Nowadays, the utilization of Oil Palm Shell (OPS) as lightweight aggregate in concrete especially in the structure application has become prevalent. As an industrial waste product, Oil Palm Shell (OPS) possibly will be the alternative material to be employed in the construction industry. With its advantage as heat resistant material, this study will focus on the potential of OPS as lightweight aggregate with regard to the optimum content of OPS for thermal insulating material. A total of 15 mixes were prepared and tested with 3 different cement/sand ratios (1.7, 1.8, 1.9) and 5 different cement contents (300, 350, 400, 450, 500 kg/m³). The result of this study show that the highest sand used will produced good workability but increased thermal conductivity of mix value. The test result indicates that the thermal conductivity and insulation criterion is substantially improved with the volume use of OPS and strong relationship between thermal conductivity and unit weight is obtained. The measured thermal conductivity value range from 0.54W/mC to 1.1 W/mC. The ideal value for semi structure insulation material establish by RILEM only  achieve for mix that used cement content 400 kg/m³ and below, which thermal conductivity is 0.75 W/mC below.

Oil Palm Shell (OPS) are one of low thermal conductivity course aggregate for lightweight concrete. This paper report on all thermal properties parameter, thermal conductivity, specific heat and thermal diffusivity. Tree mixes of OPS of air dry density 1733 to 1811 kg/m3 and oven dry density 1502 to 1632 kg/m3 were prepaid and tested for thermal properties and compared with normal concrete using crushed granite as control and conventional materials. Raw shape with air density 1733 kg/m3 showed the lowest thermal properties with thermal conductivity, specific heat and thermal diffusivity of 0.59 W/mK, 1.352 MJ/m3K and 0.4414 mm2/s, respectively. All OPS mix can be consider as semi structure insulation material as per the RILEM classification which is thermal conductivity lower than 0.75 W/mK. High porosity content in concrete created act as an insulation characteristic and showed OPS have good potential as green insulation materials.

Purpose -Nowadays, strata living represents a modern lifestyle (or luxurious lifestyle for those occupying the high-end strata unit). The uniqueness of strata living is that it has facilities and common areas, which encompass multi-purpose hall, playground, lift, corridors, etc. These facilities and common areas are shared between the residents. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the involvement of Commissioner of Building (COB) and the rights of the Joint Management Body (JMB), as well as developers' responsibilities, after the formation of a JMB. In order to do so, this paper looks into the role of the COB, the powers and duties of a JMB and developers' obligations. Design/methodology/approach -This paper looks at how the Building and Common Property (Maintenance and Management) Act 2007 (Act 663) (BCPMMA) helps the JMB and the developer in maintaining and managing a multi storey building. Findings -It is found that maintenance of these facilities and common areas is essential to ensure its optimal performance over its life cycle. This has to be carried out efficiently and professionally by developers. Nevertheless, the authors often came across complaints by unsatisfied residents on the maintenance and management of the buildings and facilities. Practical implications -Prior to the establishment of this Act, multi storey buildings were governed by the Strata Title Act 1985 (Amended 2007) which stipulates that the Management Corporation can only be formed after a quarter of the aggregate share units has been transferred to the owner. Originality/value -On the other hand, the developers usually provide a minimum amount of services based on the income from the maintenance collection. Realizing the issues have become crucial, the government, in 2007, introduced the BCPMMA to provide guidelines in order to have proper maintenance and management of buildings and facilities in multi storey buildings.

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to discuss the durability and flexibility characteristics of latex modified ferrocement in comparison with conventional ferrocement particularly when exposed to severe environmental conditions. Design/methodology/approach -The research programme encompasses the laboratory investigation on the structural, the deformation behaviour and characteristic of latex modified ferrocement elements cured in air and salt-water environments. The tests include determination of load and deflection characteristics, moments, crack widths, crack spacing, and the number of cracks when subjected to static flexure. Findings -Test result indicates a significant improvement in reducing and bridging micro cracks, especially in the pre-peak load region. Fracture toughness and deformability increased significantly. However, the post peak behaviour was quite similar to conventional ferrocement. Originality/value -The results show that latex modification has improved the mechanical properties of cement mortars, particularly their flexural strength.

The guidelines on hospital safety been developed with a target to increase the safety of a hospital structurally and functionally and decrease the risks to human’s life. The current government hospitals are mostly been built before these guidelines been developed. There are many factors that put hospitals and health facilities at high risk which includes buildings, their location, design specification and patient. For this paper, researcher’s aim is to focus on the current design specification on other countries cases and compare it with the selected government hospitals. In this paper, literature study been done thoroughly on the hospitals and cases which is caused by a poor design. Hospital may differ in area of a small hospital with a less beds and no emergency facilities or city hospital with emergency facilities including extra care, diagnostics service and hundreds of beds. Therefore, designers need to understand how each hospital operates. The latest case in our country in March 2018 is the one that occurred at Hospital Kuala Lumpur. The accident occurred at the forensic department which is caused by short circuit at its store. The fire spread very quick and destroy a portion of the forensic department. The latest incident which occurs in Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA) on 28th June 2020. The fire involves the oxygen panel, call bell, vacuum and switch at the bed number five. There is one more case which occurred on 26 October 2016 at Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA).

Abstract. Awareness of the use of compatible materials in historical building conservation has resulted in a rebirth of lime technology and application. However, knowledge of the preparation of and procedures influencing the final quality of lime is still limited and disagreement regarding the proper use of lime in heritage building conservation still continues to exist. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the reasons for deterioration and to suggest possible treatments for external walls of heritage buildings in George Town, Penang. Since lime has been used on most external walls, it was chosen as the focus of this research. This study was conducted based on a qualitative method which drew upon a review of literature, visual observations, and interviews. From a pilot survey of 85 historical buildings in the core zone, it was found that from the use of lime based materials, the possible defects were caused by three factors: climatic change, air pollution, and maintenance issues. This study focuses on the use of lime plaster as well as issues that could arise from its improper use.

The advantage of oil palm shell (OPS) as coarse aggregate in concrete can be extended to insulation concrete capacity. Thus, this paper will explain the durability of oil palm shell lightweight concrete (OPSLC) for insulation concrete capacity in building. Nine mix designs were developed containing high volume of OPS, which is 30, 32 and 34% from total volume of concrete with three different OPS shapes (raw, crushed and partly crushed). The water absorption and drying shrinkage were examined; besides, thermal conductivity testing that was conducted for confirmation as insulation concrete category.  The observation of all the specimens lasted one year for durability performance test and 28 days for thermal conductivity value. The highest water absorption value is 43% from previous study that was designed for structural concrete. Higher OPS volume fraction produced higher air void content and caused water loss and increase of the hydration effects on OPSLC shrinkage. It also affected the microstructure conditions, especially specimens that used 34% of OPS volume fraction which show weak interface bond in cement matrix.

This paper presents of an investigation conducted the structural performance of oil palm shell lightweight aggregate concrete (OPSLAC) wall panel. Load-deflection characteristic on OPSLAC wall panel was conducted. Further, the effect of Stress-strain relationship and buckling effect on compression load was investigated. The variable selected are size of oil palm shell (OPS). Three wall panel specimens were prepared, and tests on compression load were conducted. The load-deflection result showed the changing on OPS shape used. The convex of OPS influence the bond within aggregate and cement paste. Further, the increasing of compression load is related to the formation and growth of micro cracks. As ultimate strength is approached, increased load and bulk paste micro cracks join to form continuous cracks parallel to the direction of loading on stress-stain curve. After 70% from the ultimate loading, the extent of cracking is so great that OPSLC cannot support additional load.