Suhana Johar

Condition Survey Protocol: A System for Building Condition Assessment

Building inspection is an important tool in determining building condition by detecting defects and their symptoms. A quick and practical approach is needed to perform periodic building inspection, as a screening process before conducting a more detailed inspection for severe defects. Based on previous research, it is important to establish a screening tool based on building rating. Hence, we developed Condition Survey Protocol (CSP) matrix as a standard for visual building inspection which based on two assessment; Condition Assessment and Priority Assessment. Later, an online system developed for analysis and reporting purposes. The system proved to be able to facilitate and accelerate the process of data analysis as well as to avoid any errors. Besides, the features of the systems are easy to access, flexible, user-friendly and systematic. However, some amendment should be made to improve the existing system in terms of matrix scale. The amendment should be helpful to identify the actual building condition in more details.

Application of solar-induced ventilation prototype in small and medium enterprise building

This paper discusses the application of a solar-induced ventilation strategy in a small and medium enterprise (SME) building, which is a single-storey shophouse. The aim of the study was to examine the performance of the proposed strategy to enhance the indoor environment of the selected building. The poposed strategy comprises two parts, namely roof solar collector and vertical stack. The research method employed a simulation modelling, which was validated against field measurement. The findings indicated that the proposed strategy was able to reduce the indoor air temperature, as well as increase the indoor air flow rate and air exchange rate of the SME building. The highest indoor air temperature reduction was 1.8℃, while the highest indoor air flow rate and air exchange rate enhancement were 0.08 m3/s and 16 ACH, respectively. In summary, the findings highlighted the potential application of the proposed strategy in enhancing the indoor environment of an SME building. The combination of roof solar collector and vertical stack was demonstrated to enable enhancement of the stack ventilation, to provide high ventilation rates especially for buildings with deep plan layout, by increasing the temperature difference between the inside and outside air, as well as the vertical difference between the inlet and outlet.

Maintenance Performance Quadrant for Rainwater Harvesting System

Maintenance performance is a key aspect in sustaining the RWH system. This is to ensure the maximum value of installing the RWH system as well as ensuring the system performs throughout the buildings lifetime. Two instruments were used during this research namely physical condition survey and questionnaire survey. The results from both instruments demonstrated cross-combination finding via maintenance performance quadrant at the end of analysis. Based on the study at 16 government buildings throughout Malaysia, the results show the majority of buildings need improvement in terms of their maintenance management, while two buildings have bad practice, which needs total refurbishment for the RWH system as well as their maintenance management. In conclusion, the physical condition of the RWH system for government building in Malaysia is regarded good and safe implemented. However, the maintenance performance can be improved with a proper maintenance guideline and management policy by the organization involved.