Whether you are actively working in the building industry or just someone looking for construction options, the term IBS or Industrialised Building System is something you would have come across. To understand what IBS can do for you and how it can help to make your building project more efficient, you must first understand how this system works.
WHAT IS IBS?
Industrialised Building System or IBS is a term used in Malaysia for a technique of construction where components are manufactured either on-site or off-site and then assembled into a building. In other parts of the world, this same concept is known as “Pre-fabricated/Pre-fab Construction” but in Malaysia, the term IBS is most commonly used.
Although there are numerous benefits to using an Industrialised Building System the uptake in the Malaysian construction industry is still relatively low according to a study commissioned by the Construction Industry Development Board of Malaysia (CIDB). They attribute this fact due to the industry stakeholders’ resistance towards change, or the insufficient information regarding the feasibility of change to IBS. To tackle this issue, CIDB is actively promoting the use of IBS through various promotion programmes, training and incentives.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
There a few types of IBS solutions being used in Malaysia but the kind that we use here at Procrop IBS is called Steel Formwork Systems.
The concept is quite simple. Once we have a compatible plan of the structure, we will fabricate the necessary steel frames at our factory. Then, these steel frames will be transported over to the job site where it will be assembled into what we call a formwork structure. Next, the formwork will be filled with foam concrete. Once the structure dries, the formwork can then be removed leaving behind the completed concrete building.
Other IBS solutions include “Pre-cast Concrete Framing, Panel and Box Systems” where entire structures are pre-built either onsite or in a factory and then assembled at the site.
WILL ALL IBS BUILDINGS LOOK THE SAME?
When you imagine an industrialised process, many would tend to think that the end-product will all be the same. However, because we use a Steel Formwork technique, we are quite flexible in terms of design and can tailor-make each project to fit the customer’s needs.
Stay tuned for the next chapter where we compare the benefits of IBS against traditional building techniques.