Significant factors of implementing open building systems in Malaysia

Abstract

Changes in the built environment are inevitable due to diversity in human needs over time and it is suggested by scientists to consider flexibility and adaptability under concept of Open Building Systems (OBS) to mitigate impacts on environment and to satisfy the end-user. However, conventional methods are still common due to the lack of knowledge in OBS, resistance to change, monopoly of conventional building material manufacturing, insufficient legislations and lack of awareness of end-users.This study initially aimed to identify the significant factors of OBS concept that positively influence the construction industry of Malaysia and to verify the factors based on expert's view and ultimately to develop a conceptual framework. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods was employed to achieve these objectives including a comprehensive literature review on OBS to identify the main factors before verifying them by experts' perspective through Delphi method and developing the conceptual framework through ANP decision-making methods. This research was done specifically for construction industry in Malaysia but it has contributions in similar methods worldwide. Outcome of the literature review signifies 48 factors. These factors were later verified by selected experts of the area and the result revealed that 44 factors were confirmed and classified under 8 main clusters.The findings show that "design for change" is the main influential variant among the main clusters followed by "standardization", "manufacturing of OBS components", "level of decision-making", "theory of level", "end-user oriented design", "enhanced post construction maintenance", "level of independency of building systems and subsystems", and "OBS factors influencing sustainability development".The main category of "design for change" includes the most influential factors such as "design for adaptability", design for flexibility", "design for generality", "design for assembly", "design for disassembly", and "design based on service life span". Some other significant sub factors include "modular coordination", "identifying level of decision-making", "end-user involvement", "identifying ordering principles", and "replace-ability". This research will help practitioners in the construction industry to implement Open Building concept to achieve more adaptable Built Environment.