This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on September 4, 2019

KUALA LUMPUR: S P Setia Bhd plans to use the industrialised building system (IBS) in the construction of upcoming landed-linked houses and prefabricated bath units in some of its projects to increase operational efficiency.

Its president and chief executive officer Datuk Khor Chap Jen said yesterday the IBS has increased efficiency of construction work and assembly processes, as well as improved quality and timeliness in project completion and handover.

“Setia has been one of the early adopters of the IBS. To-date, we have built more than 25,000 homes using this method.

“Besides mid-rise apartments, we have also used IBS in constructing prominent buildings including Setia City Mall in Setia Alam, the ACC & Specialist Centre at Hospital Kuala Lumpur, AIMST University in Sungai Petani, as well as affordable and medium-cost apartments in Setia Alam and Setia EcoHill,” Khor said in his speech at an event here to unveil the achievements of S P Setia’s subsidiary, Setia Precast Sdn Bhd.

The unit had been awarded the highest IBS score of 93.95 out of 100 in the country for the construction of the health ministry’s government quarters building along Jalan Bangsar here, a recognition which Khor said is a big motivating factor for the developer to continue incorporating IBS in its future projects.

Overall, the project saw below average wastage levels of 4% for steel and 1% for concrete, as opposed to about 8% to 10% for steel and 5% to 6% for concrete, if the company were to use conventional construction methods.

Construction Industry Development Board chief executive Datuk Ahmad Asri Abdul Hamid, who was also present, said the health ministry’s government quarters project marks a significant milestone for IBS implementation in Malaysia.

“The construction industry in Malaysia needs to step up the adoption of IBS as it will positively impact the productivity of the sector.

“Construction is one of the primary engines of the country’s economic growth, as it creates a multiplier effect which significantly impacts the nation’s overall development,” he said.