Industrialized Building

Systems (IBS)

Industrialized Building Systems (IBS)

1. Industrialized Building Systems (IBS) An
overview
2. What are Industrialized Building Systems (IBS)?
3. Definitions - IBS
4. Concepts - IBS
5. Classification IBS
6. Essential Characteristics of IBS
7. Benefits of IBS
8. Shortcomings of IBS

1. Industrialized Building Systems (IBS)

An overview
Compared to other sectors, the construction
industry suffers from low productivity,
safety and quality control.

Industrialized Building Systems (IBS)

An overview
Traditional method of building process brings
all the workers, machineries and materials to
the ground where the building is to be
constructed. It contributes to inconsistent
quality, prone to delays, substantial
material waste, and dangerous working
environment.

Industrialized Building Systems (IBS)

An overview
Due to the traditional labour-intensive
practices, the 3-D Syndrome (Dirty, Difficult
& Dangerous) has always been associated
with the construction industry.

Industrialized Building Systems (IBS)

An overview
After World War II great necessity to
housing
and
building
and
high
demand were the real reasons for applying
of industrial methods based on economic
goals and realization of quick and cheap
and so mass housing.

2. What are Industrialized Building

Systems (IBS)?
Industrialization is a socio-economic
process through which a society will
change from pre-industrialization into
industrialization (Abdullah et al., 2009).

What
are
Industrialized
Systems (IBS)?

Building

This is mainly a part of wide modernization

process through development of new
technological
and
production
methods. This means that factory
production is based on centralization and
ordering of activities and mechanization of
operations
by
focusing
on
mass
production (Abdullah et al., 2009; Thanoon et al., 2003).

3. Definitions - IBS
Industrialization has demonstrated a high
capacity to reduce costs, to improve
quality and to make complex products
available for vast majority of people.
(Richard, 2005)

10

Definitions - IBS
An
industrialization
process
is
an
investment in equipment, facilities,
and
technology
for
objectives
of
maximizing
production
output,
minimizing
labor
resource,
and
improving quality. (Warswaki, 1999)

11

Definitions - IBS
A
construction
technique
in
which
components are manufactured in a
controlled environment (on or off site),
transported, positioned and assembled
into
a
structure
with
minimal
additional site works. (IBS Road Map of Malaysia,
2003)

12

4. Concepts - IBS
Automation
Robotics
Reproduction
Preassembly

Standardization
Mechanization
Prefabrication
Offsite Construction (OSC)

13

Concepts - IBS
Automation
Robotics
Reproduction
Preassembly

Standardization
Mechanization
Prefabrication
Offsite Construction (OSC)

Through automation, tasks performed by

labor
are
undertaken
by
tools
completely. A supervisor is still around
although
industrial
engineer
and
programmer
are
critical
participants
involved. (Richard, 2005)

14

Concepts - IBS
Automation
Robotics
Reproduction
Preassembly

Standardization
Mechanization
Prefabrication
Offsite Construction (OSC)

With robotics, same tools will acquire a

multi-axis flexibility to perform by
themselves diversified tasks. Likely robots
are too expensive to use for nailing of wood
or laying bricks. (Richard, 2005)

15

Concepts - IBS
Automation
Robotics
Reproduction
Preassembly

Standardization
Mechanization
Prefabrication
Offsite Construction (OSC)

The purpose of reproduction is short cut of

repetitive linear operations which are
common in traditional productions methods.
(Richard, 2005)

16

Concepts - IBS
Automation
Robotics
Reproduction
Preassembly

Standardization
Mechanization
Prefabrication
Offsite Construction (OSC)

Carried on as a process by which various

materials, pre-fabricated components or
equipment's are joined together at a
remote
location
for
subsequent
installation as a sub unit. (Abdullah et al., 2009)

17

Concepts - IBS
Automation
Robotics
Reproduction
Preassembly

Standardization
Mechanization
Prefabrication
Offsite Construction (OSC)

18

5. Classification IBS
Based on the structural aspects of the
systems, IBS can be divided into five
common types (CIDB, 2003)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Precast Concrete System

Formwork System
Block-work System
Steel Frame System
Timber Frame System

19

Classification IBS
1. Precast Concrete
System
Includes
pre-cast
concrete
columns,
beams,
slabs,
walls,
3DComponents
(Eg:
balconies,
staircases,
toilets,
lift
chambers,
refuse chambers etc.),
lightweight
pre-cast
concrete, as well as
permanent
concrete
formworks.

20

Classification IBS
2.
System

Formwork

Includes tunnel forms,

beams
and
columns
molding forms, permanent
steel formworks, metal
decks and etc.

21

Classification
IBS

3.
Block-work
System
Includes interlocking
concrete
masonry
units
(CMU),
lightweight concrete
blocks and etc.

22

Classification
IBS

4. Steel Frame
System
Covers steel trusses,
steel columns and
beams, portal frame
systems, roof trusses
and etc.

23

Classification IBS
5. Timber
System

Frame

Pre-fabricated
timber
frames,
beams
and
columns, roof trusses
and etc.

24

6. Essential Characteristics
of IBS
1.
2.
3.
4.

Closed System
Open System
Modular Coordination
Standardization
and
Tolerances
5. Mass Production

25

Essential Characteristics of
IBS
6. Specialization
7. Good Organization
8. Integration
9. Production Facility
10. Transportation
11. Equipment at Site

26

Essential Characteristics of IBS

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Closed System
Open System
Modular Coordination
Standardization and Tolerances
Mass Production

A closed system can be classified into two

categories, namely production based on
clients design and production based
on pre-casters design.

27

Essential Characteristics of IBS

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Closed System
Open System
Modular Coordination
Standardization and Tolerances
Mass Production

In view of the limitations inherent in the

closed system, an open system which
allows greater flexibility of design and
maximum coordination between the
designer and pre-caster has been
proposed.

28

Essential Characteristics of IBS

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Closed System
Open System
Modular Coordination
Standardization and Tolerances
Mass Production

Modular co-ordination is a co-ordinated

unified
system
for
dimensioning
spaces, components, fitting, etc. so that
all elements fit together without cutting or
extending even when the components and
fittings are manufactured by different
suppliers (Trikha, 1999).

29

Essential Characteristics of IBS

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Closed System
Open System
Modular Coordination
Standardization and Tolerances
Mass Production

For accomplishing the requirement of

modular co-ordination, all components
need
to
be
standardized
for
production. Such standardization of space
and elements need prescribing tolerances
at different construction stages such as
manufactured tolerances, setting out

30

Essential Characteristics of IBS

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Closed System
Open System
Modular Coordination
Standardization and Tolerances
Mass Production

The investment in equipment, human

recourses, and facilities associated with an
industrialization
can
be
justified
economically only when large production
volume is observed.

31

Essential Characteristics of
IBS
6. Specialization
7. Good Organization
8. Integration
9. Production Facility
10. Transportation
11. Equipment at Site

32

7. Benefits of IBS
1. The repetitive use of system
formwork made up steel, aluminum, etc.
and scaffolding provides considerable cost
savings (Bing et al. 2001).

33

Benefits of IBS
2. Construction operation is not
affected by adverse weather condition
because prefabricated component
is done in a factory controlled environment
(Peng, 1986).

34

Benefits of IBS
3. Prefabrication takes place at a
centralized factory, thus reducing labor
requirement at site. This is true
especially
when
high
degree
of
mechanization involved (Warszawski, 1999).

35

Benefits of IBS
4. An industrialised building system allows
for faster construction time because
casting of precast element at factory and
foundation work at site can occur
simultaneously. (Peng, 1986)

36

Benefits of IBS
5. An industrialized building system allows
flexibility in architectural design in
order to minimize the monotony of
repetitive facades (Warszawski, 1999).

37

8. Shortcomings of IBS
1. An IBS system can only be acceptable to
practitioners if its major advantageous can
supersede the conventional system.
However, up to date, there is inadequate
corroborative
scientific
research
undertaken to substantiate the benefits if
IBS system. (Trikha, 1999).

38

Shortcomings of IBS
2. Standardization of building elements
face resistance from the construction
industry due to aesthetic reservation
and economic reason. (Kampempool and
Suntornpong, 1986).

39

Shortcomings of IBS
3. The selection of a new IBS has been
hindered by lack of assessment criteria
set by the approving authorities. (Trikha, 1999).

40

References
Bing, L., Kwong, Y.W., and Hao, K.J. (2001) Seismic behaviour of connection
between precast concrete beams. CSE Research Bulletin, No.14
CIDB Singapore (1992) Raising Singapores construction productivity. CIDB
Construction Productivity Taskforce Report.
Peng, C.S. (1986) The scenario of industrialised building systems in
Malaysia. Proceedings of a
UNESCO/FEISEAP Regional workshop, UPM Serdang.
Trikha, D.N. (1999) Industrialised building systems. Prospects in Malaysia.
Proceedings World
Engineering Congress, Malaysia.
Warszawski, A. (1999) Industrialised and automated building systems.
Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. E & FN Spon.

41

Reading Material
Thanoon et. al (2003), The Essential Characteristics of Industrialised
Building System, International Conference on Industrialised Building
Systems, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Zabihi et. al (2013), Definitions, Concepts and New Directions in
Industrialized Building Systems (IBS), KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering,
17(6):1199-1205