more rigorous planning on the part of the builder and
electrician, but offers benefits such as a well organized electrical layout and reduced on-site installation
time. One detail that arises with pre-wired wall panels is connecting the wiring in adjacent wall panels as
they are set on-site. One approach to making these connections in the field is the use of modular electric
connectors.
Plumbing installation is also incorporated into the precast SIP panel walls and the location and type of
fixing must be confirmed first before walls are concreted. More stringent checks and coordination is
needed at factories because hacking of precast walls on site is not advisable. Close attention must be put
into sanitary and cold water services as these require openings both on slab and precast walls and may
377 Asiah Abdul Rahim et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 50 ( 2012 ) 369 382
require structural reinforcements. Coordination work also must be done with site personels and
consultants with regards to fixing of doors to services room as required by building authorities.
In the case of infill units, it is unlikely to be acceptable to provide a new full wall panel system, since
usable areas will be sacrificed. In this research project, the infill panel is recommended to be modified as
shown in Fig 2 as follows.





Fig. 2. Pre-Programmed Structural Separation Element as a part of Infill Unit; Source: O-Stable Panel System (2011) and Gijsbers
(2006)
6. The Contribution of IBS in Development of Open Building System
The analysis of interview and observation from case studies were performed between Open Building
System and the other six (6) variables: programming, adaptability, buildability, quality control, plug &
play, and Modular Coordination. Based on the content analysis, all six variables were significantly and
positively correlated with Open Building System.
The highest priority is adaptability, while the lowest is Modular Coordination. In this study, most of
the owners and tenants prefer their houses to be designed with adaptability, while contractor and designer
of the house prefer the buildable precast components. The level of adaptability for the IBS-housing in
this study were ranked as high for bungalow houses, medium for apartments, and low for quarters.
The main contribution of this study is a model for Open Building System which is shown in Fig 3.
The model takes into consideration all the major findings from the qualitative analysis. The model also
ranked variables and its related items from highest to lowest as well as maximum to minimum impact
respectively.
As Malaysian households prefer to be different from their neighbours and have varieties in their needs
through time, the housing system should provide adaptability for served areas whereas the serving areas,
catering to more basic human needs, can display similar features from one dwelling unit to another. As
IBS technology is mostly factory-related, the precast components reach for the best for plug & play
concept of IBS-housing in Malaysia.
An optimal solution is offered by a hybrid approach; concentrating on the serving areas in compact
factory-made 3D modules called Service Cores. On site, the Cores are positioned perpendicularly to the
378 Asiah Abdul Rahim et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 50 ( 2012 ) 369 382
faade, while locally built floors and exterior walls span longitudinally between them to generate the
served areas. The Service Core is to housing as what the engine is to the body of an automobile, or to the
fuselage of an airplane.
The Service Core approach that is considered as a Plug & Play concept fully meets the sustainability
agenda when mechanical (dry) joints are used in order to permit reconfigurations without any demolition.
Therefore, the served areas generated between the cores are functionally adaptable, open to a diversity of
scenarios and accommodating either loft or partitioned arrangements.
The construction of the served areas, and its adaptability to suit changing needs, is a simple activity
which deserves to be done locally, both for economical and cultural reasons. The exterior wall panels are
plug and play tiles or curtain walls connected to the Cores; they constitute an open sub-system in terms of
materials and forms, and they can play a determinant role in responding to the local culture and
harmonizing with the Malaysia Standard.





































379 Asiah Abdul Rahim et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 50 ( 2012 ) 369 382
Adaptability 1) Size of kitchen
O
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2) Size of dining area
3) Finishing of bathroom
4) Size of bedroom
5) Finishing of living area
6) Arrangement of spaces


Buildability
1) Design for simple assembly
2) Encourage standardization/repetition
3) Design for IBS or modularization
4) Analyze accessibility of the jobsite
5) Design for the skills available
6) Consider suitability of design materials

OPEN
BUILDING
SYSTEM

Quality
Control
1) Factory standard
2) Improves the workers efficiency
3) Less impact to the environment
4) Enhance housekeeping and site tidiness
5) Cleaner and safer site conditions
6) Generally inflexible for changes

Plug & Play 1) Disconnectable
2) Standardized connections
3) Size, shape and position tolerances
4) Individual removable
5) Direct usable
6) Support and infill


Programming
1) Present and future users
2) Functional analyses
3) Norms and characteristic values
4) Evaluative study
5) Statistical prognoses
6) Components and elements


Modular
Coordination
1) Precast wall panel
2) Precast slab
3) Door and window
4) Precast column
5) Precast beam
6) Joint and connections

Reliability of the factory
Method of connections
Classification of IBS
Dimensions of components
Performance characteristics of
components


Fig. 3. Open Building System Model


380 Asiah Abdul Rahim et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 50 ( 2012 ) 369 382
7. The Development of Design with Adaptability for IBS-Housing in Malaysia
This study indicated that the size and arrangement of spaces as well as their finishing were basically
the highest possible adaptability level. At the moment, the building industry is not organized to provide
adaptability for housing, especially for terrace and bungalow houses. The industry should take advantage
from the current technology of IBS towards adaptability in order to achieve the ultimate objective for the
creation of effective and innovative products for housing.
The requirement for building adaptability is becoming increasingly relevant from both commercial and
sustainability perspectives. It may also be more amenable to incremental growth and thus to the
introduction of innovative technologies and policies. As a matter of policy, whilst adaptability needs
further emphasis as an important component in the IBS-housing developmental effort, the flexibility of
building should also be given greater emphasis (Habraken, 2005). According to Habraken (1998), the
building is usually divided into support and infill with regard to flexibility. The infill undergoes changes
when flexibility is applied. However, daily building practices reveal that the applied solutions have not
been satisfactory until today. The application of changes to products and product platforms based on user
requirements is a common practice.
Housing policy for IBS-housing is based on the tacit assumption that new residential dwellings must
be of a high architectural quality and of a high standard with respect to building technology and that they
ought to manifest themselves in a contemporary idiom. Additional, new dwellings ought to be designed
with some kind of experimentation in mind, taking a point of departure in the surroundings urban
character and potentials.
These aims pose great demands and not only in the architectural trade. The demands are imposed on
the entire construction branch, on the authorities and on the users, who exert their influence on the market
as a consequence of supply and demand. Results of the case studies cover the several aspects as follows:
Socio-economic and cultural aspects contractor;
Technical aspects designers and contractor; and
Systematic aspects policy maker, contractor, and designers.
8. Recommendation
It is apparent that technology of IBS has a major impact on design and construction of housing in
Malaysia. Some policy improvement plans for revitalizing adaptable housing emerged from this study.
The policy is described base on the following aspect:
8.1. Socio-Economic and Cultural Aspects
As this is a new concept and approach, the governments active support and publicity were chosen as
the most important factors for the success in the industry. It was agreed that consumer attitude toward the
concept of adaptable housing urgently needed to be changed to accommodate them. It was viewed that
systematic research and Malaysian mentality should be sufficiently considered through short and long-
term roadmaps for adaptable housing, and that improvement was needed in the consciousness of residents
through education regarding the maintenance, management, and adaptability. It was also viewed that
architectural programming for adaptable housing is needed in preparation of standardized design plans, as
well as developing IBS, economic support, and an accurate demand appraisal.

8.2 Technical Aspect

381 Asiah Abdul Rahim et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 50 ( 2012 ) 369 382
The development of technologies and structures for adaptable housing is being proposed. A few
potential lightweight wall structures and ceiling materials with plug-in assembling concept should be
further researched. Such would be supported by the technological development of IBS and introduction
of new support and infill appropriate for adaptable housing, such as development and distribution of
structural forms, and R&D of various interior finishing methods and designs.
8.3 Systematic Aspect
From the perspective of laws and policies, IBS can accommodate new technologies, together with the
preparation of Open Building System that urgently needed. Experts and stakeholders must work to ease
the construction industry in implementing Open Building System in housing through which the
regulations should be eased as follows:
The easing of approval of housing development from the local authority.
The easing of basic facilities allotment as a solution to the step-wise application of design standards
for Open Building System that considers remodelling.
The right of light for the application of green building certification.
The control of maximum height and easing of housing act permits.
The allotment for special repairs and reserve for residential repairs.
The application plan is also proposing a step-by-step application that is carried out at unit level, not
radical applications. It was identified that, considering the construction of support and infill, each
individual unit should separate their control of services system such as electrical, plumbing and water
supply system. It also should be eased for inspection during maintenance and installation of parts for
services system.
9. Conclusion
To make exchangeability and (multiple) reuse of building components achievable in practice and to
allow adaptability of constructions through reconfiguration, design should focus on standardisation of
form and dimension of the basic elements of construction systems on one hand, and on the use of building
components composed by dry assembled compatible basic elements on the other hand. A new direction
of architectural programming for adaptable housing of precast panel system should be developed further,
based on the adaptability model in this research. This can allow designers to understand and meet design
standard and user needs.
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