Norsalisma Ismail

Success Factors of Implementing Green Building in Malaysia

Green building is an outcome of a design which focuses on energy efficiency, thus reducing building impacts on human health and the environment during the building’s lifecycle. Modern building shows little regard for environmental and social impact over its entire life. Realizing this, a paradigm shift to build green buildings is needed. The Malaysian development commitment towards green building is still at an infancy stage. Therefore, the objective of this study is to identify the critical success factors (CSFs) for the implementation of green building in Malaysia. The policies and incentives that are supported by the government in promoting, encouraging, and emphasizing green building were determined. Literature review was conducted to derive the key factors of green building implementation. Various variables from different authors were summarized based on the frequency of occurrence. Seventeen variables of CSFs of implementation green building were obtained from this study. The variables were supported by structured interview and comparative of five green buildings in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya as case studies. The findings were used to establish the CSFs that determine the best practice for implementation of green building in Malaysia.

Strength Properties of Sustainable Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA)—Stabilized Landfill

Laboratory investigations were carried out to establish the potential utilization of palm oil fuel ash (POFA) in stabilizing landfill soil. POFA is a waste material from the palm oil industry in Malaysia. Currently, the disposal of this ash from a burning process to heat up boilers and generate electricity is a problem for palm oil companies, and hence an environmental pollution concern. Landfill on its own and in combination with laterite clay soil was stabilized using POFA either on its own or in combination with lime or Portland cement (PC). The traditional stabilizers of lime or PC were used as controls. The main aim was to investigate the potential of utilizing POFA as sustainable stabilizer material as a partial replacement of the traditional one. Compacted cylinder test specimens were made at typical stabilizer contents and moist cured for up to 60 days prior to testing for compressive and water absorption tests. The results obtained showed that landfill soil combined with laterite clay (50:50) stabilized with 20 % POFA: hydrated lime (50:50) and POFA: PC (50:50) recorded the highest values of compressive strength compared to the other compositions of stabilizers and soils. However, when the amount of POFA increased in the system the compressive strength values of the samples tended to decrease. It indicated that, high amount of POFA reduces the pozzolanic reaction and cementitious compound, which has a negative effect on soil particle bonding. These results suggest technological, economic, as well as environmental advantages of using POFA and similar industrial by-products to achieve sustainable infrastructure development with near-zero industrial waste.

Adaptability of activated carbon from palm oil kernel shell in the development of brake friction materials

Four friction material formulations composed of binder, reinforcing fiber, friction modifier and filler have been prepared through powder metallurgy route. The objective of this study is to investigate the possibility of palm oil kernel shell (PKS carbon) to replace the commercial carbon in the fabrication of brake friction materials. Sample H and HB are composed of the same vol. % of ingredients, except that sample H was utilizing commercial carbon (C Carbon) while sample HB was utilizing activated carbon from PKS carbon as their carbon ingredient. Selecting sample HB as based formulation, vol. % of PKS carbon was decreased by 50 % (sample HA) and increased by 50 % (sample HC). The other ingredients in the compositions are proportionally decreased and increased, accordingly. The samples were examined for their porosity, hardness, COF and thickness loss. The three samples which composed of PKS carbon had higher COF than sample which composed of commercial carbon. However, their thickness loss is higher th...

Effect of phenolic resin on the friction behaviors with respect to temperature and operating speed

Brake friction materials are composed of four components, namely the reinforcing fibres, binders, fillers and frictional additives. The phenolic resin is used as the binder to hold the composition together and maintain the structural integrity of the brake material during braking process. Three semi-metallic material formulations were prepared by powder metallurgy process. Selecting sample B as the base formulation, the phenolic resin percentage volume in sample A is decreased by 50% while that in sample C is increased by 50%. The composition of the other ingredients in sample A and C are, respectively proportionally increased and decreased according to the base formulation. Each sample was tested using inertia dynamometer in accordance with recommended practice of SAE J2522 test procedures. The effect of different phenolic resin percentages on friction behaviour with respect to speed and temperature was investigated and discussed in this paper

Homeowner’s Prevalence Upkeep Behavior Towards Implementation of Home Maintenance Manual for Residential Building

Over the decades, Malaysia construction industry is experienced continuous soar growth all over the nation. In retain the property condition, it is essential to understand and well inform in upkeep management. Without a proper upkeep, degradation will gradually develop and directing to unfit property. However, to preserve a property is a tough task as the awareness of upkeep is still premature particularly in adapting upkeep on residential building. This is due to inadequate guidance and regulation for homeowner to execute and perform upkeep. Hence, to provide instructor and assistance for homeowner, a handbook of maintenance manual is needed in order them to practice upkeep accordingly. Thus, in implementing the home maintenance manual for homeowner, this paper establish a study on homeowners prevalence upkeep behaviours to understand factors that influence homeowners upkeep their dwelling.