ADOPTION OF THE INDUSTRIALIZED BUILDING SYSTEM FOR HOUSING DELIVERY IN NIGERIA
Abstract
The construction sector based on industry or Industrialized Building System (IBS) is a method of construction using the industrialized building materials at the manufacturing plant. This method can replace the conventional method and is able to; reduces the amount of foreign labor, improve the quality of construction, lower the cost, and reduce construction time. This study is intended to create a guideline that can be used to encourage all private construction projects in Nigeria to implement the IBS System in 2015. Therefore, this study was undertaken to assess the level of IBS usage in the building construction.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- Background of the study
Industrialised Building System is an advancement of the new construction technology for the time being. It is an alternative of construction that can change many aspects in building construction. The industrialized building system is a construction system that is built using pre-fabricated components and is systematically done using machine, formworks and other forms of mechanical equipment (Rahman & Omar, 2006). The components are manufactured offsite and once completed will be delivered to construction sites for assembly and erection (Rahman & Omar, 2006). It is also can be interpreted as a system which component is manufactured in factory and then installed on site based on the size and dimension of the component required. Furthermore, a system in which concrete components, prefabricated at site or in factory are assembly to form the structure with minimum in situ construction (rikha, 1999).
Industrialised Building System (IBS) is a term used in Malaysia for a technique of construction where by components are manufactured in a controlled environment, either at site or off site, placed and assembled into construction works. Worldwide, IBS is also known as Prefabricated/Pre-fab Construction, Modern Method of Construction (MMC) and Off-site Construction. CIDB Malaysia, through IBS Centre is promoting the usage of IBS to increase productivity and quality at construction sites through various promotion programmes, training and incentives. The content of IBS (IBS Score) is determined based on the Construction Industry Standard 18 (CIS 18: 2010); either manually, web application or fully automated CAD-based IBS Score calculator. IBS was first introduced in mid-sixties with the Circular Road Flat construction project that used pre-cast concrete; this was government’s beginning effort to use this smart method in public project (CIDB 2003). CIDB had placed the target to achieve a minimum IBS score that totalled 70% IBS content in public projects which involved state tender acquisition (Treasury 2008). Malaysian Government, through CIDB, has launched Road Map IBS 2003-2010 and 2011-2015 aimed to encourage IBS usage that can reduce construction industry’s reliance to on foreigner workforce (Nawi et al. 2012; Azman et al. 2011). IBS effectiveness study for government project carried out aims to assess IBS effectiveness on the use of foreign workers to that does not exceed 15% level towards year 2010 (CIDB 2010). IBS usage will put high standards in construction field through building material quality control (Nawi et al. 2011). As such, cases involving usage of low quality material and sub-standard construction practices would be reduced with the increased use of IBS. IBS is a construction system built by using prefabricated components; where component manufacturing is systematically performed using machinery, molds and other mechanical equipment (Azman, Ahmad, et al. 2012). Component that have been produced and completed off-site or in factory are sent directly to building site for installation (Rahman and Omar 2006; Azman, Ahamad, et al. 2012). Among advantages seen in IBS include; improved quality, cost effectiveness, health and security, waste reduction, efficiency and productivity (Nawi et al. 2014; Abedi and Fathi 2011). IBS is said to be able to replace the conventional labor oriented method (Hassim and Jaafar 2009). IBS usage in Malaysia is still at a lower scale and usually used in concentrated works like bridge construction and tunnel (Bakar 2009).Nigeria, like any other developing country, considers the construction industry as one of the main contributors to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It, influences the country’s economic activity, adds up to the government revenue, creates investment benefits and creates employment to specially trained workers.
