Potential of Green Construction in Malaysia: Industrialised Building System (IBS) vs Traditional Construction Method

Abstract

This study is conducted to compare between the two approaches of construction. It is carried out through case studies on construction sites, distribution of a total of 100 questionnaires as well as interviewing respondents who are related to this discourse. The case studies for this research were carried out at four construction sites within the Malaysian state of Penang. Two case studies used Industrialised Building System method while the remaining two deployed the traditional method of construction. Based on the analysis of obtained results, it can be surmised that the Industrialised Building System approach has more to offer compared to the traditional method. Among these advantages are; reduced construction durations, reduced overall cost, reduced labour requirements, better site conditions and the production of components of higher quality among others. This study also managed to determine the perceptions of key players in the industry and their rationales in preferring the traditional approach while at the same time, admitting to the edges offered by the Industrialised Building System.