CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction

Steel formwork panel is not a new technology to the Malaysias construction

industry, but it is not commonly deploy in the residential housing projects. Recently,
few developers and contractors have implemented this method in their residential
housing project located in Johor and Melaka to evaluate the effectiveness of this
system compared to the conventional method. These developers are Malpakat
Berhad, BCB Berhad and Petunas development Sdn Bhd, the pioneer companies
implemented the EFCO E-Form RC Shear Wall design in their project. Most of the
types of houses implement in this project are single storey terrace houses, double
storey terrace house, bungalows, semi detached houses and courtyard House.

Steel formwork is categorised as one of the new method in the industrialised

building system (IBS) where currently emphasis by CIDB to drive local industries
towards a systematically in term of mass production of the construction materials
with the involvement from all key players. (Shahrul Nizar, Ir. Elias Ismail, 2003)

2
It is still in the early stage where the acceptance level from other suppliers,
developers, contractors and end users are still ambiguous. The objective of this
research is to identify the pros and cons of using steel formwork panel and its
suitability to Malaysias construction industries; as well as to identify the acceptance
level of different parties against this technology.

Results of this research will be beneficial to the Malaysias construction

companies. It can be used as a reference in the selection for using new technology to
achieve higher effectiveness of the construction work. It is also a good statistical
analysis report for those companies that currently using the e form panel method to
proceed implementing this method with higher confidence.

1.2

Problem Statement

In the current constructions market situation, the application of steel

formworks is much use in high rise building such as apartment and condominium for
obtaining the effectiveness of the construction process. Recently, there are some
developers implement the RC shear wall design with steel formwork for the landed
residential property.

The beneficial of this method need to be identified. However, little has been
done to explore the real situation, concern and awareness between suppliers,
developers, contractors and end user in the local construction industry through the
work they had completed construct.

The common goal of a project is to get profit in the shorten period of time,
getting the easier way to implement the project and doing the works within the

3
budgets or less budget. However, developer and contractors often do not pay
attention on what are the end user needs. The reason on using this new technology
normally is more emphasize in gaining profit instead of obtain the opinion from end
user.

Many studies were conducted on the steel formwork construction process

however, no attempt has been made to discuss how the supplier promote this kind of
technology, the reason that developers or contractors implement the technology and
the acceptance of end user in the new construction technology.

1.3

Aim and Objectives

The aim of the study is to investigate the current state of EFCO E-Form RC
shear wall implementation. The aim is supported by the following objectives.

To study the construction process of the EFCO E-form RC shear wall design.

To identify the strategy used by supplier to introduce EFCO hand e-form to the
contractor.

To identify the contractors expectation in using EFCO e-form panel. The

expectation needs to be considered are financial saving, work man ship, quality,
work progress and site condition.

To identify the acceptance of new technology to the end user.

1.4

Scope of the Study

This research will be carry out in several construction projects in Johor

and Melaka for those implement EFCO hand e-form panel in the construction site
method. The companies will be selected are BCB Construction, Malpakat
Construction in Johor while Jaymuda group in Melaka. Those companies are the
pioneer in using hand e-form panel as a building structural formwork to form the RC
wall for the housing framework. The purpose of this study is to perceive the detail
more clearly with regard to the new technology method in construction industry.
Figure 1.1 shows the research out flow for the whole research to be carried out.

Literature review on EFCO

hand e-form.

Study in research

Select construction

method to be use.

site for the research.

Design & develop

method of interview
Write report

and questionnaire.

Collect data
Prepare presentation.

Result and discussion

Analyze data

Figure 1.1 : Research Out Flow

This project focused in 3 parts of study in reviewing the application of EFCO

E-form RC shear wall design in Malaysia construction industry. The first part of the
study is looked into the suppliers strategy to promote the method. The second part of
the study will emphasised in the developers and contractors expectation in applied
the EFCO E-form RC shear wall method. The latter is highlighted in pros and cons

5
of the method. The final part is identified the awareness of the end user about the
method.

The samples in this study basically included the resident from Melaka and
Johor state for those were intent to buy or had bought the house property. Using
SPSS 12 software system is used to presenting the final result in statistical analysis.
(Neil Frude, 1987)

CHAPTER II

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

2.1

Research Design & Methodology

The objectives of this project report were realized using sequence of method
indicated in figure 2.1. Initially, the problem statement of the project is identified.
Secondly, aims and the objectives of the project are defined for future
accomplishment. Next, the literature review in gathered information about research
topic and challenges faced by the construction industry. The subsided sequence is
defined the data collection method. Interview and questionnaire survey was
conducted to obtain feedback from the construction industry and end user. The next
step is analysis the collected data by using software. It follows by some discussions
and suggestions and eventually conclusion being drawn to conclude this study.

The below are six essential steps in conducting this study as briefly list:

2.1.1

Problem Statement Foundation

o Understanding the project title.
o To identify the present image of the EFCO E-form system.

7
2.1.2

Aims and Objective

o This research is divided into 3 part of study. First research is conducted to
the supplier; second research is covered the developers and contractors
condition. Finally is researched to the end users.
o To identify the main objective of the research and to validate each part of
the research meets the terms of the objective.

2.1.3

Literature Review
o To study from Library, Wed Site, Journal and the needs of the research
topic.
o Empirical study such as Interview, getting feedback from end user.

2.1.4

Information and Data Collection

o Select interview method and conducted interview in selected site.
o To design, distribute and collection of Questionnaires.

2.1.5

Data Analysis
o To identify the facts, compare the results with objective.

2.1.6

Conclusion and Recommendation

o To recommend solutions to resolve and improve the coordination and
measure the aim of the study.

Figure 2.1 shown in next chapters illustrate the six essential steps in a proper and
simple sequential order.

Begin

Finding Problem Statement

Aims and Objective

Literature Review

Information and Data Collection

Data Analysis

Conclusion and Recommendation

End

Figure 2.1: Research Methodology

9
2.2

Interview

The interview is a special interaction method between two persons and as

such is subject to some of the same rules and restrictions as other instances of social
interaction. Apart from the possible biases and errors that stem from the
questionnaire instrument itself or from the sampling design, the interview method
has the potential for all sorts of bias, inconsistencies, and inaccuracies.

Method of interview can be categorized into several methods. One of these

methods is less structured interviews. The less structured interviews are free form
interview, composing the questions as it goes along. This interview comprise of
structured interview, semistructured interview and unstructured interview.

2.2.1

Structured interview

Structured interview is category in open-ended question. The closed-end or

fix-alternative questions require only that the interviewer read the question and mark
the appropriate answer. Open-ended questions, how ever, can require the interviewer
to transcribe a lengthy statement. In additional, open-ended questions in an interview
can require the respondent to dictate an extemporaneous statement on a topic about
which he or she may not have thought before.

10
2.2.2

Semistructured interview

The most famous semistructured interview is focused interview. A crucial

element in the focused interview is the structure provided by interviewing people all
of whom experienced a particular event.

In the focused interview questions are

open-ended, to provide flexibility and allow for unanticipated responses. It is also

addition the focused interview allows flexibility in terms of the questions asked.

2.2.3

The Unstructured Interview

The unstructured or nondirective interview is even less structured than the life
storey interview and the focused interview. The chief feature of the nondirective
interview is its almost total reliance upon neutral probes that are designed to be as
neutral as possible. They are generally very short, such as why? or uh, huh or
thats interesting. The nondirective interview originated in psychotherapy. It is
intended to probe the respondents deepest and more subjective feeling.

2.2.4

Interview Method Selection

After studied the method of interview, the structured interview is selected as

an appropriate method to this research. This method is effective to set up a good
condition of interview section to the candidate. Several questions had been prepared
as guidance to the conductor in archived answer requirements in order to fulfill the
objective of the research.

11
2.3

Questionnaire

Once the concepts and hypotheses have been carefully formulated and a good
sample drawn, the next line in the research chain is the data collection instrument.
The questionnaire is generally mailed or handed to the respondent and filled by him
or her with no help from the interviewer. An instrument that is not given directly to
the respondent but is filled in by an interviewer who reads the questions to the
respondent is generally called an interview schedule. We shall use the term
questionnaire as the generic name for both types.

A questionnaire survey was carried out to gather information from end users
who are involved in the purchase house property. The target population consisted of
those residents in Melaka and Johor area where the EFCO E-Form RC shear wall
constructed.

One hundred sets of questionnaires were handed out to resident in Melaka

and Johor area through the sales office. However, only fifty responded. This gives a
sampling percentage of 50%.

2.3.1

Questionnaire Structure

The questionnaire was structured into three sections:

1. Section A (Personal particulars)

It captures the background details of the respondents such as profession,

gender and race.

12
2. Section B (Information about the respondents preference)

This section is obtained information about the respondents category of house

purchased. The purpose of the house purchased. How much is the amount of
purchase. Finally is purchasers property location.

3. Section C (The respondents knowledge about the RC wall design)

This section is to evaluate the respondents reaction on RC shear wall design.

The questions is created to test the respondent opinion in RC shear wall design
and find out their preferences in order to upgrade the EFCO E-form shear wall
design suitable for them. This section also intended to collect the comments from
respondent to improve the current circumstance of RC shear wall design system.

The sample of questionnaire used for the survey in this project is shown in
Appendix A. The data collected from the questionnaire survey was analyzed
using frequency analysis and interactive analysis by SPSS 12 analysis software.

2.4

Limitation of Study

This study is limited to opinions from resident involved in purchasing house

property in Johor and Melaka only. This does not give a very good indication of the
effectiveness of implementation of EFCO E-Form RC shear wall through
Industrialised Building System (IBS) concept in construction industry.

13

CHAPTER III

LITERATURE REVIEW

3.1 Industrialised Building System (IBS)

Currently, the building construction process must be more effective. Even

though it is used innovative methods when rising buildings, the entire construction
process is neither as effective nor modern as it could be.

Industrialised Building System is a method to drive the local industries

towards a systematically in term of mass production of the construction materials
with the involvement from all key players. In this globalisation area, it is essential for
the construction industries involve parties to be equipped with relevant technology
and experience. For instance, pre-fabrication materials or larger parts of building are
made up of prefabricated components then delivered at the sites from the factories.
This will lead to better quality, cost effective, less labour dependency and increase of
the productivity. The programme has laid out definite missions which when
successfully implemented shall ensure a successfully upgrading of our construction
industry to maintain a competitive in the global market. (Shahrul Nizar, Ir. Elias
Ismail, 2003)

14
The construction industry is very labour intensive although it is very
competitive. It results in a very low productivity as compared with other sectors. The
ineffectiveness and low productivity are caused by failure of the industry to utilise
the new as well as other relevant labour reducing technologies. It is due to the
following factors:

Lack of knowledge in alternative construction techniques, result in

fear and avoidance.

Failure of past construction systems.

Failure of local prayers to obtain proper technology transfer

resulting in problems during production and installation.

Tendency to start first, document later producing ineffective

application, as the systems demand proper planning.

High prices of the systems caused by high set-up costs, low demand
and designs originally meant for in situ constructions.

The IBS is a new approach to diverted the labour intensive construction

method to the new fabricated method on site where effectively reduce the
construction dependency on foreign labour in the local construction industry.

The term industrialised Building System is often misinterpreted as systems

limited only for the construction of buildings, whereas the word building actually
relates to constructing and therefore covers all types of structures. IBS can be
defines as products, systems and techniques used in making construction less labour-

15
oriented, faster as well as quality controlled. It generally involves prefabricated
products factory manufactured elements that are transported to the construction
sites and erected. While this are various definitions of IBS based on the structural
aspects of the systems, it can be divided into five common types. (See table 3.1)

Table 3.1: Categories of Industrialised Building System

Type 1
Precast Concrete Frame, Panel and Box Systems
The most common IBS is the precast concrete elements precast concrete columns,
beams, slabs, walls, 3D components (e.g. balconies, staircases, toilets, lift
chambers, refuse chambers), lightweight precast concrete and permanent concrete
formworks.

Type 2
Steel Formwork Systems
Considered as one of the low-level or the least prefabricated IBS as the systems
generally involve site casting, thus, the question of structural quality control arises.
Nevertheless, these systems tunnel forms, till-up systems, beams and columns
moulding forms and permanent steel formworks (metal decks) do offer high quality
finishes, and fast construction with less site labour and material requirement.

Type 3
Steel Framing Systems
Commonly used with Precast concrete slabs, steel columns and beams have always
been the popular choice and used extensively in the fast-track construction of
skyscrapers. Recent development in this type of IBS includes the increased usage of
light steel trusses, which consist of cost-effectively profiled cold-formed channels,
and steel portal frame systems as an alternative for the heavier traditional hot-rolled

16
sections.

Type 4
Timber Frame Systems
Among the products listed in this category are the timber building frames and timber
roof trusses. While timber roof truss systems are popular, timber building frame
systems also have its own niche market, offering interesting designs from simple
dwelling units to buildings requiring high aesthetical values such as chalets for
resorts.

Type 5
Block work Systems
The construction method of using the conventional bricks has been revolutionised by
the development and usage of interlocking concrete masonry units (CMU) and
lightweight concrete blocks. The tedious and time-consuming traditional brick-laying
task is greatly simplified by the usage of these effective alternatives.

The main benefits offered by these systems are:

High quality finished products and minimal wastage due to factorycontrolled prefabrication environment.

Elimination of conventional timber formwork and great reduction of

props through the use of prefabricated element or system formwork
for site casting.

Sturdy and safe work platforms provided by the prefabricated

elements.

17
Faster completion due to the introduction of components replacing in
situ construction.

Neater, cleaner and safer sites due to reduction of construction debris,

site workers and materials.

Lower total construction cost due to all of the above.

IBS and standardization in the form of MC offer these benefits:

Low site workers requirement due to simplified construction methods.

Quality-controlled and highly aesthetic end products through the

processes of controlled pre-fabrication and simplified installations.

Reduction of construction materials at sites through usage of prefabricated components.

Reduction or eliminated of conventional timber formworks; replaced

by pre-fabricated components and alternative moulds with multiple
usage capability.

Reduction or elimination of props due to the absence of conventional

timber props and the usage of pre-fabricated components.
Reduction of construction waste with the usage of the standardised
components and less in situ works.

Cleaner sites due to lesser construction waste.

Safer construction sites due to the reduction of site workers, materials

and construction waste.

18
Faster completion of construction projects due to the usage of
standardised pre-fabricated components and simplified installation
processes.

Cheaper total construction costs; made possible due to all of the

above.

3.2 EFCO Hand E-Form Panel

EFCO hand e-form panel is a product invented by EFCO Company as a

moulding to form the concrete structure. The innovative design features of the
HAND-E-FORM System offer forming efficiencies that can save time and money.
This easy-to-use system is learned quickly by inexperienced workers, and even the
largest panel can be set and stripped by just one worker. HAND-E-FORM panels can
be stood on end, laid on their side, formed around a circle, used for high walls, low
walls, step footings in 1" increments, the list is endless. (WWW.EFCO.com)

According to the table 1, the EFCO hand e-form panel is categorised as a new
technology method in Industrialised Building System (IBS). Where this system is
grouped as steel formwork systems includes tunnel forms, tilt up systems, beams and
columns moulding forms or permanent steel formworks.

Normally people will ask why using hand e form besides there still have
others type of steel formwork can be used to accomplish the work. The answer is the
hand e-form is a small panel that can be carrying by worker without using crane
handling. It is easy to handle and the work type is similar with the conventional type
but only the RC wall is took over the brick wall system.

19
The introduction of hand e-form in the construction industry have encouraged
the contractor used panel RC wall as a grid wall for the residential housing project
such as single storey terrace house, double storey terrace house and also in shop
houses. Its emerge have changed the conventional work which previously using
timber and plywood as a form work and brick wall type to the new steel formwork to
form RC panel by eliminate the beam and column framework.

By used hand e- form, the structure of the building is reduced from brick wall
to the RC wall design. It is not a fully RC wall design method where the developers
liked to use 80 % of RC design and remain 20 % brick wall design in order to
satisfied customer renovation habits.

3.2.1

Key Element in Implementation of EFCO E-Form RC Shear Wall

3.2.1.1 Introduction

New construction method not only helps to save our forests, but also save
labour, material, time, interest, capital for construction. It also helps improve the
quality of the house and most important, improve company profit.

The formwork need to be design in order to get full used and fabricated
effectively not only for the company profit but also to convenient workers when they
are carry out the job. There are some criteria need to be considered before design the
EFCO E-form. (Vivian Ho, 2004)

How? First, designers must know about formwork characteristics, and should
think about the formwork first, then, follow the design of the structure. Architects

20
and engineers may reduce formwork cost by designing repeated structures, so that
standard formwork materials and shapes can be reused to the maximum extend.
Architects and engineers need to know the type and shape of formwork available
from manufacturers as well as the type of formwork that can usually be built at the
job site by most of the contractors. Designing the repeated structure so that the
formwork can be reused repetitively, thus minimizing the amount of formwork needfabricated or pre-engineered.

How? Normally, engineer design choices either emphasize heavy steel

component with very small concrete frame (conventional beam and column concept),
or use more and bigger concrete frame with minimum steel components (new
technology-Reinforce concrete wall concept)

For example a double story house with built up areas 2400 meter square.

Table 3.2: Comparison Rebars Contents between Conventional Method and

RC Shear Wall Method
STEEL REINFORCEMENT
REBAR TONNAGE PER UNIT
OF HOUSE

CONVENTIONAL METHOD RC SHEAR WALL METHOD

3.2 TONNAGE

0.6 TONNAGE

WHEN STEEL PRICE PER

UNIT TONNAGES RM 1600

RM 5120

RM 960

WHEN STEEL PRICE PER

UNIT TONNAGES RM 2100

RM 6720

RM 1260

In current condition, the rebar materials have been increased due to the
market shortage situation. Rebar material market price keeps going up from RM 900
per tones increasing to RM 1200 up to currently RM 2100 per tones, but concrete
price has been stably for so many years. The developers will take another step that

21
they will use bigger concrete frame (more concrete content) with minimum steel
content in their future structural framework design.

If the wall thickness is based on the shape of EFCO formwork, contractor

may lease EFCO Hand-E-Form panels to form the bulkhead at door, window and
wall ends. The shapes of building reinforced concrete wall may look like capital
word of I, H, L, T, U and F instead of common straight walls. Most of the engineers
in Klang Valley design reinforce concrete wall in one direction.

3.2.1.2 The Important of Pre-engineered

Formwork need to be carefully engineered and designed to specially tailor to

project requirement. In this new technology placing, main contractors will able to
reduce workers where the EFCO E-form panels only need a small gang of workers to
run the project. Instead of having many skilful carpenters to do the forming work,
now they only need one formwork supervisor with a few general workers to
performed the job. EFCO shop drawing makes the formwork installation as a
manufacturing process.

Formwork must be very strong enough to withstand the great pressures

imposed by heavy, wet concrete. Formwork must be rigid enough to maintain the
desired shaped under these stresses. Formwork must be accessible, so that concrete
can be placed easily. Good forming design can be easily removed without damaging
the concrete of the form. There must be no sharp edges left in the concrete, because
these either will be broken off or will tear the forms apart when the forms are
removed.

22
Pre-engineered form aids the contractor in figuring more accurate cost data,
and profit estimation is possible. Further, EFCO shop drawing tends to produce
formwork that is neither over designed nor under designed. Over designed forms are
expensive and under designed forms may be dangerous. In addition, it is also
provides good environmental for the construction workers. This new technology is
provided a convenient and safety workplace to construction workers.

Finally, EFCO shop drawings cut down on job site errors, and reduce the
amount of direct supervision needed to build the forms. EFCO shop drawings allow
the workers to work with minimal supervision and confusion. Efficiencies can save
time, money and the most important is to be adhering to the progress flow time.
Efficiencies give the company the competitive edge.

The changing of wood form to EFCO alloy steel panels will provide the
contractor the ability to speed up the project. In order to do this, the workers must
keep EFCO Hand-E-Form panels in use. It is avoidance from allow EFCO Hand-EForm panels remain on any longer than necessary. It is excellent to use the minimum
number of EFCO Hand-E-Form panels necessary to keep the job moving
continuously.

In addition, props supporting the structure are removed after the particular
section has attended well over its required strength. During construction, the
verticality settlement of the building is continually monitored to ensure and confirm
to the requirements.

23
3.2.1.3 The Necessity in Consider the Cost Effective Forming System

The forming system to be select is one of the most important elements

affecting the total cost and productivity of a concrete construction project. If
carpenters are unable to increase their productivity, the entire project will delay. In
order to provide the contractor the ability to speed up the project, innovative
formwork installation method is very crucial for formwork design of which can
enhanced the quality control of end product and lower the contractors operation
cost.

The cost of formwork equipment alone will seldom determine the best
equipment supplier, because Hand-E-Form panels cost may only be about 30% of
cost of which can determine the other 70%, the labour cost.

In order to find the true cost, the calculation formula of true forming cost are
Formwork material cost + Cost of using equipment. Material cost includes all
forming materials, accessories, tools and equipment whether rental or purchase costs.
This will be affected by the project schedule, which determines the number of reuses
that can be expected from a given set of forms. To compare the initial costs for
forming equipment, it cannot simply compare the proposed material cost per square
foot. When project conditions call for or allow forms to be cycled rapidly, basic
square foot costs can be deceiving.

Cost of using included all labours involved in setting, cycling, assembling,

cleaning, maintaining, fabricating and stripping the forms. Other variable costs are
tie holes, patching, rubbing joints, embedded items i.e. PVC sleeve, cable casing,
time lose, dumping etc. Crane-handling costs are also another component of the cost
of using. As we can see, the cost of using is inclusive of many variables that will

24
affect the trial costing. It is need to make full consideration in selecting a system
supply for certain concrete forming solutions.

3.2.1.4 The Biggest Variable is Labour Cost

With the shortage of available skill labours in todays construction market,

selecting the right forming equipment becomes even more important. A choice often
must be made either a more labour intensive, but lower initial material cost forming
(Purchase wood product) or a higher-productivity, labour efficient system but cost
more on the initial material cost forming system (Lease EFCO Hand-E-Form panels.)

In order to complete the project in the same time period, a low initial material
cost forming, low-productivity, labour intensive system may require to use five to ten
times as many square feet of forming materials comparison with a high initial
material cost forming, high-productivity and labour efficient system.

Productivity determines the cost of usage. Higher productivity forming, using

lesser manpower to cycle the formwork, reduces the labour rate. Equipment used by
general contractors and sub-contractors require the contractor to add the labour
variable component to make buying decisions.

It is not the initial cost of equipment, but the initial cost plus the cost of
using equipment that counts. In order words, given enough time and labour, almost
anything can be done. Nevertheless, productivity of workers can also vary due to jobsite conditions, weather, skill level, experience, and many other conditions.

25
3.2.1.5 The Second Variable is Time Lose

The job size and construction schedule will be two important factors to
consider. Time is very important in construction, as labour is a major cost. If the job
is large enough, the time saved by using manufactured forms with convenient
accessories may be worth the initial cost of the forms.

3.2.1.6 Method of Wall

The EFCO e-form panel considered two type of direction wall in design and
also fabricated method. There are one direction wall and two direction walls. The
two direction wall is an update method from one direction wall to achieved better use
of formwork. Initially, the one direction was creating to facilitate the installation of
the e-form panel. It has upgrade to two directions in taking to the consideration of
design criteria. The two directions wall has good criteria as a support the transfer
loading from slab to the foundation. (Lam. 2004)

3.2.1.6.1

The Advantages of One Direction Reinforced Wall Concept.

It can be used by crane handle forming. In the formwork market, it is likely to

get the one direction panel installation in the market. The contractors have plenty
system suppliers to choose from according to the criteria where the contractors need.
When the project has huge volume, the contractor might be choose either Tunnel

26
forming (wall and slab cast together), or wall and slab cast separately (EFCO,
Unispan, Noe, Megasteel, Grace, L&M, Peri-hori, Thysen, Westform and so on)

3.2.1.6.2

The Disadvantages of One Direction Reinforced Concrete Wall

Concept.

Once the one direction wall had been choosing, there are many restrictions
which will burden the selector whose use on it. The architect needs to design simple
architectural layout which structural design is either straight wall or one direction
wall concept. The structural walls are not free standing by itself and need temporary
prop system to support the formwork and wall before the opposite wall act as support
system to be install. The structure designer will need to design or add more steel and
tie beam design concept for the freestanding wall. In the material cost calculation,
one direction reinforced concrete wall concept, its structural cost is higher than twodirection reinforced concrete wall concept. That is ineffective in structural cost
saving when using one direction reinforced concrete wall concept to build landed
properties such as single, double or three story houses. Due to the design limitation,
the one direction wall is restricting the distant of two architectural walls within 3 to
3.5 meter. One direction wall design is only satisfactory for simple high rise
building.

27
3.2.1.6.3

Two Direction Reinforced Wall Concept

The two direction wall concept is an upgrade method from the first method. It
have been invented when the contractor demanding 2 wall combine together and
casting constantly. This is the method that fulfils the design criteria as a part of
increase the stability of transfer the loading from slab to foundation. The
architectural layout is special, unique and different. This condition also enables
material saving after the reducing size of the BRC. In addition, it has a very good
process in accelerate the time frame of the progress. Nevertheless, the fabrication of
the E-form panel joints are more complicated when compare with one direction
reinforced wall. It has not become a barrier to the workers where they had have
intent to fabricate and dismantle it successfully without any problem. In this
extremely competitive market, the invention of two direction reinforced fabricated
wall act as trade mark for suppler in order to fulfil the contractors demand.

3.2.2

The Construction Process for the EFCO E-Form RC Shear Wall Design
Housing Project

3.2.2.1 Site Preparation

EFCO E-form RC Shear wall design require a clean flat platform for easy the
fabrication of the panel following sequences of work. The foundation for the work
can be selected from either strip footing or raft foundation which will enable the
loading transfer from the RC wall to the foundation evenly.

28
Before delivery of EFCO Hand-E-Form panels to the site, the project site
must completed with at least four to six blocks of sub structural work up to the
ground slab level. This is the effective way in fulfilled the maintenance of the
formwork circulation system in order to get the cost effective in the cost saving for
the project. Sub structural work is the conventional wood forming. Before concreted
the slab, plumbing cable or necessary fitting had embedded into the slab and wall
starter bar had embedded into the slab.

There are three basic steps to building an EFCO concrete home building, the
base\slab or foundation, the wall, and the roof or deck system.

3.2.2.1.1

Foundation Condition

The first step is constructed the foundation or base slab. Soil resistance
characteristic must be analyzed prior to laying foundation. The outline of the
foundation is first staked and the parameter edge forms are set.

Figure 3.1: Foundation

Preparation by
Conventional Method

29
Strip footing is concrete feet placed in the ground, and it is reinforced with
steel bars on which the foundation and the subsequent building load are placed. Soil
conditions, together with the weight of the building, determine the size, design, and
the possibility in selection the piling foundation for weak soil condition. Usually, the
workers will carried out setting out work to determine the boundary area for each
block of the building. The compaction of earth work is the most important sequence
to provide the strengthen ground foundation for the loading transfer.

Figure 3.2: The

Compaction of Earth
Work

EFCO Hand-E-Form panels must be erected on poured slab. It could not erect
on dirt without poured slab. So, all cable, wire, plumbing, electrical service, sanitary
fitting, conduit need to embed inside the slab of which we must pre-determine it.

Figure 3.3: Setting Level

of the Building

30
Preparation for each difference level such as drop at bath room and bedroom
need to be done by infill hardcore such as crusher run accordingly. Before pouring
the concrete to the slab foundation, it is need to applied one layer of plastic sheet to
the surface of the crusher run in order to prevented moisture permeate up to the slab.

Figure 3.4: Hardcore for

the Foundation

Figure 3.5: The Embedded

of Sewerage System

Figure 3.6: Formwork to

Separate the Toilet Area
from the Building

31

Figure 3.7: Application

One Layer of PE Plastic
to the Slab

After all internal embedded utilities (electrical, water and sewer pipes)
completed laid, the slab foundation ready for finishing concrete casting.

Figure 3.8: Internal

Embedded Utilities

Figure 3.9: Fix Rebar to

the Slab

32

Figure 3.10: The

Completed Foundation
Work

3.2.2.2 Setting Wall Alignment

The wall alignment was marked as preparation for EFCO E-Form fabricate
indicator; the supervisor had to properly check the wall location on the floor by used
survey instrument. Preparation of correct wall setting up must thoroughly follow the
architectural, structural and EFCO Erection Drawings.

Materials for wall setting up are black inn and linear. Wall setting is very
important where must engage a very skillful, experience and knowledgeable
personnel to performed this job.

After the wall setting up has been established for a few units of houses, site
manager needs to inform EFCO Territory manager to arrange EFCO field supervisor
(one to two days trips) to survey and finalized reinforced concrete wall measurement
at site. (The ideally time frame is two weeks from the date of shipment.).This
measurement is extremely important for first time users as well as when project site
is extremely far from EFCO warehouse.

33
3.2.2.3 Electrical Issue

BRC wall are erected at least one block. M & E work that goes to the wall are
set. All electrical boxes are filled either with papers, polystyrene. Wireman tied these
electrical boxes to BRC wall. All electrical fitting must follow the government and
safety regulation.

Figure 3.11: BRC

Erection Work

Contractor needed to inform the wireman the thickness of reinforce concrete

wall prior to hang the electrical box-sub on the surface of BRC wall. Due to the
different sizes of BRC, the spacing of BRC is various, the wireman may required
some experience and knowledge of rebar fixing in order to well secure the electrical
box sub to the BRC wall. Contractor must provided many short rebar for wireman.
These short rebar normally is wastage from other sites. (Wong, 2004)

Figure 3.12: The

Prior Installation
of Electrical Boxsub

34

Figure 3.13: The

Electrical Box-sub
Need to be Rigid by
Additional Bar Fix

3.2.2.4 Plastics Bar Chairs

Self-fabricated some concrete spacer/ block, or purchase some bar chairs are
some material used to fix the concrete cover space for the RC shear wall which was
invented by EFCO for friendly use and effective way in work erection. Bar chairs
are cheaper than own fabricated concrete blocks, Project director of Aceside said.
Bar chairs is lightweight material, and it is good when intention to build houses
above single story. (Steven Lew, 2004)

Figure 3.14: The

Plastic Bar Chain
for the Concrete
Cover

35
3.2.2.5 Conventional Beam box-sub

All conventional beams box-sub is properly well prepared at least one

block. The material for beam box-sub is either used polystyrene or timber plank.
The conventional box-sub is a method to provide empty space on the RC wall in
order to install the electrical pipe line and water pipe line after the concrete wall cast.
It is also as a preparation space to enable further joint work for the RC gutter or
installation of beam.

The probability of locations for conventional beam is at car porch area, at the
back of the house, at end lot and at corner lot. Beam formwork is conventional
wooden formwork and the carpenter is in the process of fabrication this wooden
formwork before delivery of EFCO panels to site.

The connection of beam with reinforced concrete wall is extremely important.

If the construction drawing did not indicate the requirement of the tie rebar, bar
bender still needs to tight one to two pieces of starter bar to BRC wall before
conducting the beam box-sub at the location of car porch area. This method is
extremely important. It helps to prevent hairline crack when beam sits on top of
reinforced concrete wall and as connecter bar between RC wall and conventional
structure.

The contractors had come across with various type of box-sub method and
the effective way need to be found for convenient the installation work. Below are
some methods that have been tried to achieve the best way of construction.

36
Method 1:
Timber box-sub is the cheaper method, but the shape of its box-sub is unable to
achieve 100% perfect. The square timber corner must be cut to the round shape for
plumbing box-sub.

If the square timber did not cut into round shape, it would result in spend a lot of
time to knock down the timber plank. When timber plank sticks concrete, it is
extremely hard to dismantle. It is extremely time consuming if there is an intention to
recycle this piece of timber plank.

Before well hang the timber plank to BRC wall, application of a layer of engine oil
on the surface of timber should be done. Mould oil doesnt apply on the timber
plank. Mould oil only applied on the surface of EFCO Hand-E-Form panels.

Method 2:
Steel tube box-sub, its shape is perfect, but it was very difficult to knock down this
steel tube from reinforced concrete wall. (Plumber of NKS said). The first attempt of
this method at Taman Merbok site shows that it is not a good alternative to use the
steel tube as plumbing box-sub.

Method 3:
Polystyrene box-sub is beautiful and its shape is perfect, but polystyrene material
is expensive than timber plank. All the plumbing box-sub at our Taman Merbok
site was applied this method of construction. It was being proof that effectively and
efficiency.

Conclusion: Design engineers urge to avoid designing reinforced concrete wall at

toilet areas due to the bad result of the installation work. It is complicated to due with
the defect work cause by the leakage pipe line. If there is any pipeline problem, the
contractors will difficult to implement the repair work.

37
All plumbing & sanitary fitting location, its wall still remains as brick wall.
Therefore, architect and structural design engineer play extremely important role on
this issue.

3.2.2.6 Prepared wall kickers only for landed properties.

Wall kickers preparation work need to be done after the wall setting
alignment complete. The wall kickers act as a stable alignment material to provide
prefect fix form for the EFCO E-form panel. Carpenter must complete at least one
block of wall kickers before delivery of EFCO E-Form panels to the site. The
material for kicker formwork is wood product. The casting height of kicker is various
heights.

Floor height slab thickness + 25mm height -3000mm EFCO Hand-E-Form

panel height = Kicker Height.

Figure 3.15: The

Preparation of Wall
Kickers

38

Figure 3.16:
Concrete Work for
Wall Kickers

All the concrete kickers are properly vibrated. Concrete kicker is part of the
structural element. The quality of concrete kicker must same as the structure of
reinforced concrete wall. The concrete for single story house is grade 20. The
concrete for double story house is grade 25.

3.2.2.7 Standard sheet of BRC.

After prepared the kickers with the starter for BRC jointing work, the next
sequences of work is fix the BRC material as a main part of RC shear wall.
Normally, the site BRC materials are Standard sheet of BRC for Wall. It is
insufficient to order the width of BRC cut to size, because the reinforced concrete
walls are in the orientation of two-direction wall concept. Meanwhile, BRC cut to
size is expensive. The height of wall BRC may cut to size. BRC installer at site is
required to cut its width.

39

Figure 3.17: BRC for

RC Shear Wall

In order to have high quality of concrete kicker, it is need to have sufficient

concrete volume (at least 4 cubic meters per cycle). Before EFCO Hand-E-Form
panels were delivery to the site, the concrete kickers should be initially prepared.
(Every two days 6 units of houses, approximately 4 cubic meter of concrete and 60
meter square of formwork.) Finally, it is need to have at least 2-3 rows of concrete
kicker stand by before the first delivery of EFCO Hand-E-Form panels to the site.

3.2.2.8 First Floor Walls EFCO E-Form Panel Erected

After all BRC, box-up beam, electrical box and pipe line have been installed,
the follow work is fabricated of EFCO formwork to form the main wall of the RC
wall. The first operation is erection of EFCO Hand-E-Form panels must started at the
inside face of a wall.

40

Figure 3.18: EFCO

Hand E Form
Installation Work

EFCO E-Form is erected at the location of corner or angle. Attach EFCO

corners or angles to hold the first big standard panel (600mm X 1500mm). It is need
to secure each panel with maximum 3 pieces of HEF clamps. The form panel is
nailed to the base plate in the nail holes provided at both ends of the bottom flange
with wood nails in order to secure the position of the panel as well as to prevent
formwork horizontal movement. The first form panel on the base plate sits directly
over the wall line.

The second operation is to erect succeeding panels. It is started to set the next
panel (this second panel), into alignment with HEF clamps to the form panel of
which being set to the previous form panel. Special care should be taken to properly
place the HEF clamp. All Hand-E-Form panels have holes in the flanges at 25mm
center to center around the perimeters. The purpose of this function is to form any
shape of concrete wall by using the various clamps.

Figure 3.19: EFCO

Hand E Form
Completed Work

41
3.2.2.9 Pin and Plate Clamp Tool

One end of the pin and plate clamp tool is used to assist in the placing of HEF
clamps when necessary. The other end of this tool is used for placing and removing
spreader tie pins.

Figure 3.20: Less

Workers for the
Installation Work

3.2.2.10 Drift Pins

It is designed for use in aligning the holes in adjacent with form flanges. This
will ease the placing of HEF clamps when misalignment of flange holes occurs. The
third operation is to greased the spreader tie and secure the spreader tie with spreader
tiepins. When one side of the wall is set, grease the spreader tie and secure the
spreader tie with spreader tiepins. Spreader ties are required on one side of the form
joint only. Upon completing the erection of the first side of the wall, spreader tie
must in place. Inserting the spreader tie through the tie slots and pinned it with
spreader tie pins to the first side of the wall, now, the spreader tie are placed into the
wall. This procedure is extremely important. It increases your labor productivity and
minimizes the formwork checking.

42
The forming operation continues with setting one side of the wall. The EFCO
plate clamp is easily placed and perfectly aligns the adjacent form. After all 2 layers
of panel have been erected. It was preceded with placing and props work.

Figure 3.21: The

Accuracy of the
Installation Work

Figure 3.22: The

Method Provided
Neat and Safety
Site

Figure 3.23:
Bracing Work for
Installation

43
3.2.2.11 EFCO E-Form Open Space for Steel Doorframe

There are two types of door frame fix method into the RC wall which are
steel doorframe and EFCO equipment cast separately and door frame cast together
with EFCO formwork.

It is need to infill cement into the steel doorframe. This process will only
make the steel doorframe solid after steel doorframe was being infill with cement.
The worker needed to insert one piece of brick wall on top of the steel door frame.
This experience was original from NKS site. This method of construction was
invented by Mr.Bong of NKS. He had set an extremely good example for steel
doorframe of which did not cast together with EFCO Hand-E-Form panels at the
Taman Merbok site in Malacca.

Figure 3.24:
Formwork
Opening for
Installation of Door

When steel doorframe does not cast together with EFCO Hand-E-Form panel,
it is need to create a concrete door opening in order to fix the door frame later.
The door opening need to be cast extra large which in order for workers to infill
cement into the steel doorframe.

44
For example, the specification of architects Bedroom door opening is
2100mm height X 900mm width. EFCO Hand-E-Form panels are provided a door
opening of 950mm width X 2180mm height in order to convenient in fabricate the
door frame. (NKS, 2004)

3.2.2.12 When Steel Doorframe Cast Together with EFCO Hand-E-Form

Panels

For example, the specification of architects standard Bedroom door opening

is 2100mm height X 900mm width. The EFCO E-form provides a door opening
exactly at 900mm width.

Method 1:
On the opening, the additional steel brackets to support steel doorframe need to be
added. Material for steel brackets is locally searching. It is needs to consult from
steel doorframe suppliers. Foremost is the expert in this method of construction
because they invented this method. (30/06/03). Today, Malpakat (Taman Austin
Height site in Johor Bahru) and Foremost (Taman Sri Bayan site at Malacca) applied
steel door cast in together with EFCO Hand-E-Form panels.

45
3.2.2.13 The Disadvantage of Casting Steel Door Together with EFCO Hand-EForm Panels

When the alternative cast steel doorframe together with EFCO Hand-E-Form
panels have been choose, the carpenter productivity will slightly reduce, because it
have created additional workload for formwork installer (carpenter). So, it needs to
compensate the carpenters.

The supervisor must always make sure that carpenters workers have the
skills and knowledge of fixing steel doorframe. If carpenters did not possess this type
of skills and knowledge, it is not encouraged to cast steel doorframe together with
Hand-E-Form panels.

3.2.2.14 The Casting Height of Reinforced Concrete Wall

It is recommendedSingle story house, its floor height is 3200mm. Double

story houses, its ground floor height is also 3200mm and its first floor height is
3050mm. This information was given by Malpakat.

Ground floor height (3200mm) - slab thickness (various) + extra 25mm height
concrete kicker height is our RC wall casting height.

Extra 25mm casting height of reinforced concrete wall is very important. It

can help to prevent the problem of water leakage. It is especially important when
external wall is reinforced concrete wall.

46
Reinforced concrete wall is cast 25mm slightly higher in order to produce a
good concrete joint between the wall and the slab. When formwork height is 3-meter
height, two pieces of EFCO 1500mm height Hand-E-Form panels will be join
together.

Table 3.3: Formwork Size and Weight

The dimension of Hand-E-Form panels

Weight (KG) per pieces

600mm X 1500mm HEF PANEL

28.12

500mm X 1500mm HEF PANEL

23.43

300mm X 1500mm HEF PANEL

14.52

200mm X 1500mm HEF PANEL

11.79

150mm X 1500mm HEF PANEL

7.71

125mm X 1500mm HEF PANEL

7.26

3.2.2.15 Concreting Issues

After the hand E-Form is fixed, it proceeded with concrete casting work.

Figure 3.25:
Concrete Casting
after Completion
of Formwork
Installation

47
When two reinforced concrete walls distance is very close during concreting,
concreters use some 2 X 6 timber planks, and these timber planks sit on steel
formwork or cast concrete wall. Think safety, work safety. When two reinforced
concrete walls distance is very far, contractors fabricate their own concrete platform.
Instead of erecting traditional scaffolding tower , or fixing EFCO scaffolding bracket
and post on Hand-E-Form panels during concreting, concreters install self fabricated
lightweight steel walking brackets of which hooked on Hand-E-Form panels. This
method was invented at Acesides Mersing site. Later, this method was being
enhanced at Foremost site. Currently, all projects is fully adopted this method of
construction. It helps the concreter to save time, labor to erect scaffolding tower
during concreting and this method also save labor and time to dismantle scaffolding
after concreting.

Upon completed the concreting activities, the concreter must immediately

dismantle the scaffolding tower. If the concreter did not properly dismantling or
housekeeping these scaffolding tower, next day before the formwork activities start,
it will create some difficult for formwork installers.

If formwork installers need to dismantle these scaffolding towers of which

erected by concreter a day before, it will delay their formwork activities. When
formwork activities delayed, it will unable to perform daily concreting on time.
When the concreting time is always unsure, it will affect the concrete plant
performance or may not be able to have daily concrete supplying on time. When the
concrete plant is unable to supply the concrete on time, the super structural work will
delay.

When the concrete plant is unable to supply the concrete on time, it is need to
have more set of formwork material in order for carpenters to have a continually
daily formwork activity. When formwork material has extra set, result in formwork
double handling time increases. When formwork material has extra set, formwork
material wear and tear increases.

48
3.2.2.16 Concrete Slump Issue

Concrete slump is maximum 120mm + - 20mm with grade approved by the

consultant. It is needed to determine concrete supplier as soon as possible and require
the concrete supplier to provide trial mixed record at their factory. This is to ensure
the concrete deliver on time. The delivery schedule is very important to the
construction work. The actual time of deliver will increase the productivity for the
concreting work. Finally the circulation of EFCO E-form will be complying to the
planning schedule.

3.2.2.17 Concrete Pour Height

First pour height is 600mm (2 feet height), second pour height is 1000mm (3
feet height), third pour height is also 1000mm height, and finally fourth pour height.
Each truck of wall concrete is five cubic meters. The interval of each truck of
concrete is approximately 40 minutes. The maximum concrete volume per pour for
wall is approximately daily 20 cubic meters for one unit of crane for wall forming
daily productivity. When wall finish has honeycomb, it may be due to your concrete
mixture/ concrete slump or vibrating problems. The pour speed of concrete into
125mm thick reinforced concrete wall

49
Table 3.4: Concrete Casting Quantity Per Day

Formwork Concrete
area
volumn
perpour
m2

Per-truck Number Pour speed Total

Total
concrete of truck per truck
minutes Hour
volumn

b=a/2x0.125c

d=b/c

f=d x e

Concreting

g=f/60

200

13

40

100

1.67 5pm to 7pm

250

16

40

125

2.08 4pm to 7pm

300

19

40

150

2.5 3pm to 7pm

350

22

40

175

2.92 2pm to 7pm

400

25

40

200

3.33 2pm to 7pm

500

31

40

250

4.17 11am to 7pm

600

38

40

300

5 10am to 7pm

700

44

40

350

5.83 10am to 7pm

800

50

10

40

400

6.67 9am to 7pm

After concreting work, it is need to house keeping all concrete tools, concrete
walking platform with water jet. It is recommended formwork installer and
concreters must be in the same team. If formwork installer is also the concreter, they
can coordinate extremely well. This concept is extremely important when
development is very small and you still want to use system design.

Figure 3.26:
House Keeping
Formwork after
Concrete Casting

50

Figure 3.27:
Formworks
Dismantle Work

3.2.2.18 Before Pouring, EFCO Hand-E-Form Wall System Checklist

Check HEF clamps at each panels (horizontal, vertical and intersection

joints).

Check spreader ties and spreader tie pins in position.

Check horizontal aligner tube and aligner clamp in position.

Check vertical aligner tube and aligner clamp in position.

Check pipe braces in position, and are well secured.

Putting some wooden base plate to secure the panel at corner location.

Bulkhead for door openings, window opening and construction joints.

Vertical check.

51
After checking the completed Hand-E-Form panels setup, the walls are
poured, and used water jet to clean the back panel immediately during the concreting.
The carpenter is required to perform vertically check before and after the concreting.

When the minimum curing time for a wall is achieved nine (9) hours, the
forms allowed stripping. After forms are stripped, cleaned and oiled from the
previous days poured, the next setting operation begins.

EFCO hammer tie puller + reusable spreader ties. Choose the strongest
worker to dismantle the spreader tie from reinforced concrete wall. The spreader tie
cannot embed inside the concrete more than 24 hours. The workers must grease
spreader ties by using engine grease. After dismantling all the Hand-E-Form panels,
worker need to be assigned to check any spreader tie was left over the wall. The
holes in spreader ties are covered with skim coat to remain soft and smooth surface.

From BS 8100Table 3.5: Minimum Periods before Striking Formwork

Type of framework

Minimum curing

Vertical formwork to columns, walls and large

12 hours

beams
Soffit formwork to slabs

4 days

Soffit formwork to beam and props to slabs

10 days (240 hours)

Props to Beams

14 days

52

Figure 3.28: RC
Shear Wall after
Completed

Figure 3.29: RC
Shear wall

After the ground level RC wall had completed, the first floor slab work is
preceded. This sequence of work are implemented by remain the conventional
method. 4 X 8 ply woods are used as form to the slab. Scaffolding need to be used
support the loading when casting are put into operation. As usual, all pipeline and
electrical conduits need to be installed before fix the BRC.

In this stage, the BRC starter bars need to be set up early as setting operation
to lay out the exact location of the upper wall. The supervisors are counter checked
the pipeline and electrical line as well as the BRC line before the continue job to be
proceeded.

53

Figure 3.30:
Installation in
Conventional
Method for 1st
Floor Slab
Formwork

Figure 3.31:
Installation of
Rebar for 1st
Floor Structure

Figure 3.32: 1st

Floor Slab
Support System

54

Figure 3.33: The

Completion of 1st
Floor Slab

The forming operation continued with setting one side of the wall. The first
floor panels set up are same as procedure implemented in ground floor wall panel.
Before the workers install the EFCO E-Form panel, the extra 2 high of BRC need to
be set for additional work. This is the purpose for brick laying work for additional at
upper roof area.

Figure 3.34:
Installation of
RC Shear Wall
for 1st Floor of
Building

Figure 3.35: The

Installation of
EFCO Hand E
Form on the 1st
Floor of Building

55

Figure 3.36: The

Formwork
Installation Work

Figure 3.37:
Workers Fix
Column and
Beam on the Top
of the Wall

Figure 3.38:
The Completion
of Formwork
Installation

56

Figure 3.39:
Dismantle of
the Formwork

Figure 3.40:
The Upper
Support Area
for Bricks
Laying

Figure 3.41:
The upper
Support Area
for Bricks
Laying

57
The upper support areas for brick laying patty walls are set up by
conventional method. The upper roof patty walls are still remained brick wall due to
the problem in setting the accurate pitch in roof truss and roofing work.

Figure 3.42:
The Completion
of Upper
Support Area
for Bricks
Laying

Figure 3.43: The

Conventional
Beam for
Surrounding
Building Brick
Wall Laying

The RC gutter work is the conventional method where timber woods and
props are the materials to form the concrete beam and rebar. Normally the RC gutter
is located around the blocks of building. The EFCO E-Form covered with box-up is
the opening space to locate RC gutter to fully fix and joint between the gutter and RC
wall.

58

Figure 3.44:
The
Conventional
RC Gutter
Formwork
Installation

Figure 3.45:
Front View of
the Building
after RC Work
Completed

Each architectural finishing works are furnished with conventional timber fix
formwork. Joint between the RC wall and beam structure are perfectly matched. The
following work is appointed the roof truss workers to commence the truss work. The
rigidity and accurate level of the structure provided a good space for roof truss fixed.

59

Figure 3.46:
Brick Lay Work
and Installation
of Roof Truss

Figure 3.47: The

Corner House Area
with Patty Brick
Wall Partial RC

Figure 3.48: The

External Plastering
Work

60

Figure 3.49: The

Internal Skim
Coating Work

Skim coat only applies for reinforce concrete wall at internal areas.

Before applying a layer of skim coating (usually 1-2mm thick layer of

coating is required, skim coater must patch EFCO spreader tie holes (3mm width X
25mm length) with pure cement mixed with water before apply a layer of skim
coating.

Finally the external walls are plastered with normal cement plaster. It
proceeded with painting works and infrastructure works. (Tai, 2004)

Figure 3.50: The

Completion of
Housing Project

61

CHAPTER IV

METHOD AND STRATEGY USED BY SUPPLIER TO PROMOTE EFCO

HAND E-FORM TO CONTRACTORS.

4.1 Introduction

Table 4.1: Formwork Product Life Cycle in Southern Malaysia Construction

Industry
Introduction stage

Growth stage

Maturity stage

Decline stage

-Seller selects
certain products for
selected market
segment.

-Product and market

expansion.

-Various product
choices, needs,
expectations exist in
the market.

-The needs of market

reduced.

-Buyers emphasized
problem solving.
-Buyers feel
technical
uncertainty.
Period: Before 2004

-Increasing
competitive
activities
-Customers have
better informed.

Period: From
2004
Until

-Huge tension of
market competition,
price war exists.
-Aggressive
customers,
customers are
knowledgeable.

2008

-Small companies
merge with bigger
companies or some
companies diversify
to other type of
business.
-The number of
suppliers reduced.
Period: From 2020

Period: From 2008

Until 2019

Formwork generally faces competition from three difference sources. The

first is the competition from directly similar products like Peri-Hori, Peri, Thyssein,
Mega Form, Grade, L&M. Noe, and West Form. The second type of competition is

62
from substitute products such as wood form and a lot of me too products like
Unispan, Simple Form, Fast Form, PDG, and so on. The third type of competition is
competing for the contractors limited buying power.

During the early of 1980 in Malaysia when steel formwork equipment is sale
items, it will always draw heavily on contractors financial resources. Therefore
small contractor is unable to use steel formwork due to lack of finance. Until the
middle of 1990, steel formwork suppliers start to offer the rental terms, and this
option makes steel formwork more available to many contractors.

Generally, the contractors are resistant to change, even the changes are for the
better. People in all organization generally dont like change. Their resistance to
change is caused by their work habits, personal predisposition, educational and
professional training perspective, and fear of the unknown and mistrust of their
superiors and colleagues motives.

Peoples reactions to change can often be classified into those of an

innovator, a conservative or an inhibitor. Innovators welcome change and see it as a
challenge. They are stimulated by new ideas and concepts and are willing to try.
Conservatives wait to see the results and effects of change. Inhibitors, who through
reasons of insecurity, fear or inertia, resist change and are very slow to adapt. They
will only accept change when the changes have been fully adopted by the rest of
people, and it becomes increasingly difficult for them to hold out.

From the information obtained from suppliers, it is not easy to promote the
new products to the construction industry. The responsibilities of formwork suppliers
are to move the market from perfect competition toward oligopoly or monopoly.
Only through monopolistic conditions together with outstanding reputation, they
consistently get higher prices than others competitors during market booming.
Besides that, the supplier also apply partnering concept as a tactic to promote the

63
material effectively. This concept emphasised the win-win situation to those involves
in the business to achieved goal interactively. Table 4.2 shows projects implement
EFCO E-Form RC shear wall method in southern area in Malaysia. (Vivian Ho,
2004)

64
Table 4.2: Projects Implement EFCO E-Form RC Shear Wall Method in
Southern Area in Malaysia

List Of Southern Project Until September 2004

Nos
1
2
3
4

Company
Main Contractor/Developer
Name Of Project
Location
Aceside(Malaysia) Sdn Bhd
Medan Alfa Sdn. Bhd
80 units(TypeA)(16'X55')DSTH Mersing,Johor
Aceside(Malaysia) Sdn Bhd
Medan Alfa Sdn. Bhd
80 units(TypeA)(18'X55')DSTH Mersing,Johor
Aceside(Malaysia) Sdn Bhd
Medan Alfa Sdn. Bhd
81 units(LS)(14'X55')
Mersing,Johor
Aceside(Malaysia) Sdn Bhd
Zecon Engineering Bhd
200 units DSTH
BP,Johor

5
6

BCB Construction Sdn Bhd

BCB Construction Sdn Bhd

BCB Berhad
BCB Berhad

7
8
9
10
11
12
13

BCB
BCB
BCB
BCB
BCB
BCB
BCB

BCB
BCB
BCB
BCB
BCB
BCB
BCB

Construction Sdn Bhd

Construction Sdn Bhd
Construction Sdn Bhd
Construction Sdn Bhd
Construction Sdn Bhd
Construction Sdn Bhd
Construction Sdn Bhd

14 BCB Construction Sdn Bhd

15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35

Foremost
Foremost
Foremost
Foremost
Foremost
Foremost
Foremost
Foremost
Foremost
Foremost
Foremost
Foremost
Malpakat
Malpakat
Malpakat
Malpakat
Ngoh Kim
Ngoh Kim
Ngoh Kim
Ngoh Kim
Ngoh Kim

Frontier
Frontier
Frontier
Frontier
Frontier
Frontier
Frontier
Frontier
Frontier
Frontier
Frontier
Frontier

Construction
Construction
Construction
Construction

Siah Construction
Siah Construction
Siah Construction
Siah Construction
Siah Construction

Berhad
Berhad
Berhad
Berhad
Berhad
Berhad
Berhad

BCB Berhad
Laksama Reality Sdn Bhd
Laksama Reality Sdn Bhd
Laksama Reality Sdn Bhd
Laksama Reality Sdn Bhd
Laksama Reality Sdn Bhd
Polywell Enterprise Sdn Bhd
Polywell Enterprise Sdn Bhd
Laksama Reality Sdn Bhd
Laksama Reality Sdn Bhd
Laksama Reality Sdn Bhd
Polywell Enterprise Sdn Bhd
Laksama Reality Sdn Bhd
Mount
Mount
Mount
Mount
NKS
NKS
NKS
NKS
NKS

Austin Sdn.
Austin Sdn.
Austin Sdn.
Austin Sdn.

Development
Development
Development
Development
Development

Bhd
Bhd
Bhd
Bhd

Sdn.
Sdn.
Sdn.
Sdn.
Sdn.

227 Unit (SF)(22'X70')(TPU)

227 Unit (SF)(22'X70')(TPU)

J.Bahru, Johor
J.Bahru, Johor

548 Unit (DSTH)(18'X65')(TSK)

54 Unit (DSTH)(22'X70')(TSK)
73 Units (SF)(22'X70')(TKB)
288 Units (SF)(20'X65')(TS)
200 Units (SSTH)(20'X65')(TS)
200 Units (SSTH)(20'X70')(TS)
200 Units (DSTH)(20'X70')(TS)

Kluang,Johor
Kluang,Johor
Kluang,Johor
Kluang,Johor
Kluang,Johor
Kluang,Johor
Kluang,Johor

52 units (SSTH)(22'X70')TM

Pontian,Johor

110 units (SSTH)(TRU)

AG,Melaka
78 units (SSTH)(TBKI)
AK,Melaka
13 units (SSTH)(24'X50')(TRJ) TM,Melaka
15 units (SSTH)(20'X55')(TRJ) TM,Melaka
23 units (SSTH)(20'X60')(TRJ) TM,Melaka
20 units (SSTH)(22'X70')(TBC) AG,Melaka
54 units (DSTH)(22'X70')(TSB) G,DT,Melaka
72 units (DSTH)(22'X66')(TSH) AL,Melaka
89 units (SSTH)(TBKI)
AK,Melaka
171 units (SSTH)(TRU)
AG,Melaka
30 units (DSTH)(TSB)
G,DT,Melaka
28 units (DSTH)(26'X74')(TSH) AL,Melaka
452 Units CH (A)( 32' X 70')
250 Units CH(B)( 32' X 70')
76 Units Semi-D(A)(50' X 72')
100 Units Semi-D(B)(50' X 72')

Bhd. 67Units (SSTH)(20' x 70'), TM

Bhd. 47 Units DSTH(24' x 70')TM
Bhd. 4 Units Semi-D(B)(40' x 70')TM
Bhd. 6 Units Semi-D(A)(30' x 80')TM
Bhd. 16 Units (SSTH) (20' x 70')

J.Bahru,
J.Bahru,
J.Bahru,
J.Bahru,
AK,
AK,
AK,
AK,
AK,

Johor
Johor
Johor
Johor

Melaka
Melaka
Melaka
Melaka
Melaka

36

Seri Jasmine Sdn. Bhd.

Seri Jasmine Sdn. Bhd.

355 units SSTH(20' x 70')(TBP) MT, Melaka

37

Total clients: 6

Total developers: 8

Total units of houses:4586 unitsJohor + Melaka

65

INDICATOR:
Type Of Project
DSTH
LS
SF
SSTH
CH
Semi-D

Double Storey Storey House

Low Cost House
Sunflower Terrace House
Single Storey Terrace House
Cluster House
Semi Detached House

Name Of Project
TPU
TSK
TKB
TS
TM
TRU
TBKI
TRJ
TBC
TSB
TSH

Taman
Taman
Taman
Taman
Taman
Taman
Taman
Taman
Taman
Taman
Taman

Location
BP
J.Bahru
AG
AK
TM
G,DT
AL

Pulai Utama
Sri Kluang
Kluang Baru
Saujana
Megah
Rembia Utama
Bukit Katil Indah
Rembai Jaya
Bukit Cheng
Seri Bayan
Serindit Harmoni

Batu Pahat
Johot Bahru
Alor Gajah
Air Keroh
Tanjong Minyak
Gangsa, Durian Tunggal
Air Leleh

66
4.2 Why Partnering is Important?

Partnering does not happen in isolation. Nor do buyers and sellers suddenly
decide to change the nature of their relationship. Partnering occurs because there are
initiatives from either supplier or buyer driven by a need to improve a companys
competitive performance. These driving forces include:

Increasing competition in the market-place

Higher customer expectations

Pressure on costs

Rapid technological change

Raw material shortage

Need for rapid new product development

Skills shortage like manpower

Introduction of new business processes

Focus on core skills like development instead of manufacturing/ trading and

so on

True partnering with customers did not occur naturally. They are cultivated
over a long period by demonstrating respect for the customers personnel and by
recognizing the customers need to generate a reasonable profit.

67

Quality increases
High

Client satisfaction

increases

Supplier satisfaction increases

Low

Time
(OCT)

2000(Oct) 2001(OCT)

2002(OCT) 2003(OCT) 2004(OCT) 2005

Time

Figure 4.1: Beneficial Results of Partnering

Buyer and seller are increasingly involved in creating strategic partnering,

because it makes for good business. Competitive advantages occur to both buyers
and suppliers who partner well because the opportunities to add value, and reduce
costs on both sides of the equation are enormous. Simply reducing uncertainty and
risk sometimes reduce costs. Two firms treat problems that arise as a joint
responsibility.

Joint action is taken to reduce costs, and this benefits both parties, who can
then be more competitive. The buyer knows that the supplier is being fair in their
pricing and this encourages the development of further business.

Building a business partnering with the customer which claimed by many

companies but achieved by few. Yet the supplier have to spend money and energy on
these matters, which are not directly aimed at taking more orders but doing more
business in the future.

68
4.3 Partnering in Action

Building relationship:

Supplier and customers co-operate on process developments that enable the

customers to reduce overall costs and provide the supplier with a long-term supply
contract that is not dependent on price negotiations. This technology can reduce
customer costs, improve reliability and product performance and increase customer
satisfaction. The problem is that technology changes rapidly and few companies have
the resources to achieve technical leadership without major investment in research
and development and recruitment of high quality technical staff. Increasingly, they
rely on the specialized technical expertise of their suppliers to contribute
developments in specific areas. Services such as warehousing, facilities management,
maintenance, research and development can often be handled more efficiently and
cost effectively by external suppliers working in long-term partnering.

Co-operating to win business

Both partnering utilize each others specialist skills to develop a package of

services that provides the ultimate customer with the most effective solutions. Open
sharing of information such as joint work on new project design, discussion of
demand forecasting and exchange of tender cost data will be useful to both the seller
and buyer.

In cooperative relationships, the buyers and sellers work together to achieve

both mutual and individual objectives. For example, contractors are like a car dealer

69
and suppliers are like a car manufacturer. The car dealer ties up with the car
manufacturer, and sells the brand name exclusively.

This allows the dealer and car manufacturer to form a partnering to sell and
work together. Suppliers brand name and the contractors company name become a
partnering. The partnering makes all the assets of the manufacturer available to the
dealer, so these assets can be put to good use to make money for partnering.
The supplier improves the customers profit by helping them apply their products
and services in ways that will maximize his revenues. In return, the customer helps
the supplier improve their own profit on sales by paying them a premium price. The
relationship with customers as partners is built around mutual profit improvement.
By working closely together with customers as a team, they can create a cooperative
we orientation for the relationship instead of a rivalries, often aggressive-defensive
me-you orientation. As we, the supplier can supplement and complement each
other in achieving objectives of a higher order, reinforce each others capabilities,
invite third and fourth parties onto the team when they can make a necessary
contribution.

Add value

EFCO develops a four-way partnering with design engineers, developers and

contractors. As well as providing the basic functions of formwork from plant to
sites, the design engineers provide service such as management information to
improve structural design among contractors, developers and suppliers. Developers
help three parties improve customers satisfaction. The contractor develops a long
term relationship with the developer and both supplier and design engineers improve
their competitiveness.

70
If the buyer does a good job of communicating needs to the supplier, and the
supplier does a good job of communicating needs to the buyer, they can mutually
work out all the opportunities before they become problems. By working together on
quality issues and through joint identification of areas of concern, a better quality
performance can be achieved. Long-term agreements allow for the planning of a
number of issues by both parties.

Spreading the risk

A contractor, design engineers and supplier work in partnering to win a major

contract. Three parties realize that a successful project depends not just on the best
contract solution, but on careful assessment of long-term objectives and the
establishment of the right management structure to utilize and manage the project.
Without a fully support from supplier and design engineers, the contractor might
have become a white elephant.

Close co-operation between three partners ensures that the ultimate customer
obtains the right solutions and that the partners develop a reputation that enhances
their professional credibility.

Reducing costs

Buyers and sellers co-operate on a joint development program to reduce

through-life costs of a number of key component. The seller contributes technical
expertise while the buyers provide the supplier with advice on improving the quality

71
and cost effectiveness of its manufacturing processes. The supplier and design
engineer ensures long-term customer loyalty, while the contractor and developer
reduce their overall costs.

Risk is reduced for buyers since they get to know people in the supplier
organization, and know who to contact when problem arise. Communication is thus
improved. Good communication is critical. Good means open, honest and continual.
If either party has alternative plans to those being openly discussed then eventually
they will be found out and whole relationship will be in jeopardy. Communication
will be through numerous means such as telephone, faxes, short message send
(SMS), e-mail, questionnaires, quotations and drawings. This communication results
in the supplier being treated and feeling as a part of the buyer company. When a
friendly relationship builds up between the buyers and suppliers over the years, the
supplier almost becomes a part of the buyers organization.

Developing a joint market

EFCO co-operates with design engineers to develop the new market for a
new system design. By providing high levels of technical and manufacturing support,
EFCO ensures that contractor understands how to make the best use of the new
concepts. By developing joint product marketing initiatives, the partners are able to
educate large-scale users.

As a result, the developers increase their market share and builds stronger
relationship with the ultimate customer, while EFCO expand the market for their
products.

72
Partnering is built by experiencing good works together. Being partners is the
result of multiple accomplishments over considerable time. Most partnering is the
result of passing many tests under a wide range of circumstances. Persistent
performance is the keynote. Being a partner is one half of a sales relationship.
Converting a customer into a partner is the necessary other half.

Differentiating services

A developer wishes to improve its service to purchaser by offering quality

home. The contractor works in partnering with leading manufacturers and design
engineers in each sector, helping contractor and developer to set up production
processes that will ensure the highest standards of customer services.

The supplier gets access to larger markets and higher levels of business, while
the developer is able to improve its cost position by offering purchasers added value
and differentiate their services from price competitors. Partnering occurred because
both partners recognized the business benefits that would result.

Partners have common objectives. Each partner wants to improve his pride
and profit. Partners have agreed on common strategies for achieving their objectives.
Partners are at common risk. Partners have a common defense against all others who
are not included in the partnering.

The basic business of partnering is two parties doing valuable things for each
other. If one partner stops contributing to the enterprise, the partnering stops. A
partnering can therefore be summed up at any time as an energy system whose net
worth is the total value of the things currently being done in it.

73
The partners are sharing in improved profit, and shared experience of
learning together just how their profits can be improved. The act of learning together
is one of the strongest bonding agents in a customer-salesman partnering. It is the
growth element in the relationship because it ensures that both partners will grow. A
successful partnering is mutual support.

Each partner divides the relationships labor according to his individual

capabilities. These three benefits which accomplishing shared objectives, learning
together and supporting each other are the cornerstones of customer-salesman
partnering.

To make a partnering work, the salesman must be positioned as a consultant,

and the customer must be positioned as her client. The working partnering exists
when the suppliers are involved in the customers planning processes, and when the
customer also involved in the suppliers planning processes. This relationship is
close and mutually dependent.

How close the customer allows them to involve in their business that depends
on supplier relationships with the customer, and how much value the customer
believes supplier that they can add value to their business process. Therefore sellers
need to maintain contact, and build loyalty over a much longer period of time.
Therefore, selling industrial products requires a long-term selling plan. A plan based
on years of association between the buyer and seller.

If suppliers are to get competitive advantage by dealing more

comprehensively with key accounts, they must have a long-term plan. Built on trust
and demonstrated performance require open line of communication between multiple
layers of the buying and selling organization. Deep-seated confidence takes time to
build. It is based on repeated use, and the assurance which comes from not being let
down.

74
The supplier regularly monitored levels of customer satisfaction in order to
increase customer retention. They seek to build loyalty and consistently offer
superior value.

They treated loyal customers as an asset, and strived to build

ongoing and long-term relationships. Alliances are formed and last for very lengthy
period of time.

Networks can occur naturally, but building the network the supplier want and
need is not simple. They managed it by forging the right connections between people
and by arranged the right contacts and interaction at all levels. Once the network is
established, and they managed the flow of information between the two
organizations.

Partnering is built by experiencing good works together. Being partners is the

result of multiple accomplishments over considerable time. Most partnering is the
result of passing many tests under a wide range of circumstances. Persistent
performance is the keynote. Being a partner is one half of a sales relationship.
Converting a customer into a partner is the necessary other half.

Partners have common objectives. Each partner wants to improve his pride
and profit. Partners have agreed on common strategies for achieving their objectives.
Partners are at common risk. Partners have a common defense against all others who
are not included in the partnering. The basic business of partnering is two parties
doing valuable things for each other. If one partner stops contributing to the
enterprise, the partnering stops. A partnering can therefore be summed up at any time
as an energy system whose net worth is the total value of the things currently being
done in it.

First of all, the partners are sharing in improved profit and shared experience
of learning together just how their profits can be improved. The act of learning
together is one of the strongest bonding agents in a customer-salesman partnering. It

75
is the growth element in the relationship because it ensured that both partners will
grow.

A successful partnering is mutual support. Each partner divides the

relationships labor according to his individual capabilities. These three benefits
which accomplished shared objectives, learning together and supporting each other
are the cornerstones of customer-salesman partnering.

The partners can help their relationship by motivating each other when the
going gets tough, keeping each other honest and playing the outfield for each other
so that outsider will find it hard to score points against the partners. From a sellers
point of view, he can sell more, sell more often or justify a premium price for what
he sell of which help him improve his own profit in sales. To make a partnering
work, the salesman must be positioned as a consultant and the customer must be
positioned as his client.

76

CHAPTER V

CONTRACTORS EXPECTATION IN IMPLEMENTING

EFCO HAND E-FORM RC SHEAR WALL DESIGN.

4.1 Introduction

Why New Construction method (EFCO E-Form RC Shear Wall Concept) Can Beat
Old Conventional Method (Beam and Column concept)?

Conventional design structure use wood products for formwork forming

where require intensive labors to perform it. Normally, its structural design
emphasised heavy rebar component with minimum concrete frame. Its walls remain
infilling with brick walls which require a lot of skill workers for brick laying works
and plastering works. Currently, the market prices of rebar, wood, timber planks,
skill labor, brick, sand have been increasing. This will result in falling profit for the
house development. Developer will try other alternative means of method to gain
profit in competitive market. New construction technology intent to reduced
construction capital is the better way to mark up the profit for housing development.

77
EFCO form work method for shear wall design is the pioneer leading provide
new structure framework in residential landed housing project. RC shear wall design
have provide several advantages in rectify the old conventional method. These
advantages are the main expectation for the developers and contractors in achieving
effectives of process in this new technology.

5.2

The Advantages of EFCO E-Form RC Shear Wall Design

5.2.1

Reduce Rebar Content

New design which is used EFCO E-form RC shear wall are more emphasised
in BRC building structure. When BRC quantity increases, it result BRC material cost
for overall project increases. On the contrary manner, the rebar tonnage is reduced.
Finally, the rebar material cost reduced and Rebar labor fixing cost reduced. ( Tan,
2004)

In construction market, rebar labor fixing rate is higher than BRC labor fixing
rate. Rebar labor fixing productivity is lower than BRC labor fixing. When Bar
bender fixing cost reduces, overall steel material and labor rate also be reduced.

Figure 5.1 shows the comparison of quantity steel and BRC between the
conventional method and the EFCO E-form RC shear wall method which is used in
sunflower double storey terrace house in Taman Pulai Utama, Johor. From the result,
it is indicated that the conventional method is used more rebar and A7 BRC which is
3.2 tonnages and 0.602 tonnages separately. The total amount of steel bar in
sunflower double storey terrace house which is used conventional method is 3.8
tonnages per unit house. While the EFCO E-form RC shear wall designs required
0.646 tonnages rebar, 0.973 tonnages A9 BRC, 1.057 tonnages A7 and 0.373

78
tonnages of B6 BRC per unit house. The sum of rebar, A9 BRC, A7 BRC and B6
BRC are 3.049 tonnages. The steel reinforcements cost in conventional method is
RM 9394.40 per unit which is compared to the EFCO E-form RC shear wall designs
is RM 6620.00. It is shows that the construction price for the new method has been
reduced for RM 2774.40 per unit house compare to the conventional old method.

CONVENTIONAL
METHOD

ST EEL
REINFORCEMENT

Kg
A. REBAR

QTY

RATE

Kg 3200.00 2.50

B. BRC
BRC A9
WEIGHT 4.99kg MS

0.00

Kg

EFCO-EFORM RC
SHEAR WALL METHOD

AMOUNT

0.00

BRC A7
WEIGHT 3.02kg MS 199.20

7.00

602

1394.40

BRC B6
WEIGHT 3.73kg MS

8.00

0.00

TOTAL

RATE Kg

3200 8000.00 8000.00 2.50

9.00

0.00

QTY

195.00

9.00

AMOUNT

646

1615.00

973

1755.00

350.00 7.00 1057 2450.00

100.00 8.00

3802 9394.40

373

800.00

3049 6620.00

Figure 5.1: Comparison Steel Reinforcement Price between the Conventional

Method and EFCO E-Form RC Shear Wall Design

5.2.2

Building is Lighter

The new design which is EFCO E-form RC shear wall design provides lesser
steel content. It is also less weight from brick wall of which provide loading to the
foundation. So its advantages in reduce the total weight for the building. There will
be less loading to be transfer to the foundation and directly reduce the burden of the
ground to support the weight of the building. Finally, there will be less loading for
the RC pile foundation system. Directly, the number of piles reduces. It has some
cost saving for foundation work, so the costs of rebar, concrete, formwork, labor,
time, and machinery cost, interest, finance are also reduce.

79
5.2.3

Increase Formwork Cycle

In the new structure design, the structure engineer designs for repeat
structure. It is because all RC shear walls are similar in transfer the same loading to
the ground. There are 70% to 90% of the building brick wall volume are converts to
reinforce concrete wall in the new design. When the structure is designed without
beams or fewer beams, the formwork casting time can be reduced. The time frame
for RC shear wall structural curing are less where compare to the conventional beam
and column method. So the number of formwork cycle will be increased.

The EFCO hand E-form panel applies alloy steel material in fabricate the
framework. It has provided strong frame work of which can prevent the formwork
from wear and tear. This strong formwork panel is designed for longer lifespan can
be handling for the repeatedly cycle up to 800 times.

5.2.4

Material Cost Reduced

In EFCO E-Form RC shear wall method, 70% to 90% of brick wall quantity
reduced. Brick work will covered approximately 30% of the progress work. Through
new technology, it reduced cost for bricks laying and material wastage. Material
wastage like sand, cement and lime also can be reduced. The hoisting time of
material also reduced. It also leads to effectively in site maintaining and
coordination.

80
From labor point of view, skim coating work is easily work comparison with
plastering work. Cost of plastering is expensive than skim coating, because the skill
level of plastering is higher than skim coating due to uneven surface of brick laying
or due to the quality of wooden formwork for beams and columns. Skim finish
provided beautiful surface than plastering in additional that cost reduce for final
finishing.

It is the bigger reinforce concrete structural frame, it provide stronger

building structure. In the quality condition, the RC shear walls result in lesser
plastering hairline crack. So the defect problem can be overcome. Building with no
defect and free maintenance is a good promotion for the purchase marketing.
Resident purchaser will feel more confident with the quality of the company while it
promotes a good reputation to the company. The management has more time to focus
on core business because the complaints from purchasers are lesser.

CONSTRUCTION
ACTIVITY

CONVENTIONAL
METHOD
QTY
RATE

AMOUNT

EFCO-EFORM RC
SHEAR WALL METHOD
QTY
RATE AMOUNT

A. BRICK WALL
LABOR + MATERIAL

MS

346.48

22.00

7622.56

65.50

22.00

1441.00

B. PLASTERING
LABOR + MATERIAL

MS

692.96

11.00

7622.56

131.00

11.00

1441.00

C. SKIM COATING
LABOR + MATERIAL

MS

199.59

4.00

798.55

761.55

4.00

3046.2

TOTAL

16043.48

5928.20

Figure 5.2: Comparison Construction Material Price between the Conventional

Method and EFCO E-Form RC Shear Wall Design

Figure 5.2 shows the comparison of construction activity and the price
between the conventional method and the EFCO E-form RC shear wall method

81
which is used in sunflower double storey terrace house in Taman Pulai Utama, Johor.
It is indicated that both conventional method and EFCO E-Form RC shear wall
consisted construction activities of brick work, plastering work and skim coating
work. But the EFCO E-Form RC shear wall showed to have fewer amounts than the
conventional method where the differences is RM 10115.28. From the result, we can
conclude that the RC shear wall is a very productivity method compare to the
conventional method.

5.2.5

Workers Safety Factor Increased

Labor productivity increases for all type of trades due to clean and neat site.
The EFCO E-form panels generally involve few workers in accomplish the
construction work. Only a group of workers will responsible in fix BRC, set up the
formwork, concreting and formwork stripping. When compare with conventional
type, it need many types of skill workers such as bar bender, carpenter and masonry
workers. System formwork is durable and safe to use which is provided neat and
safety site. Workers work in a safety site without a big amount of worker result in
site congested. Finally the site insurance charge reduced.

5.2.6

Reduction in Dependence on Foreign Workers

The EFCO Hand E-Form RC wall approach to diverted the labour intensive
construction method to the new fabricated method on site where effectively reduce
the construction dependency on foreign labour in the local construction industry. It is
only need a small gang of workers to performed the fabrication and dismantle work.

82
The same group of workers also worked in BRC fix and casting work. It had reduced
60% of labours in conventional method.

5.2.7

Site Maintaining Cost Reduced

It is required lesser coordination and supervising when implementing the

daily elect work. The innovation of the hand e-form will reduce coordination cost for
example supervises the workers in various type of construction work. This
advantages criteria will ended up with lesser site personnel instead of need to employ
many supervisor for different type of work. System formwork enhances the quality
of the structure. Without untidily material in site, it can provide neat and clean site.
Labor productivity will increase when neat and clean as well as safety site.

5.2.8

Site Overhead Reduced

Construction period is shortened or causes of project delay are lesser. The

coordination and supervision cost reduce. The numbers of site personnel reduce.
Cost machineries for site clearing reduced from clean site not required site clearing
maintenance from time to time.

83
5.2.9

Uniform Building by law 1984

44. (1) The height of rooms in residential buildings other than shop houses
shall be for living rooms, not less than 2.5 meter.

(2) The average height of rooms with sloping ceilings in residential buildings
other than shop houses shall be for living rooms, not less than 2.5 meters. (Ngoh Kim
Siah, 2004)

Table 5.1: Different Height between Conventional Method and RC Shear Wall
Method

DESCRIPTION

CONVENTIONAL METHOD

EFCO E-FORM RC
SHEAR WALL METHOD

MINIMUM HEAD
ROOM REQUIRED

2500 mm

ASSUMPTION BEAM
"+ SLAB DEPTH

2500mm
SLAB THINKNESS AVERAGE

450 mm - 700 mm

110 mm TO 175 mm

2950 - 3200 mm

2610 - 2675 mm

MINIMUM FLOOR
HEIGHT

The difference in building height between conventional method and EFCO E-Form
RC shear wall method is 340 to 525 mm.

What the above figures mean?

When the developers reduce the floor height, they have additional cost saving
in materials such as tiling (when developer provide full floor height tiling), painting,
formwork, rebar, concrete, crane, brick, plastering, skim coat and other type of
machinery, building weight, numbers of piling, labors, overhead, site maintenance,
capital investment, time, interest and finance cost.

84
5.2.10 Step Progress Claim is Different

Table 5.2: Step Progress Claim for RC Shear Wall Design

DESCRIPTION

DURATION

DAYS

15

6 WEEKS

42 DAYS

25

12 WEEKS

84 DAYS

15

4 WEEKS

28 DAYS

THE ROOFING, EXTERNAL PLASTERING

10

8 WEEKS

56 DAYS

THE ROAD, DRAIN, SEWERAGE WORKS

15

8 WEEKS

56 DAYS

TOTAL

80

THE FOUNDATION WORKS ( 4 - 6 BLOCKS)

THE REINFORCED CONCRETE FRAMEWORK OF
HOUSE (4 BLOCKS)
THE WALLS WITH DOOR FRAME & WINDOW
FRAMES PLACED IN POSITION (4 BLOCKS)
THE ELECTRICAL WIRING, PLUMBING
(WITHOUT FITTINGS), GAS PIPING (IF ANY),
INTERNAL SKIM COATING/ PLASTERING.

38 WEEKS 266 DAYS

Table 5.3: Step Progress Claim for Conventional Method

DESCRIPTION

DURATION

DAYS

20

6 WEEKS

42 DAYS

HOUSE (4 BLOCKS)

15

8 WEEKS

56 DAYS

BRICK WALL

10

ROOFING

10

INTERNAL & EXTERNAL PLASTERING

10

SEWERAGE

6 WEEKS

42 DAYS

DRAINAGE

6 WEEKS

42 DAYS

THE ROAD WORKS

2 WEEKS

14 DAYS

TOTAL

80

THE FOUNDATION WORKS ( 4 - 6 BLOCKS)

THE REINFORCED CONCRETE FRAMEWORK OF

15 WEEKS 105 DAYS

6 WEEKS

42 DAYS

23 WEEKS 161 DAYS

72 WEEKS 504 DAYS

85
From the above table (Richard Ong, 2004), it is indicated that the progress
claim for the 2 method are difference. For the RC shear wall method, the foundation
works covered 15% of overall, reinforced concrete framework is 25%, walls with
door frame, electrical wiring, plumbing and internal skim coat covered 15%, roofing
and external plastering is 10% and finally 15% for the road, drain and sewerage
works. In conventional method, normally, foundation is 20 %, reinforced concrete
frame is 15%, brick works covered 10%, roofing is 10%, internal and external
plastering is 10%, sewerage works is 5%, 5% for drainage works and finally 5% for
the roads works.

From the result, the RC shear wall design combined together brick work and
RC wall which is in conventional method. In other words, when the contractor claims
the reinforced frame work in RC shear method, it is already covered RC plus brick
works. It is revealed that the RC shear walls have the advantages in fast claim when
the contractor claim RC works.

The second advantage is the comparison between the duration for the 4
blocks of double storey terrace houses in both methods. For the RC shear wall
design, it is only needed 38 weeks (266 days) to complete the construction works.
While the conventional method needed 72 weeks (504 days) to complete for the
same unit of houses. The difference is 238 days which is about 3/4 year. The EFCO
hand E-Form RC shear wall design promotes fast track system to accelerate the
duration of the project completed in a short term of period.

5.2.11 Quality Control

With the durable, all steel Hand-E-Form panels, each successive home built
are as high quality as the first. When contractor build a house using pre-engineering

86
and pre-fabricated alloy steel Hand-E-Form panels, it offers greater control of
accuracy and workmanship during construction. This result in a higher quality
structure compared to the conventional method using a lot of timber formwork.

Timber formwork needs constantly fabrication. The quality of timber

formwork very much depends on the individual skills of workers of which made the
quality of each home built are different.

Wood is getting scarcely. Wood will decay when there is too much moisture.
That presents particularly when it is in contact with the ground. Meanwhile a
carpenter used a lot of nails to make the structural parts of wood built forms.
Fasteners, including nails, are the weakest part of any construction joint.

Meanwhile, the potential failures of wood formwork, it represents a great

hazard to workers whom working around and on it. Unskilled workers always over
secure the wood forms. Too many nails will weaken lumber, and increase difficulty
of removing the forms, and reduce the usage of the plywood and timbers.

5.3

The Advantages of EFCO Alloy Steel Panels Instead of Wood Built Form

The choice between wood and EFCO alloy steel panels depends on how much
the form will be reused.

87

5.3.1

Tidier and More Workman Like

The job site where EFCO alloy steel panels were used was immeasurably
tidier and more workmanlike than the job sites where wood forms used. In a large
jobs, where several areas would be under construction at the same time, for example
(Taman Pulai Utama, Taman Sri Kluang, Taman Kluang Baru II, Taman Saujana,
Taman Bukit Perdana, Taman Megah, Evergreen Height, Taman Seremban Jaya
(BCB Housing Project), it was easy to visualize the mountains of wrecked form
lumber that would have lying about in various stages of abandonment, and felt that it
would be worth money have the advantage of a clean and orderly job site.

5.3.2

Speed in Erecting and Dismantling Forms

After a carpenter and workers have a week or so of experience, it was

positively fascinating to stand and watch them put together a new section of panels.
After the workers had master the erecting and dismantle panel, the construction
works become more in fabricate process. The speed of work depends on the effective
workers for more cycle could be done.

5.3.3

Good Appearance

The alloy steel panels in their various symmetrical shapes leave not only a
smooth surface to the finished concrete; it leaves also a pleasing pattern. There was
little touching up, finishing and cement washing of the surface. This in itself means

88
more than meets the eyes. I felt there was some cost saving in having uniformly nice
surfaces that need little touching up.

5.4 The Advantages of EFCO Alloy Steel Panels Instead of Normal Mild Steel
Form

Normal mild steel is heavy than EFCO alloy steel panels. If the contractors
intend to use normal mild steel form to perform handset forming, it is need to
produce many small pieces of panels. Too many small panels have too many joints.
It will cost more in finishing cost. Small panels need a lot of accessories. A lot of
accessories mean wear and tear, and damage as well as missing cost is higher. It will
also slow down formwork labor productivity.

Alloy steel is the top of the line for value and performance in handset forming
due to its lightweight. If the project is well planning in advance, it may be able to use
600mm X 1500mm panels alone at 70% to 80% of the form done. With the other
twelve largest panels, it will make up about 90% of the square meters of Hand-EForm panels. This further helps increase formwork labor productivity.

When the formwork manufacturer make a little extra investment in tooling

can make a lot of difference in manufacturing process of which produces the
different quality of formwork equipments. Not all brands of manufacturing
equipment and tooling, including production dies, are the same and, very seldom, are
the initial investment the determining factor.
The advantages of EFCO hand E-form

89
5.4.1

Versatile and Adaptable

Hand-E-Form panels can be stand up, lay on vertical or horizontally. Besides

that, it is also allow to form around a curve, do high walls, low walls, straight wall,
round walls, basement walls, retaining walls, abutments, treatment plants, form step
footings, foundations, do corners, pilaster, tunnels, culverts, scale pits, pre-cast
components, water reservoirs, and so on. It is doesnt need to modify the face sheet
and panel. It can be replace, and add new panels, and use with old.

Formwork needs to be very flexible. For contractors who intend to own the
formwork, they must consider their future formwork must have the characteristics of
that allow the contractor to use the formwork from one project to another project.

The versatile and adaptable factors are very important. In order to achieve the
best result, the contractor needs to think of the entire project when selecting the type
of forms and form material(s).

5.4.2

One-man Operation

The EFCO E-Form panel is the most lightweight panel. It is only 29kg per
square meter, it includes a panel with the steel alloy face sheet, steel stiffeners and
side flanges of which all welded together, and so it can be set in one piece. It is
already has built-in Wales, studs and sheeting, stiffeners. It helps contractors save the
current fabrication cost. It required no wedges or nails for alignment. Only single
steel aligners, never double, are required to straighten the form set-up.

90
Form systems, which one man alone with two hands could strip, move,
assemble, align and plumb. One man can do all operations. It eliminates the buddy
system to one-man operation, and no crane is needed during fixing the formwork.
This reduces inefficiencies when a few workers are standing around waiting for
another to return or waiting for a crane.

System formwork breaks the work down into simple tasks similar to factory
process eliminated the buddy system to one-man operation.

5.4.3

Simple Mechanics

The equipment includes only HEF clamps, spreader tiepins, spreader ties,
rubber seated aligner clamps, pipe braces, aligner tubes, and panels. EFCO Forms are
very simple and handy as far as assembly is concerned which results in a high
productivity rate.

As the system is very simple, there is not a lot of equipment to handle, lose
and replace. Accurately inventory counts that make it easily kept track of the stock.
Simple storage that makes it very easily stored in small area, and it is easy to be kept
for future reuse. It is ready to be use as soon as it arrives on the job site. Transports
easily, transports twice as many square meters in the same truckload of which
comparison with other concepts. Size and weight of panels provide for easy
breakdown, packaging and demobilization of large quantities of materials.

91
5.4.4

Lesser Finish Costs

EFCO have a high quality manufacturing process. EFCO face sheet used
laser cut, and form the panels with steel frame through robot welding. EFCO face
sheet is over steel flange, which is producing a better form joint. This single tight
joint with no offsets which help produce a dimensionally accurate. It provides a
consistently smooth concrete finish.

Finish cost decreased directly associated with patch and rub due to the forms
leave minimal, sharp lines, which are easily knocked down with a stone. No grinding
and excessive rubbing of residual patterns left by lumber forms or steel forms with
lumber inserts. Patching of tie holes is minimal due to the flat configuration of the
tie.

5.4.5

Flat Spreader Tie System

Spreader ties can be removed without disturbing the form set-up. EFCO
spreader tie has a very small tie hole, 2mm width and 25mm length. It means that
there is a lesser patching cost, lesser water leakage problem for external wall.

It also provides faster installation, and generates higher productivity, because

it have lesser chance to hit BRC or rebar compared to normally 16mm, 32mm or
40mm diameter of tie rod and wind nut concept.

92
It is no needs embedded items such as PVC tubes and cones. It helps to save
labor, material and coordinating cost. Its spreader tie also has a built-in function of
which help control the wall thickness as well as increasing the labor productivity.
The disadvantages of RC Shear wall design.

5.4.6

Concrete Surface Increases

Concrete volume increases. Concrete cost increases. Concrete volume per

pour is very little, because the pour speed of concrete is very slow. Concrete needs
properly vibration in order to avoid honeycomb. Crane usage frequency increases.
Crane cost increases. Concrete labor rate increases.

93

Table 5.4: Quantity and Total Price of Concrete for One Unit Sunflower Double
Storey Terrace House in Conventional Method.

CONVENTIONAL METHOD
DESCRIPTION
A. CONCRETE

UNIT

QTY

FOOTING AND STUMP

MC

11.60

164

1902.40

GROUND FLOOR BEAM

MC

4.30

164

705.20

GROUND FLOOR COLUMN

MC

4.80

164

787.20

GROUND FLOOR SLAB

MC

16.70

164

2738.80

FIRST FLOOR SLAB & BEAM

MC

17.76

164

2912.64

FIRST FLOOR COLUMN

MC

1.00

164

164.00

ROOF BEAM

MC

4.40

164

721.60

UPPER ROOF BEAM

MC

2.87

164

470.68

STAIRCASE

MC

1.80

164

295.20

RC CUTTER

MC

1.25

164

205.00

WALL (ROUND + 1st FLOOR)

MC

0.00

164

TOTAL

66.48

RATE

AMOUNT

10902.72

94
Table 5.5: Quantity and Total Price of Concrete for One Unit Sunflower Double
Storey Terrace House in RC Shear Wall Method

EFCO E-FORM RC SHEAR WALL METHOD

DESCRIPTION
A. CONCRETE

UNIT

QTY

FOOTING AND STUMP

MC

0.00

164

0.00

STRIP FOUNDATION

MC

1.82

164

298.48

GROUND FLOOR COLUMN

MC

2.50

164

410.00

GROUND FLOOR SLAB

MC

20.00

164

3280.00

FIRST FLOOR SLAB & BEAM

MC

18.77

164

3078.28

FIRST FLOOR COLUMN

MC

0.00

164

0.00

ROOF BEAM

MC

1.00

164

164.00

UPPER ROOF BEAM

MC

2.87

164

470.68

STAIRCASE

MC

1.80

164

295.20

RC CUTTER

MC

1.25

164

205.00

WALL (ROUND + 1st FLOOR)

MC

23.00

164

3772

TOTAL

73.01

RATE

AMOUNT

11973.64

5.5 The Disadvantages of EFCO Hand E-Form RC Shear Wall

5.5.1

The Accuracy of Formwork Fix is Difficult to Accomplish by the

Workers

Before the workers are fix the EFCO E-Form panel, the position of wall
alignment need to be setting as accuracy without mistaken. It is a problem for the
workers to perform it well and result incorrectness. Consequently, the error setting

95
wall needs to be dismantled and rectified it to the correct portion. The inaccuracy of
wall setting lead to the delay of the progress and of formworks transfers cycle.

Besides, the EFCO panel also disable for extra dimension fix. There is a case
in Taman Pulai Utama where for the expansion joint, the workers join the empty
space with wood fix between the 2 panels.

5.5.2

The Progress Claim Issue

In previous chapter had mentioned that one of the advantages of the RC shear
wall design is a fast amount progress claim for the frame works out of overall the
project. Although there is an advantage in progress claim, but it is also result in delay
for the particular claim. For example, below chart show that the comparison for the
first and second description progress claim where after the foundation have been
claimed, the developer need to wait for extra time (1 month) to claim the second
claim for RC frame work.

This is the condition affected the developers financial control for those very
depend on claim for business turnover. The developer or contractor attempt to
acquire more formwork to achieved the claim target on time. It is effected the
increase of material cost for the project overhead.

96
Table 5.6: Progress Claim and Construction Period 4 Blocks of Sunflower
Double Storey Terrace House in RC Shear Wall Method

DESCRIPTION

DURATION

DAYS

15

6 WEEKS

42 DAYS

25

12 WEEKS

84 DAYS

15

4 WEEKS

28 DAYS

THE ROOFING, EXTERNAL PLASTERING

10

8 WEEKS

56 DAYS

THE ROAD, DRAIN, SEWERAGE WORKS

15

8 WEEKS

56 DAYS

TOTAL

80

THE FOUNDATION WORKS ( 4 - 6 BLOCKS)

THE REINFORCED CONCRETE FRAMEWORK OF
HOUSE (4 BLOCKS)
THE WALLS WITH DOOR FRAME & WINDOW
FRAMES PLACED IN POSITION (4 BLOCKS)
THE ELECTRICAL WIRING, PLUMBING
(WITHOUT FITTINGS), GAS PIPING (IF ANY),
INTERNAL SKIM COATING/ PLASTERING.

38 WEEKS 266 DAYS

Table 5.7: Progress Claim and Construction Period 4 Blocks of Sunflower

Double Storey Terrace House in Conventional Method

DESCRIPTION

DURATION

DAYS

20

6 WEEKS

42 DAYS

HOUSE (4 BLOCKS)

15

8 WEEKS

56 DAYS

BRICK WALL

10

ROOFING

10

INTERNAL & EXTERNAL PLASTERING

10

SEWERAGE

6 WEEKS

42 DAYS

DRAINAGE

6 WEEKS

42 DAYS

THE ROAD WORKS

2 WEEKS

14 DAYS

TOTAL

80

THE FOUNDATION WORKS ( 4 - 6 BLOCKS)

THE REINFORCED CONCRETE FRAMEWORK OF

15 WEEKS 105 DAYS

6 WEEKS

42 DAYS

23 WEEKS 161 DAYS

72 WEEKS 504 DAYS

97

CHAPTER VI

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS:

THE ACCEPTANCE OF NEW TECHNOLOGY TO THE END USER.

6.1 Introduction

This chapter discusses the data collection process involved in the study. The
data for this research was collected through the use of questionnaires targeting house
purchaser in Melaka and Johor, Malaysia.

This chapter presents the third part of objectives for this study. The chapter
will discuss on procedures included process of data collection from questionnaires,
identification of respondent, a survey and analysis of data collected using Statistical
Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) with version 12.

98
6.2 Identification of Respondents

Relevant information has been studied for this report. This literature review
on variety of information resources was done. The information is obtained through
the reading of relevant journals, books, other researches, Internet, articles and papers.
Besides, several interviews are conducted between supplier, developers and
contractors to collect information for current progress condition. The literature
review also provided foundation for designed questionnaires that adopted in this
study.

6.3 Questionnaire Design

The questionnaire was designed into three sections. (Please refer Appendix A
for the sample of questionnaire form)

a. Section A (Personal particulars)

It captures the background details of the respondents such as profession,

gender and race.

b. Section B (Information about the respondents preference)

This section is obtained information about the respondents category of house

purchased. The purpose of the house purchased. How much is the amount of
purchase. Finally is purchasers property location.

99
c. Section C (The respondents knowledge about the RC wall design)

This section is to evaluate the respondents reaction on RC shear wall design.

The questions is created to test the respondent opinion in RC shear wall design
and find out their preferences in order to upgrade the EFCO E-form shear wall
design suitable for them. This section also intended to collect the comments from
respondent to improve the current circumstance of RC shear wall design system.

6.4 Data Collection

A questionnaire (Appendix A) was prepared to identify the current condition

RC shear wall design in the current market. The RC shear wall was implemented in
the market for quite some time but very few study was carry out to discover the
efficiencies of this method. The study is aimed to explore the opinion of the
respondents about the method and to improve the effectiveness of the method
simultaneously. The questionnaires have been sent to 100 various company sales
offices within Johor and Melaka State.

6.5 Size of Sample

The questionnaires were handed out to purchasers through the BCB berhad
sales office in Taman Pulai Utama Johor, Malpakat sales office in Taman Dato
Chellam Johor and NSK sales office in Taman Merbok Melaka. However, only 50
had been completed and returned. This gives responding rate of 50%. Time

100
constrained is the critical factor cause the return of the questionnaires. The duration
used for distribution of questionnaires until collection is 5 weeks.

Table 6.1 tabulates the number of the entities in Johor and Melaka that had
responded to survey.

Table 6.1: Location of Responded Entities in Johor and Melaka

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent

Taman Pulai
Utama
Taman Dato
Chellam
Taman Merbok
Total

20

40.0

40.0

40.0

14

28.0

28.0

68.0

16
50

32.0
100.0

32.0
100.0

100.0

6.6 Data Analysis

The data collected through structured questionnaire were analyzed and

reported in the following section. The analysis was performed via Statistical Package
for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 12. Frequency analysis and interaction analysis are
selected to perform the result of data collected.

101
6.6.1

Frequency Analysis

The Frequencies procedure provides statistics and graphical displays that are
useful for describing many types of variables. For a first look at data, the Frequencies
procedure is a good place to start. For a frequency report and bar chart, it can arrange
the distinct values in ascending or descending order or order the categories by their
frequencies. The frequencies report can be suppressed when a variable has many
distinct values. It is accomplish by label charts with frequencies (the default) or
percentages.

6.6.2

Analysis of the Interaction of Variables

Two variable design designs allows using research resources efficiently,

analyse the interaction among variables and increase statistical power. Two variable
designs can help us to understand how combinations of variables influence the result.
It combine different levels of the two variables and result in observe the combined
effect of the variables which would not able to see in single variable study. These
unique results represent the interaction of the two variables. An interaction represents
a pattern of results that the independent variables by themselves cannot explain.

102
6.7 Findings
6.7.1

Frequency Analysis of Data Collection

100 set of questionnaire were sent out and 50 set of it have been completed
and returned. Out of the 50 respondents who provided information on their
profession or designation, 7 were the self employed, 16 were the professional, 17
were involve in service sector and finally 10 were from others profession .Figure 6.1
shows the composition of respondent by profession given in percentage.

Respondents' Profession

Others
20%

Service
34%

Self Employed
14%

Self Employed
Professional
Service
Others

Professional
32%

Figure 6.1: The Composition of Respondent by Profession

14% (14 nos.) of respondents were from self employed. 32% (16 nos.) of
them were professional. 34% (17 nos.) were those involved in service sector and
20% or 10 person were from others profession. Table 6.2 shows that occupation of
the respondents.

103
Table 6.2: Respondents Occupation

Occupation

Frequency Percent

Self Employed

Cumulative Percent

14.0

14.0

Professional

16

32.0

46.0

Service

17

34.0

80.0

Others

10

20.0

100.0

Total

50

100.0

Based on bar chart 6.2, 44 of the surveyed respondents were male and 6 of
them were female. It is indicated that most of the respondents own property in survey
area were male.

Respondents' Gender
50
45

44

40
35
30
25
20
15
10

5
0
Male

Female

Figure 6.2: Respondents Gender

104

Respondents' Race

Others
Indian 4%
16%

Malay
36%

Malay
Chinese
Indian
Others

Chinese
44%

Figure 6.3: Respondents Race in Survey Area

The most surveyed respondents were Chinese which covered 44% overall of
the respondents. The second is the Malay which is 36%. 16% of the respondents
were Indian and 4% included in others.
As conclusion, majority of the respondents were Chinese and Malay.

105

Type Of House To Purchase

17

18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0

16

Single Storey
Terrace House

8
5

Double Storey
Terrace House

Cluster House

Bungalow

Semi Detached House

Double Storey Terrace

House

Single Storey Terrace

House

Semi Detached
House
Bungalow
Cluster House

Figure 6.4: Category of House Purchase by Respondents

Table 6.3: Category of House Purchase by Respondents

Type Of House

Frequency

Percentage

8.0

8.0

17

34.0

42.0

10.0

52.0

16.0

68.0

Cluster House

16

32.0

100.0

Total

31

100.0

Single Storey
Terrace House
Double Storey
Terrace House
Semi Detached
House
Bungalow

Cumulative Percent

106

From the above figure, majority the purchasers purchased Double Story
Terrace House (34%) and Cluster House (32%). There were 16% of respondent
purchased bungalows; however, there were 10% of purchaser purchased semi
detached house and 8% purchased single storey terrace house. In other words, most
of the respondents proper to purchase double storey terrace house and cluster house.

The Purpose of House Purchase

41

45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10

5
0
For residential

For investment

Figure 6.5: Purposes to Purchase House

The survey indicates that commonly respondents were bought house for
residential purposes which is 41 of purchasers aim for it. For the rest of 9 were for
the investment purposes.

107

Amount of The Purchase

8%
12%

58%

22%

50000-100000
100001-200000
200001-300000
>300001

Figure 6.6: The Amount of the Respondents Purchase

This survey also identified that 58% or 29 out of 50 respondents purchased
houses value RM300001 and above. Another 22% or 8 people were answered that
the house value is between RM200001 to RM300000. 12% of them purchased
houses value between RM100001 to RM200001 while 8% of them were purchased
house value between RM50000 to RM100000.

108

The Location of The Property

Melaka
30%

Melaka
Johor

Johor
70%

Figure 6.7: Respondents Property Location

According to the results, 70% of respondents were purchased house at Johor area
and 30% of respondents were from Melaka.

Familiar With RC Wall Design Method

28

27

26

25

24

27

23

22

23

21

Yes

No

Figure 6.8: Respondents knowledge In RC shear wall design

109
Out of the 50 respondents, 23 were familiar with RC shear wall design and 27
were not familiar with RC shear wall design. Basically it is shows that not many
respondents were knowledge with RC shear wall design. The Figure 6.8 shows the
distribution of respondent according to those familiar and unfamiliar with RC shear
wall design.

Agree With The Implementation of RC Shear

Wall method

32

35
30
25

18

20
15
10
5
0
Yes

No

Figure 6.9: Respondents Opinion in Implementation of RC Shear Wall Method

in Their Property

From the above figure, we can interpret that most of the respondents feel that
they can accept implementation of RC shear wall for their house purchased. There
were 32 of response (64%) agreed with the new technology system but 18 (36%)of
them reluctant to this technology. This is showing that although some of the
respondents were not familiar with this system but they still can accept the system
for their property.

110

Acceptance of RC Shear Wall in the Well Market Area

14, 28%
Yes
No

36, 72%

Figure 6.10: The Respondents Acceptance of RC Shear Wall in Well Market

Area
Figure 6.10 shown 72% or 36 of 50 respondents can accept the RC Shear wall
design in the well market area. Only 28% or 14 respondents said that they cant
accept the RC shear wall design although the house property is in the well market
area. This is indicated that well market area is also a consideration issue to the
implementation of RC Shear wall.

Possibility For Respondents to Renovate Their

House
30
30

20

25
20
15
10
5
0

Yes

No

Figure 6.11: Possibility for Respondents to Renovate their House

111
he results from this Figure 6.11 showed that among them, there were only 20
(40%) of 50 respondents plan to renovate their house. 30 of them planning to
renovate their house. This figure pointed that there is an others condition affect this
figure because Malaysians normally will do renovation for their house.

Below are analyses for 20 respondents whose plan to do renovation. Future

analysis is based on 20 respondents.

Area To Renovate

11

12
10

8
6
4
2
0
Infront The Car Porch,
Infront The Car Porch,
Behind The Kitchen Behind The Kitchen, Inside
of House

Figure 6.12: Respondents Preferable Area for House Renovate

Analysis shows that there is nearly equal numbers of respondents were either
renovates 2 path of area, in front the Car porch area and behind the kitchen area or
both 3 part of area, in front the car porch area, behind the kitchen and inside the
house. Majority of respondent (11, 55%) plan renovate both 3 area. However, there is
9 of 20 respondents plan to renovate 2 path of area.

112

Acceptance For Interior Renovation Not

Allow
Yes
2, 10%

No

18, 90%

Table 6.13: The Acceptance of Respondents for Interior Renovation is Not

Allow

From the 20 respondents plan to renovate house, the figure shows that 90% of
respondents were disagree for the house that is not allowed for interior renovation.
Only 2 of them (10%) agreed for renovation is not allowed. According to analysis in
figure 6.13, most of the respondents plan to renovate their house cannot accept the
house that not allow to renovate for interior design. The others 30 respondents could
accept the house cannot be renovate.

113

Area To Renovate
0%

10%

60%

30%
Wall between dining room and living

Wall between family hall and dining room

Toilet Wall

Wall between bedrooms

Figure 6.14: Area to Renovate

Figure 6.14 shown that most of the respondents (60%) were commonly
dismantle wall between dining room and living room for renovation. 30% of them
preferred to dismantle wall between family hall and dining for enlarge the space.
10% of the respondents dismantle wall between bedrooms for renovation. Finally
there is no respondents dismantle toilet wall for renovation.

Respondents' Preferable If Both Method

allows renovation.
5, 25%

RC shear wall
design
Conventional
method

15, 75%

Figure 6.15: Respondents preferable if both methods allow renovation

114
Figure 6.15 shows 15 (75%) out of 20 respondents were accepted RC shear
wall design if this method allow in renovation. Only 5 (25%) respondents were not
preferred in RC shear wall design although it provides convenient in renovation.

6.7.2

Interactive Analysis

6.7.3
Acceptance where interior hacking renovation is
not allow
YES

15

NO
10

SSTH SINGLE STOREY TERRACE

HOUSE
DSTH DOUBLE STOREY
TERRACE HOUSE

SSTH DSTH

SD

CH

- BUNGALOW

SD

- SEMI DETACHED HOUSE

CD

- CLUSTER HOUSE

Which Category of house do you purchase?

Figure 6.16: Interactive Analysis between Category House of Purchase and

Acceptance where Interior Hacking Renovation is Not Allow

From the interactive analysis between category of house purchased by

respondents and acceptance where interior hacking renovation is not allow, majority
respondents indicated that those had purchased single storey terrace house and
double storey terrace house could not accept where the interior hacking renovation is
not allow. For respondents whose purchased bungalow, semi detached house and
cluster house can accept where interior hacking renovation is not allow. It is point

115
out that through a well-developed housing project which reduced purchaser
renovation work could increase respondents preferences in RC Shear wall design.

Construction businesses should begin to realize that their success is

increasingly dependent on the organizations they supply to and buy from, and that
for continued success they need to cooperate and collaborate across customersupplier interfaces.

30

Yes
No

Acceptance
BarsRC
show c
Shear Wall
Design in well
Market Area

Count

20

Respondents

10

0
50000-100000
50000-100000

100001- 200000
100001-200000

200001300000
200001-300000

>300001
>300001

Howmuch
much
isamount
the am
of purchase ?
How
is the
ofount
purchase?

Figure 6.17: Interactive Analysis between the Amounts of the House Purchased
and Acceptance RC Shear Wall Design in Well Market Area

From the analysis, it is shown that for every amount of purchase from 5000 to
exceed 300000, the respondents can accept RC shear wall design in the well market

116
area. This can be an important information to the developer when select the
construction method for project development.

Pla n to renova te house

Yes
No

30

Count

Bars show counts

20

10

0
Melaka

Johor

The location of your prope rty

Figure 6.18: Interactive Analysis between the Location of Property and

Respondents Plan to Renovate House

Analysis showed that there are two main situations in two difference location
in Melaka and Johor. In Melaka, most of the respondents were planning to renovate
their property but only a few were not for it. In Johor state, it is shown that most of
them were bought luxury property were not planning to renovate their property.

117

Do you agree with the implementation of RC shear

wall design method to your property?
Do u agree with the implementation of RC shear wall design method to your property?
Yes

25

No
Bars show counts

Count

20

15

10

Yes

No

Do u familiar
with RC shear wall
design
method?
Do
you familiar
with
RC
shear wall design method?

Figure 6.19: Interactive Analysis of Respondents Familiar RC Shear

Wall Method and Agree with the Implementation of RC Shear
Wall Design Method

Pla n to renova te house

15

Yes

Count

15

10

No

SSTH Bars
SINGLE
STOREY
show counts
TERRACE
HOUSE

10

DSTH DOUBLE STOREY

TERRACE HOUSE
5

- BUNGALOW

SD
- SEMI DETACHED
HOUSE
0
Bung alow
Sing le Stor ey Ter rac e House
Cluster House
Doubl e Storey Terr ac e House
Semi D etached House

SSTH

DSTH

SD

CH

Which
category
of of
house
do do
youu purcha se?
w hich
cate gory
house
purchase?

Figure 6.20: Interactive Analysis of Respondents Familiar RC Shear

Wall Method and Agree with the Implementation of RC Shear
Wall Design Method

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15

Yes
No

15

10

Bars show count s

Do you agree
with the
implementatio
n of RC Shear
Wall design
method to your
property?

10

0
Sing le Stor ey Ter race House
Bung alow
Doubl e Storey Terr ace H ouse
Semi D etached House

SSTH

DSTH

SD

CH

Cluster House

Which
category
ofry
house
do you purchase?
w hich
cate go
of house
do u purcha se?
SSTH SINGLE STOREY
TERRACE HOUSE
DSTH DOUBLE STOREY
TERRACE HOUSE
B

- BUNGALOW

SD

- SEMI DETACHED
HOUSE

CD

- CLUSTER HOUSE

Figure 6.21: Interactive Analysis of Category of House Purchase and

Agree with the Implementation of RC Shear Wall Design Method

From the analysis figure 6.19, 6.20 and 6.21, the data revealed that even
thought most of the respondents were not familiar with the RC shear wall method,
but there were quite a number of this category of respondents could agree with the
implementation of RC shear wall design. This percentages of respondents are for
those agreed with the method and from the category thats purchased category house

119
from bungalow, semi detached house and cluster house. This is another facts showed
that most of these respondents agreed with RC shear wall design. The reason reflect
that respondents whose purchase luxury property were also not plan to have
renovation, could accept very much in RC shear wall design.

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CHAPTER VII

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

7.1 Introduction

This chapter presents conclusion and recommendation. Based on the

literature reviews, questionnaires distribution, feedbacks and results analysis, the
four main objectives of this project report have been achieved.

7.2 Findings

This section presents the research findings of the study. Basically all the
objectives of this study have been successfully achieved. This study can be
summarized as followings:

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From the First Objective which is study the Construction Process of the
EFCO E-form RC Shear Wall Design, it is found that the process of the construction
is begin from site preparation, setting out, foundation, process to fabricate the EFCO
panel form, concrete issue until to the whole building completed. Besides, from the
research, there are some modification were found to improve the effectiveness of the
method.

The modifications are to upgrade one direction wall in to two direction

wall. This two directions wall has good criteria as a support the transfer loading from
slab to the foundation. Rectification of the method to not fully implement RC shear
wall design where the developers use 80 % of RC shear wall design and remain 20 %
brick wall design in order to satisfied customers renovation habits.

From the in second objective, it is shown that is not easy to promote the new
products to the construction industry. The responsibilities of formwork suppliers are
to move the market from perfect competition toward oligopoly or monopoly. Only
through monopolistic conditions together with outstanding reputation, they
consistently get higher prices than others competitors during market booming.
Besides that, the supplier also apply partnering concept as a tactic to promote the
material effectively. This concept emphasised the win-win situation to those involves
in the business to achieved goal interactively.

The Third Objective which is related Study the Contractors Expectation in

Using EFCO E-Form Panel. The Expectation is Considered Financial Saving,
Workmanship, Quality, Work Progress and Site Condition. The expectation of the
contractors about this method is related with advantages and disadvantages in the
real site progress. By conducted several interviews, objective three had successfully
achieved. From the comparison between the conventional method and RC shear wall
method, it is result that to construct one unit house in RC shear wall method is more
cost effective than the conventional method.

Finally for the objective 4 in identify the Acceptance of New Technology to

the End User, the survey reveals that the most of the respondents purchased the

122
luxury house such as bungalow, semi detached house and cluster house could accept
the RC shear wall design. It is because this category of respondents can accept where
the interior renovation is not allowed and they are also not plan to renovate the
house.

To conclude the data analysis, the marketing strategy plays an important role
in promoting the sales of the houses. Most of the luxury houses is constructed by
Malpakat development received a very good sales because of the good marketing
package promote by them which effectively attract buyers to purchased the house.

7.3

Recommendation

In order to implement the new technology effectively, there should be trust

among all parties. The partnering system between supplier, consultant and contractor
have shown where in this competitive market, cooperative between all parties are
need to take place in realize win-win situation instead of negative scenario of dogeat-dog. Also, from the result of analysis, most of the advantages in implementing
the EFCO E-form RC shear wall design were lead to the confident factor for
developers expectation to perform it well. Besides, within the research, some of the
weaknesses were recognised and it needs to be rectified in order to enhance the
effectiveness of the method. Finally is the most important part where the end user
expectations need to be considered.

123

REFERENCES

R.Lyman Ott, Michael Longnecher (1994). An Introduction to Statistical Method

and Data Analysis Fifth Edition, Duxbury. 124-200.

David J. Pittenger (1990). Behavioral Research Design and Analysis, McGraw

Hill. 87-92.

Elaine C. Nocks and Gilles O. Einstein (1986). Learning To Use The SPSS Batch
System. New Jersey: Prentice-Hill.

Sagar V. Kamarthi, Victor E. Sanvido, Soudar R.T. Kmara (1983).Neuroform

Neural Network System for Vertical Formwork Selection. Journal of
Materials Management, pp. 2-10 Fall.

Hosking, D. M. (1988). Organizing, Leadership, and Skillful Process. Journal of

Management Studies. 25, 147-166.

Neil Frude (1987). A Guide to SPSS/PC+. London: Macmillan Education Ltd.

Zaidatun Tasir dan Mohd Salleh Abu (2003). Analisis Data Berkomputer SPSS 11.5
for Windows Kuala Lumpur: Venton Publishing

Zukarnain Zakaria and Hishamuddin Md. Som (2001). Analysis Data

Menggunakan SPSS Windows. Skudai: UTM.

Industrialised Building Systems. Http: //www.cidb.gov.my

124
Formwork and False work Equipment. Http: SCI Global.com

Emerging Construction Technology Stay in Place Formwork. Http: SIP.com

EFCO Hand E-Form Panel. Http: EFCO.com

Industrialised Building Systems, Roadmap 2003-2010. cidb

Malaysian Construction, Industry Master Plan Framework 2005-2015. cidb

125

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Vivian Ho, Territory Manager. EFCO (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd.

Wong K.K, Contractor. Bentuk Mahir Sdn Bhd.

Tan S.L, Managing Director. BCB Berhad.

Richard Ong, PA. BCB Construction Sdn Bhd.

Lam K.Y, Director. Reliacon Project Consultant.

Ngoh K.S, Managing Director. NKS Development Sdn Bhd.

Steven Lew, Sales Representative. Chuan Kee Trading.

Tai Y.C, Manager. Twin T Enterprise.

126

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA

FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
QUESTIONNAIRE
SURVEY ON THE ACCEPTANCE OF RC SHEAR
WALL DESIGN FOR THE LANDED RESIDENTIAL
HOUSING PROPERTIES
Purpose of Research:
The purpose of this research is to identify the acceptance of new
technology which is currently implemented in Malaysias construction
industry. The finding of this research is aim to improve the technique of
work for residential housing project from conventional methods to new
technology.
Your cooperation is highly appreciated.
Thank you.
PREPARED BY:
LIM WAI SHIEN
MASTER OF SCIENCE
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

127

Section A: Personal particulars

(Please tick () at the answer you choose for the following questions :)

1.

2.

3.

What is your profession?

Self Employed

Professional

Service

Others: ___________________

Gender

Male

Female

Race

Malay

Chinese

Indian

Others: __________________________

Please state your name, address and contact number.

Name:
_____________________________________________________________
Address:
_____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Telephone Number: __________________ E-Mail Address: _____________
Date of Valuation:
____________________________________________________

128

Section B: Obtain information about the respondents preference?

4.

5.

6.

7.

Which category of house do you purchase?

Single Storey Terrace House

Double Storey Terrace House

Semi Detached House

Bungalow House

Cluster House

What is the purpose of buying the house?

For residential

For investment

How much is the amount of purchase?

RM 50000 - RM 100000

RM 100000 RM 200000

RM 200000 RM 300000

> RM 300000

Your property is located at ___________.

Melaka

Johor

129

Section C: identify the respondents knowledge about the RC wall

design.
8.

Do you familiar with RC shear wall design method?

Yes
No

9.

Do you agree with the implementation of RC shear wall design method to

your property

Yes
No
10.

If your house/property is located at the most well property market area, can
you accept it to be build in RC shear wall method?

Yes
No

11.

Do you prefer your house/property to be built with nice flat ceiling and
wall?
Yes
No

130

12.

Do you have any plan to renovate your house/ property?

Yes
No
If no, proceed to question 20.

13.

Which parts of your house do you want to renovate?

In front car porch area, Behind kitchen area

In front car porch area, behind kitchen area and inside

the house area.

14.

Can you accept your house/property, which interior renovation is not

allowed?

Yes
No

15.

Which parts of your house do you plan to dismantle to enlarge the space
inside in the house?

Wall between dining room and living room.

Wall between family hall and dining room.

Toilet wall.

Wall between bedrooms.

131
16.

If both methods, RC shear wall design and conventional beam and column
method enable renovation work, which method would you prefer?
RC Shear Wall Design
Conventional Beam and Column Design

17.

Appreciate any comments which you feel the application of precast

concrete technology in improving our construction building industry.

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

Thank you for your cooperation

Any enquiry, please contact:-

LIM WAI SHIEN

72, JALAN BESAR, BT 10, LABU
71900. SEREMBAN.
NEGERI SEMBILAN DARUL KHUSUS.

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