1.

0 REPORT
1.1 INTRODUCTION

The building sector is critical to the country's growth. The diverse social and
economic infrastructure initiatives conducted by the industry demonstrate its
contribution. For decades, Malaysia's building sector has been an important aspect
of the country's economy. Despite accounting for less than 5% of GDP, its
contribution has helped stimulate other industries such as manufacturing, education,
and financial services.

The construction sector's growth is likely to decelerate as a result of soon-to-be

finished mega projects, as well as the property overhang issue in the non-residential
category (Ministry of Finance,2019).
The government estimates that inflation would fall to 4.5 percent in 2018 from 6.7
percent in 2017.

The services industry contributed 55.3 percent of the GDP, followed by

manufacturing (23 percent), mining (8 percent), agriculture (7.8 percent), and
construction (7.8 percent) (4.5 percent).
Malaysia's contribution to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) has been
estimated to be approximately 3-6 percent every year during the time of growing
economic development.

Various Movement Control Order (MCO) stages have been enforced across the
country from 18 March 2020 to prevent the spread of covid-19. So, the Malaysian
economy has registered negative growth for three consecutive quarters due to the
domestic supply and demand dynamics and the effect of the foreign sector.

When it comes to building construction, there are several materials that we employ,
including cement, brick, aluminium, timber,glass etc.
2.0 REPORT
2.1 LITERATURE REVIEW

What is glass? Glass is an inorganic solid substance that is generally transparent or

translucent, as well as hard, brittle, and resistant to the elements. It is created by
rapidly chilling molten components such as silica sand to prevent the creation of
visible crystals. Since ancient times, glass has been used to make utilitarian and
aesthetic products, and it is now highly significant in uses as diverse as kitchenware,
and telecommunications and especially in construction.

Despite the construction sector's forecasted slower growth, the glass industry is likely
to remain robust and continue to align itself with the country's infrastructure
investment. Malaysia Glass Association president Woo Wan Zheng stated that the
glass business in Malaysia has been gradually increasing, with industry participants
exploiting their improved manufacturing facilities even more. "Each sector in our
glass industry has been rising as we adopt countless emerging technologies in
glassmaking," she said at Glasstech Asia 2018. "Aside from that, Malaysia has been
luring foreign industry players to arranged their factories and businesses here, which
will hopefully keep the value chain," she added.

According to a 2017 analysis by Global Market Insights Inc, global flat glass
manufacturing in 2016 exceeded US$80 million (RM336 million).
According to the estimate, demand from the construction industry would hit 120
million tonnes in 2024, surpassing the US$100 million threshold.

Glass is used in the following goods, which are not exhaustive:

 The packaging (jars for food, bottles for drinks, flacon for cosmetics and
pharmaceuticals)
 Tablecloths (drinking glasses, plate, cups, bowls)
 Buildings and housing (windows, facades, conservatory, insulation,
reinforcement structures)
 Furniture and interior design (mirrors, partitions, balustrades, tables, shelves,
lighting)
 Electronics and appliances (oven doors, cook top, TV, computer screens, smart-
phones)
 Transportation and automobiles (windscreens, backlights, light weight but
reinforced structural components of cars, aircrafts, ships, etc.)
 Medical technology, biotechnology, life science engineering, and optical glass
are all examples of technologies.
 Radiation shielding from X-rays and gamma rays (radiology) (nuclear)
 Cables made of fibre optics (phones, TV, computer: to carry information)
 Energy from renewable sources (solar-energy glass, windturbines)

Types of glass

1. Water glass
2. Photo chromatic glass
3. Pyrex glass
4. Lead crystal glass
5. Soda glass
6. Xena glass
7. Flint Glass
8. Crown glass
9. Crookes glass
10. Quartz glass

Top glass manufacturer in Malaysia

 ML Global Berhad
 Kim Hin Industry Berhad
 White Horse Berhad

There are several varieties of glass, which influences glass costs.

 The form of glass/mirrors selected – whether tempered or non-tempered glass,

tinted glass/mirrors, or larger glass (more than 10 feet high).

 Thickness - if the needed thickness of glass is 5mm, 6mm, 10mm, or 12mm, the
price will vary.

 Project Location and Accessibility - If your project's site is very far away or very
difficult to reach (e.g., no lift), the price may be higher.

 Colour Glass Cost – The thickness of the glass used and the number of coatings
necessary will decide the pricing of our colour glass. Metallic colours, for
example, may be more costly.

 Categories of Accessories - Certain glass structures, such as glass doors,

canopies, and stairs, come with a wide range of potential accessories (such as
handrail, supporting frame or handles). The cost will vary depending on the type.
2.2 DEMAND & SUPPLY

Demand

In economics, demand is the amount of an item that customers are eager and able to
purchase at various rates during a specific time period. The demand curve is the
connection between price and quantity demand.

The five demand determinants are as follows:

1. The cost of the product or service

 The rules of supply and demand state that as the price of a product increases,
so will demand. For example, if the price of crude oil rises, so will the price of
gasoline in gas stations. As a result, depending on the consumer's income, they
will drive less to save petrol. This trend is evident on public holidays, when
individuals travel shorter distances to see relatives or go on vacation.
Similarly, a price adjustment might cause demand for a linked product to vary.
 For example, if we consider the price of crude oil again, other items related with
gasoline may become more expensive. For example, the cost of railway travel
may climb when more people choose to travel by rail. When the price of gasoline
lowers, however, more people will return to the roads, causing the price of train
tickets to decline.

2. Purchaser earnings
 When a person's salary increases, he or she may afford to buy more costly
goods or buy them in larger quantities. As a result, there is a rise in demand. In
contrast, if incomes fall, demand is likely to fall. Typically, this tendency will have
a significant impact on 'luxury' markets such as trips, vehicles, or restaurants.
Furthermore, things that see a drop in demand as income levels grow are
referred to as 'inferior goods.' Although this does not always imply inferior quality,
the product's market performance results in a negative demand curve.

3. Prices for similar products or services—either complimentary and

purchased with a certain item, or replacements purchased in place of a
product.
 Complementary goods - When the price of one product rises, the quantity
requested of a complementary product falls. For example, a rise in the price of
bread reduces demand for butter. This is due to the items' complimentary nature.
 Substitute Product - When the price of one product rises, so does the demand
for a substitute product. For example, a rise in tea prices will boost demand for
coffee while decreasing demand for tea.

4. 4.Customer tastes or preferences will influence consumer forecasts about

whether product prices will rise or fall in the future
 If customers believe the price of a product will grow in the future, demand for that
product will rise in the present. For example, if gasoline prices are expected to
climb in the next week, motorists will fill up now. Conversely, client attitudes,
tastes, and interests can influence demand in ways that are not immediately
related to cost. For example, if a well-known celebrity endorses a product,
demand may rise. In contrast, if a scientific research concludes that a product is
harmful to your health, demand will fall.
5. The quantity of purchasers in the market is the sixth driver of aggregate
demand.
 The quantity of purchasers has a significant impact on total or net demand. As
the population grows, so does the demand. Furthermore, this holds true
regardless of commodity price fluctuations.s formula explains the connection
between demand and its five determinants:

qD = f (price, income, prices of related goods, tastes, expectations)

Law of demand

 Price of good increase , QD decrease

 Price of good decrease , QD increase

Supply

Supply is a core economic phrase that refers to the total quantity of a particular item
or service that consumers may get. When shown on a graph, supply can refer to the
amount available at a particular price or the amount available through a range of
prices.

The following are some of the primary elements that might influence product supply:

 Price
 The market's number of sellers
 The cost of the resources utilized to manufacture the product
 Subsidies and tax rates
 Technological advancements and automation
 The vendors' expectations
 The cost of linked goods
 The cost of joint items produced in the same procedure.

Law of supply

 Price of good increase , supply increase

 Price of goods decrease , supply decrease

2.3 CONCEPT OF MECHANISM MARKET

The market mechanism connects the acts of three economic agents: customers,
producers, and owners of production elements. It also defined as the intersection
point between the combination of demand curve (DD) and supply curve (SS) into one
graph.

Equilibrium

Demand same as supply

Surplus:
Higher supply than demand

Shortage
Demand exceeds supply

Changes in market equilibrium:

Price control :-

1. Ceiling price (max price)=

 Sellers are not permitted to charge more than that.

 Governmentally mandated
 Market equilibrium is below

 It can fall but cannot rise

2. Floor price ( min price) =

 Sellers have the option to charge more than the market price.

 Legally set by government

 Above market equilibrium

 It can rise but cannot fall

4.0 CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

Mainly, glass has 5 engineering properties which has made it a popular material
widely used in the construction industry.

Glasses are transparent, this allows people to see through it. This engineering trait
causes transparency from both or only one side while the other acts as a mirror. The
strength of a glass can also be tampered by adding in admixtures and laminates and
improve its modulus rupture value. Another important engineering aspect in glass is
its U value, this means how much heat is transferred when it passes or touches the
glass. A low U value is usually provided in insulated glass units.

Other than that, glasses have a lot of work-ability and recycling properties. It can be
moulded and blown into various shapes during melting, leaving a lot of space for
creativity. If any type of glasses break, it can 100% be recycled and used a raw
material in construction work. Its Transmittance also allows a certain fraction of light
to pass through the glass, deeming it useful for almost any type of buildings.

The following shows the types of glasses used in the construction industry and its
advantages:

1. Float Glass

(1.5mm 1.8mm 1.9mm 2.0mm Transparent Clear Float Glass Sheets)

Float glasses are manufactured from sodium silicate. Its clear and flat properties
cause a glare and is also free from any distortion. These glasses chemically stable
and are resistant to corrosion which are suitable for shop fronts, public places and
any other open places.
2. Shatterproof glass

Shatterproof glasses are globally used for skylights, windows, and even
floors. A type plastic polyvinyl butyral is added during the process of making
this glass. It does not form sharp-edged pieces when it is broken. This type of
glass is very convenient for shops or residentials and moreover, safer.

3. Laminated glass

Laminated glass is made up of two or more layers of glass which are bonded
together permanently. These interlayers create a string uniformed layer when
broken, they come in various thickness and different glass combinations to
provide different types of qualities. Laminated glasses are usually used for
building with high risk of facing natural disasters.

4. Extra clean glass

Extra clean glass is photocatalytic and hydrophilic. These properties make

them stain proof and provides a beautiful appearance, maintenance is also
easy when it comes to the extra clean glass.
5. Chromatic glass

This glass is used in ICU’s and meeting rooms because it can control its own
transparent efficiency. This glass may have heat sensitive lamination, electric
lamination and also light sensitive lamination which all helps protects the
interior from outside daylight.

6. Tinted glass

Tinted glass is basically just coloured glass. It is normal glass mixed with
colour producing ingredients such as iron oxide, cobalt, titanium etc. that does
not affect the glass properties. Tinted windows are also energy efficient and
helps reduce energy bills if they are specifically designed to absorb heat.
They also provide a certain amount of sun protection.

7. Toughened glass

Also called known as tempered glass. It is a durable glass with low visibility
which convenient for privacy. This type of glass comes in any types of
thickness but forms dangerous small granular chunks when it breaks.
8. Glass blocks

These glass bricks are produced by pressing two different halves of glass
during the melting process. Mainly, they are used architecturally in the
construction of walls and skylights. An aesthetic display is achieved when
light passes through these glass blocks.

9. Glass wool

Glass wool is a fire-resistant glass made up of fibres of glass. It provides

good sound and thermal insulation and is light-weight and easy to install.

10. Insulated glaze units

This type of glass contains two or three separated glass layers by air or
vacuum. They are good insulators as they cannot allow heat through it
because of the air in-between the layers. They usually function as
soundproofing, energy saving and for added safety measures in construction.