'Projects RM100m and above should use IBS'

KUALA LUMPUR: The Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), the country's construction industry watchdog, has proposed that the government require all construction projects, worth RM100 million and above, use Industrialised Building System (IBS).

In a statement yesterday, the board's chief executive Datuk Seri Dr Judin Abd Karim said the requirement to use IBS, especially prefabricated walls, will contribute towards enhancing the productivity of the construction industry, and reducing dependence on unskilled foreign labour.

"The utilisation of IBS by the private sector is of paramount importance as the sector holds more than 60 per cent of the total construction project value.

"About 90 per cent of residential projects such as flats, condomi-niums and terrace houses are built by the private sector.

"These projects have high IBS adoption potential because of its repetitive nature," he said.

Judin made the recommenda-tion when launching the IBS and Mechanisation Seminar 2012 recently.

Judin said when the first construction industry roadmap was introduced by CIDB in 2003, the take up rate of IBS in the construction sector was merely 15 per cent.

The government recognised that as a large single buyer it can influence and dictate the method of construction.

The government issued a treasury circular in 2008 that mandated all government projects attain no less than 70 per cent IBS content for public-sector projects.

With the public sector now on the IBS track, the next opportunity and challenge is to convince private-sector project owners to increase the usage of IBS.

CIDB is now in the second IBS roadmap from 2011-2015.

More rigorous efforts are being put to ensure that by the end of 2015, the take-up rate of IBS in the construction industry by the private sector will increase to 50 per cent from the current 30 per cent.

The promotion of IBS and mechanisation of the construction industry has been among the core initiatives of CIDB to increase productivity, efficiency and effectiveness of the industry.

IBS implementation also ensures a safer work environment at construction sites and produce minimum amount of wastage when compared with traditional construction methods.

By Business Times