Construction Technology 1

Chapter 8: Construction
Technologies
Prepared by:
Ts. Dennis Chan
Prof. Tech (Building & Construction Technology) MBOT
Member TAM; Grad. BEM; Grad. IEM; HRDF Certified Trainer
Panel Assessor TTAC MBOT; Certified MyCREST Facilitator
M. Eng (Civil-Structure)
B. Eng (Hons)(Civil-Construction Management)
Objectives

 To recognise the importance of sustainability in

construction.
 To discuss how elements of sustainability can be
considered during the design and construction
phases.
 Sustainability

 In constructing and occupying buildings, we expend

vast quantities of the earth’s resources and generate a
significant portion of the earth’s environmental
pollution.
 Building construction and operation cause many forms
of environmental degradation that place an increasing
burden on the earth’s resources and jeopardize the
future of the building industry and societal health and
welfare.
 Sustainability

 Sustainability may be defined as meeting the needs of

the present generation without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their needs.
 Sustainability must be addressed on a life-cycle basis,
from the origins of the materials for a building, through
the manufacture and installation of these materials and
their useful lifetime in the building, to their eventual
disposal when the building’s life is ended.
Green Tools Applied in Different Countries
 Assessing Green Buildings (GBI)
 In Malaysia, the Green Building Index is an environmental
rating system for buildings developed by PAM
(Pertubuhan Arkitek Malaysia / Malaysian Institute of
Architects) and ACEM (the Association of Consulting
Engineers Malaysia) in year 2009.
 The Green Building Index (GBI) is Malaysia’s first
comprehensive rating system for evaluating the
environmental design and performance of Malaysian
buildings.
Assessing Green Buildings (GBI)

 Six (6) main criteria include:

 Energy Efficiency
 Indoor Environment Quality
 Sustainable Site Planning & Management
 Materials & Resources
 Water Efficiency
 Innovation.
Source: http://www.greenbuildingindex.org/Resources/GBI%20Tools/GBI%20NREB%20Data%20Centre%20Tool%20V1.0.pdf
Assessing Green Buildings (MyCREST)

 The second green tool was developed in year 2012 in

Malaysia in by Construction Industry Development
Board (CIDB), it is called MyCREST.
 MyCREST is an Carbon Reduction Sustainable Tool
for sustainable building rating system or tool which
aims at quantifying, reducing built environment’s
impact in terms of carbon emissions and
environmental implication.
Assessing Green Buildings (MyCREST)

 In comparison with GBI, MyCREST is not

only assessed on the design and
construction phases, it also covers the
operation & maintenance phase.
 By 2020, it is mandatory for public projects
worth RM50 mil & above; while the GBI is of
voluntary basis.
Overall Impact in Terms of Carbon Emission During the Different Phases
in a Building’s Life Cycle
Category of Criteria (MyCREST)
Assessing Green Buildings (MyCREST)

 A project can achieve TWO (2) types of final

certification and final score:
 MyCREST Building Design and Construction
certification
 MyCREST Building Design and Construction
and O&M certification with “Carbon-reduced
Award Label”
“Carbon-reduced Award Label”
SUSTAINABLE APPROACHES
(Construction Activities)
Considerations Of Sustainability –
Construction Stage
 Proper timing of erosion and sedimentation control
strategies. (3 points in MyCREST)
 Temporary drainage channels and perimeter swale
should be constructed to carry the pollutant water directly
to the treatment device, shall be in place before the
commencement of a construction activity.
 Protection of slopes greater than 10%.
 Containment of spills & proper disposal of the
contaminated material and hazardous wastes.
Considerations Of Sustainability –
Construction Stage
 Preservation and protection of existing soil and
vegetation by non-disturbance to specified site
areas during construction.
Considerations Of Sustainability –
Construction Stage
 Reducing carbon emission from transportation and
machinery used during the construction period and
activity. (2 points in MyCREST)
 Choose the right machine, a plant/machine that
is more fuel efficient (low carbon fuel) and keep
the machine maintained regularly.
 Appropriate operation of machinery to reduce
idling time and power consumption.
Proper route for construction machinery Wash Trough at entrance/exit
Considerations Of Sustainability –
Construction Stage
 Carbon sequestration strategy by preserving trees to reduce
intrusion on the natural environment. (2 points in MyCREST)
 Preserve more than 80% of trees with trunk diameter
larger than 28 cm.
 Preserve and restore including planting new vegetation
(native/adaptive) on 20% of site area including building
footprint; with 10% will achieve diameter of more than 28
cm when mature.
Considerations Of Sustainability –
Construction Stage
 Carbon sequestration strategy by preserving trees to reduce
intrusion on the natural environment. (2 points in MyCREST)
 Preserve more than 80% of trees with trunk diameter
larger than 28 cm.
 Preserve and restore including planting new vegetation
(native/adaptive) on 20-30% of site area including
building footprint, with at least 10% from this percentage
of planting consisting of the trees measuring more than
28 cm in diameter when fully mature.
Considerations Of Sustainability –
Construction Stage
 Implementation of comprehensive environmental
management plan during the construction period.
(3 points in MyCREST)
 Prepare an Environmental Management Plan
(EMP- monitoring of air/dust/smoke/noise) and
conduct a complete Erosion Sedimentation
Control Plan (ESCP).
Considerations Of Sustainability –
Construction Stage
 Adoption of environmentally sustainable practices
throughout the construction stage. (3 points in MyCREST)
 All design and Construction team to certify and
implement ISO 14001 procedure.
 Effective implementation of environmentally friendly
programs/trainings including monitoring and setting
targets to minimise energy use, water use and
construction waste.
Considerations Of Sustainability –
Construction Stage
 Keeping the record/documentation of electrical
consumption during construction stage for
minimising the energy consumption by on-site
utilities. (Eg. site office, worker accommodation
etc.) (1 point in MyCREST)
Considerations Of Sustainability –
Construction Stage
 Reducing the level of construction waste sent to
the landfill. (2 points in MyCREST)
 Collection and storage of construction waste
through segregation bins.
 Recycle 50% of the non-hazardous construction
waste.
 Establishment of Construction Waste
Management Plan.
Considerations Of Sustainability –
Construction Stage
 Use of rainwater harvesting or recycled storm water
and efficient water fittings (low flow fixtures) at the site
such as site office, canteen, workers’ accommodation,
toilet, showroom etc. (2 points in MyCREST)
SUSTAINABLE APPROACHES
(Construction Materials)
 Considerations Of Sustainability –
Wood Construction
 A significant fraction of the lumber delivered to a construction site
is wasted as it is cut off when each piece is sawed to size and
shape and ends up on the scrap heap, which is usually burned or
taken to a land.
 On-site cutting of lumber also generates considerable quantities
of sawdust.
 Construction site waste can be reduced by designing buildings
that utilise full standard lengths of lumber and full sheets of wood
panel materials/ prefabricated timber system. (IBS application in
MyCREST)
 Considerations Of Sustainability –
Paints And Other Architectural Coatings
 Paints, adhesives & sealants can be significant emitters of
Volatiles Organic Compounds (VOC), other toxic or unpleasant-
smelling chemicals.
 Water-based acrylic latex paints generally have lower VOC
emissions than solvent-based paints (oil-based); Use adhesives
like acrylics or phenolic resins. (2 points in MyCREST)
 Paints that wear quickly and require frequent recoating may
increase VOC emissions over the full life of a facility in
comparison to others with higher emissions that are more
durable and require less frequent recoating.
 Considerations Of Sustainability –
Brick Masonry
 The thermal mass effect of brick masonry can be a useful
component of fuel-saving heating and cooling strategies such
as solar heating and night time cooling.
 However, it can be a source of solar heat gain in tropical
countries like Malaysia. Hence, deep recesses or deep
overhangs (more than 1m) or self-shading mechanisms shall
be considered in design. (2 points in MyCREST)
 Brick masonry is a durable form of construction that requires
relatively little maintenance and can last a very long time.
 Brick masonry is resistant to moisture damage and mould
growth.
Deep recesses
 Considerations Of Sustainability –
Brick Masonry
 When a brick building is demolished, sound bricks may be
cleaned of mortar and reused (once their physical properties
have been verified as adequate for the new use).
 Brick waste can be crushed and used for landscaping. Brick
and mortar waste can also be reused as on-site fill. Much
such waste, however, is disposed of off-site in landfills.
(1 point in MyCREST)
Landscaping using recycled brick waste
 Considerations Of Sustainability –
Stone And Concrete Masonry
 Stone and concrete masonry are dense & non-combustible
materials that can effectively reduce sound transmission
between adjacent spaces.
 Lightweight concrete masonry units have greater thermal
resistance than more dense concrete units, stone, or brick.
 It has lower U value and thus can help in reducing the overall
thermal transfer value (OTTV). (Requirement in MyCREST for all
buildings to have OTTV: ≤ 50W/m2)
 Considerations Of Sustainability –
Stone And Concrete Masonry
 When a building with stone or concrete masonry is
demolished, the stone or masonry units can be crushed and
recycled for use as on-site fill or as aggregate for paving.
 Some building stone can be salvaged for new construction.
(1 point in MyCREST)
 Considerations Of Sustainability –
Steel Frame Construction
 Steel fabrication and erection are relatively clean, efficient
processes, although the paints and oils used on steel members
can cause air pollution.
 Steel frames are lighter in weight than concrete frames that
would do the same job. This means that a steel building generally
has smaller foundations and requires less excavation work.
 Steel exposed to weather needs to be repainted periodically
unless it is galvanised, given a long-lasting polymer coating, or
made of more expensive stainless steel.
 Considerations Of Sustainability –
Steel Frame Construction
 Steel framing members in building walls and roofs should be
thermally broken or insulated in such a way that they do not
conduct heat between indoors and outdoors.
 When a steel building frame is demolished, its material is
almost always recycled.
(Any project with above 50% of IBS application can acquire
2 points in the MyCREST scorecard, 3 points if beyond 70%
Application)
 Considerations Of Sustainability –
Concrete Construction
 Pervious concrete, made with coarse aggregate only, can be
used to make porous pavings that allow storm water to filter
into the ground, helping to recharge aquifers and reduce
storm water runoff. (1 points in MyCREST as it encourages storm water
infiltration)
 Lighter-coloured concrete paving reflects more solar radiation
than darker asphalt paving, leading to lower paving surface
temperatures and reduced urban heat island effects. (2 points in
MyCREST if >55% provision of the carpark area)
Pervious recycled concrete pavement
 Considerations Of Sustainability –
Concrete Construction
 Interior concrete slabs made with white concrete can improve
illumination, visibility, and worker safety within interior spaces
without the expense or added energy consumption of extra light
fixtures or increasing the light output from existing fixtures.
 White concrete is made with white cement and white aggregates.
 Photo catalytic agents (titanium dioxide) can be added to
concrete used in the construction of roads and buildings. In the
presence of sunlight, the concrete chemically breaks down
carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, benzene, and other air
pollutants. (Self-cleaning)
Photocatalytic decomposition/removal of various pollutants to a greener environment
 Considerations Of Sustainability –
Precast Concrete Construction
 Precast concrete production encourages the reuse of
formwork, reducing waste.
 Because precast concrete is manufactured in a controlled,
factory-like setting, raw materials are used more efficiently
and less waste is produced.
(Any project with above 50% of IBS application can acquire
2 points in the MyCREST scorecard, 3 points if beyond 70%)
 Considerations of sustainability –
Precast concrete construction
 Precast concrete elements with high-quality architectural
finishes reduce the need for volatile organic compound
emitting paints or other finish coatings.
 Precast concrete wall panels with properly sealed joints have
low permeability to air leakage, reducing building heating and
cooling costs and contributing to good indoor air quality.
 Precast concrete wall panels can be reused when buildings
are altered.
Precast concrete wall panels
 Considerations of sustainability –
Roofing
 A roof can capture rainwater and snowmelt and conduct them to a
cistern, tank, or pond for use as domestic water, industrial water, or
irrigation.
 A properly proportioned overhang can shade south-facing windows from
the high summer sun but admit warming light from the low winter sun.
 A light-coloured roof covering, if kept clean, can reflect half or more of
the solar radiation striking its surface, improving occupant comfort and
significantly reducing the heating load on the occupied space below.
 Even darker-hued roof materials, when coated with specially formulated
cool colour pigments, can reflect 25 percent or more of solar radiation.
 The Sun in the sky during the Winter in the Northern
hemisphere

(Can reduce OTTV requirement and acquire 2 points in MyCREST if the design
has deep overhangs)
 Considerations Of Sustainability –
Relating To Glass
 If it is not broken by accident or improper installation, glass lasts
for a very long time with little degradation of quality, often much
longer than most other building components.
 Glass is inert and does not affect indoor air quality. It is easily
kept clean and free of moulds and bacteria.
 If badly used, glass can contribute to summer time overheating
from unwanted solar gain, excessive wintertime heat losses due
to inherently low R-values, visual glare, winter time discomfort
caused by radiant heat loss from the body to cold glass surfaces,
and condensation of moisture that can damage other building
components.
 Low R Value High R Value

R = 1/U

Thermal transmittance (U)

 Considerations Of Sustainability –
Relating To Glass
 A well used glass can bring solar heat into a building in winter
and exclude it in summer, with attendant savings in heating
and cooling energy. It can bring daylight into a building
without glare, reducing both the use of electricity for lighting
and the cooling load produced by that lighting.
(1 point in MyCREST if >60% of the occupied area has
direct line of sight/outdoor view through glazing)
 Considerations Of Sustainability –
Relating To Windows & Doors
 The thermal conductivity of the frame and the air leakage of the
window or door unit have very significant effects on the amount
of energy that will be required to heat and cool the building.
 Doors can leak significant quantities of heat by conduction
through the material of the door.
 Foam-core doors have better thermal performance than other
types.
 The performance of any exterior residential door can be
improved substantially by adding a storm door during the cold
season of the year.
 Considerations Of Sustainability –
Relating To Windows & Doors
 Air-lock vestibules can limit the amount of outdoor air that
enters a building when the exterior door is open, as well as
improve the comfort of building occupants.
 Revolving doors, which maintain an air seal regardless of
their position, are suitable alternatives to vestibules. All doors
should be tightly weather stripped to limit loss of conditioned
air. (1 point in MyCREST if infiltration rate does not exceed 0.5 ach (air change
per hour))
Vestibule

Revolving doors
 Considerations
Considerations of Of
sustainability – –
Sustainability
Relating
RelatingtoTo
windows
Windows & doors
& Doors
 When a building with wood windows is demolished, the windows are
generally sent to landfills or incinerators and are not recycled.
 Aluminium frames must be thermally broken for the sake of energy
efficiency. They are often recycled during demolition and should be
recycled in every case.
 PVC window frames are thermally efficient. They can be recycled during
demolition, and a significant percentage is being recycled at the present
time.
 Steel window and door frames are made from recycled steel and can be
recycled again when a building is demolished. Their thermal performance is
moderate and can be improved greatly by the insertion of thermal breaks.
(1 point in MyCREST if 10% of material cost is of recycled content; 2 points
if Ditto 15%)
UPVC waste pile
 Considerations Of Sustainability –
Exterior Wall System
 The design of the exterior wall has a greater effect on lifetime
energy consumption than any other factor.
 A poorly designed all-glass box loses excessive amounts of heat
in winter and gains excessive solar heat in summer.
 Glass should be used where it can supply day lighting and
provide views.
 If it cannot be effectively shaded, it should be avoided where
summer time overheating could otherwise occur or where
occupants could be subject to excessive glare at times of the day
when the sun is low in the sky.
 Considerations Of Sustainability –
Exterior Wall System
 Where appropriate, south-facing glass can be used to
provide solar heat to the building in winter, but care must be
taken to avoid glare, local overheating, and ultraviolet
deterioration of interior surfaces and furnishings that are
exposed to sunlight.
 As photovoltaic (PV) cells become more economical,
consideration should be given to using south-facing surfaces
of the exterior wall to generate electrical energy.
(1 point in MyCREST if 0.5% renewable energy from total energy
consumption; 2 points if Ditto 1%; 3 points if Ditto 2%; 4 points if Ditto 3%; )
Solar PV Louvres

PV curtain wall
 Considerations Of Sustainability –
Aluminium Cladding
 Aluminium cladding is easy to erect because of its light
weight and simple connections.
 Aluminium cladding seldom needs maintenance, lasts for a
very long time, and can be recycled when a building is
demolished.
 Aluminium foils used as vapour retarders, components of
insulation systems, and radiant heat barriers save large
amounts of heating and cooling energy.
 Aluminium cladding Aluminium foils – vapour control
(Requirement in MyCREST for all buildings to have OTTV: ≤ 50W/m2)
 Considerations Of Sustainability –
Selecting Interior Finishes
 Floor plans that are flexible and easily adapted to new uses and
partition systems that are easy to modify to encourage building
reuse.
 The strategic use of high ceilings, low partitions, transparency,
reflective surfaces, and light colours can maximise day lighting
potential and views to the exterior.
(1 point in MyCREST if >20% area has daylight luminance with an above of 250
lux (for occupied area) and 50 lux (for transitional area); 2 point if >30% ditto )
 Spaces designed with exposed structure and without suspended
ceilings save materials.
 Considerations Of Sustainability –
Selecting Interior Finishes
 Gypsum board waste generated during construction can be
minimised by sizing walls and ceilings to make efficient use of
whole boards or by ordering custom-sized boards for
nonstandard-size surfaces.
 Gypsum board scrap can be permanently stored in the hollow
cavities of finished walls, eliminating disposal and transportation
costs and reducing the amount of material destined for landfills.
 Some dust is generated by the cutting and sanding of gypsum
board and plaster.
Gypsum board waste
 Considerations Of Sustainability –
Gypsum Products
 Additives used in the manufacture of moisture-resistant and
re-resistant gypsum board are potential sources of volatile
organic compound (VOC) emissions.
 Paints, wall covering adhesives, and other products used to
finish gypsum surfaces can be significant emitters of VOCs,
and thus require care in selection and specification. (1 point in
MyCREST for low VOC paints/coatings)
 Considerations Of Sustainability –
Gypsum Products
 Acoustical ceiling tile can be a source of volatile organic
compound (VOC) emissions as well as a reservoir for
emissions from other sources.
 When the space above suspended ceilings is used as a
return air plenum for the building’s HVAC system,
contaminants and emissions from the acoustical tile can be
introduced into the system’s air stream and redistributed to
other parts of the building.
Acoustical ceiling tile
 Considerations Of Sustainability –
Finish Ceilings & Floors- Hard Flooring Materials

 Concrete, stone, masonry, ceramic tile, and cementitious mortars

and grouts are chemically inert and generally free of emissions.
 Organic adhesives used in tiling and resins used in thin set
terrazzo may be sources of emissions.
 Sealers applied to hard flooring materials to provide water
repellency and protection from staining are potential sources of
emissions.
 Solvent-based sealers generally have higher emissions than
water-based products. (1 point in MyCREST for low VOC
sealants/adhesives)
 Considerations Of Sustainability –
Finish Ceilings & Floors – Wood & Bamboo Flooring

 Bamboo is harvested in a 4- to 6-year cycle and is

considered a rapidly renewable material.
 Water-based finishes and waxes are generally lower emitting
than solvent-based finishes, but they may not be as durable
or as easy to apply.
Bamboo flooring Terrazzo
 Considerations Of Sustainability –
Finish Ceilings & Floors – Resilient Flooring

 Vinyl (polyvinyl chloride) is a component of many resilient

floor coverings and other interior finish products.
 Some rubber flooring is manufactured from recycled car tires.
 Natural rubber is a renewable resource extracted from
tropical rubber plants without harming the plant.
 Cork is a renewable material harvested in a 9-year cycle.
Vinyl flooring
Rubber flooring Cork flooring
 Considerations Of Sustainability –
Finish Ceilings & Floors – Carpet

 Factory-applied adhesives tend to have lower VOC emissions

than adhesives applied on the construction site.
 Stretch-in installation of sheet carpet and free-lay installation of
carpet tile eliminate the need for carpet adhesive.
 Carpet tile, which allows easy spot replacement, lessens the
need for full carpet replacement when a small area becomes
worn or damaged, thus extending the life of the carpet installation
and reducing waste.
(1 point in MyCREST for air quality test of Total VOC <3ppm)
 Carpet tack

Carpet tile + water based adhesive Stretch-in installation

END OF CHAPTER