In line with plans to make the Industrialised Building System (IBS) mandatory for private sector projects in three years’ time, the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) held a town hall session at its convention centre in Jalan Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, with industry stakeholders.
Representatives from local authorities, government agencies and developers were among those who attended the session titled “Mandatory Usage of IBS in Build Industry Mechanism”. The purpose was to spread awareness of the product and to receive feedback that would pave the way towards incorporating the IBS in building projects in Malaysia, said CIDB chief executive Datuk Ahmad Asri Abdul Hamid, according to a report by The Star.
There was also a dialogue with representatives of the Works Ministry and Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry.
Since 2008, government projects exceeding RM10 million must reach a minimum 70 IBS score, but there was no such policy yet for private sector projects, which made up 72 per cent, or 4,851 projects, of all the construction projects in Malaysia last year.
“However, I am confident that the state authority, local government and private developers who have not implemented IBS in construction will follow suit,” said Works Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Zohari Akob.
Local Government Ministry secretary-general Mohammad Mentek said the direction of the policies were set and details were being finalised. “Once the government decides on the details of the policies, we will make amendments to the Uniform Building By Laws 1984 (UBBL 1984) as well as use it as a requirement in building’s Development Order application.
The proposal for IBS usage will be implemented through talks, and private companies are given a three-year transition period.
IBS is a construction technique where components are manufactured in a controlled environment, transported, positioned and assembled into a structure with minimal additional site work. CIDB has hopes that the government would allocate a RM500 million incentive in the upcoming Budget 2018 for the adoption of the technology and that the mechanisation tax rate will be reduced from 20 to five per cent.
“IBS technology involves higher utilisation of machinery equipment, which in turn would reduce the labour cost in the construction sector,” says Ahmad. — Construction+ Online
