Industrialized Building System in Singapore

A. Introduction
This paper is a review of IBS implementations in Singapore that would investigates the
limitations and opportunities in implementation of IBS in Singapore. Industrialized Building
System (IBS) defines as a construction technique in which components are manufactured in a
controlled area or environment (onsite or offsite). We also know this method as a pre-cast or pre-
fabricated construction such as in making concrete piles. Singapore already implemented IBS for
their Housing and Development Board (HDB) has implemented prefabrication in its construction
industry. IBS has many benefits such as labour reduction, cleaner and neater sites, easy
installation, fast completion, enchancement of quality finished products and flexibility.
Construction industries in countries like Singapore and Malaysia have shifted the
construction methods from conventional to prefabrication. Benefits of Industrialized Building
System have some limitations and hindrances as IBS is not widely adopted. In this paper we
highlight the Housing and Development Building (HDB) in Singapore which already applied the
IBS in their country.

B. Main Topic
Many Countries, Including Singapore is at different levels of development, and already
had formulated long-term plans to improve their construction industries. Singapore has a
successful construction industry development agency which was formed in 1984 initially as
construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) and become Building and Construction
Authority (BCA) in 1999 (Ofori, 2000). BCA is a government agency, and in Singapore the
government develops most of the residences and manages the Public accommodation. There are
three most popular types of residential units in high-rise buildings in Singapore, namely, BTO
(Build to Order), DBSS (Design, Build and Sell Schemes) and EC (Executive Condominium).
HDB offers BTO flats for sale which are public housing flats, private developers build
DBSS which are also public housing flats and EC is one that is constructed and sold by private
developers. BTO are the most affordable than the other two, whereas EC are the most expensive
option in Singapore. BTO is flat allocation system that offers flexibility in timing and location
for owner buying new HDB flats in Singapore. Eligible buyers planning to shift into a new HDB
apartment in the near future, can apply for apartments in their preferred location from specific
sites launched. Tender for construction will be called only if the number of applicants is at least
70% of the number of apartments in a specific contract, otherwise, the project is not built.
In 1963, Singapore experienced failures in the early stage of adoption of prefabrication
technology. They using trademarked French large panel and fabrication system and need to be
done by conventional methods. Then 1973, HDB took initiatives to re-attempts the IBS and in
1979 they introduced significant innovations such as Ferro-cement cladding system,
prefabricated Bathroom Units, precast pre-stressed composite floor system, architectural precast
facades as well as pre-cut and pre-bend reinforcement bars.
Advantages Findings Authors
Times Saving Reduces construction times includes the Marsono et al 2006
installations.
Labour Reduction Reduces labour on site, involves higher Warzawski, 1999
mechanism due to repeatability process.
Cost Reduction Reduces cost in labour cost and the repetitive Haroon et al, 2009
of formwork provides significant cost saings.

Limitations Findings Authors

Time Delay due to improper planning and Mohammad et al., 2016
conventional procurement approach.
Skills shortage Unskilled labours in IBS systems, lack of Mohammad et al., 2016
technical expertise.
Cost Cost overrun/high initial costs. Mohammad et al., 2016

C. Conclusion
After explained the HDB as the implementation of IBS in Singapore, HDB is helping so
much on the construction development in Singapore. I think Indonesia could adopt the HDB
methods for improving our progress on making Indonesia as a better country starting from our
construction area. Before improving the use of IBS, we rather maximizing it use by finding the
Function Theory conclusion of IBS and directly improving our human resources for improve
their skill on the IBS method that fit for our country.
D. References
 A Review of IBS Implementation in Malaysia and Singapore, International
Islamic University of Malaysia (Volume 16, Issue 2, page 323,333 (2018)
 Planning Malaysia (Journal of the Malaysian Institute of Planners)