tively very heavy capital invest- ment on the equipment in the factories and the cranes at the work sites. Therefore, the in- dustrialised method of construc- tion requires much higher pro- fit margin to allow for deprecia- tion of machinery. (iii) In the industrialised method of construction, very competent
were
not
site organisers have to be en- gaged to ensure the production of prefabricated components in accordance with the schedule, so that there is no idling of either workmen or machinery. In this particular aspect, the above mentioned firm had experienced tremendous difficulties. The French engineers au fait with the Singapore build- ing industry, while the local en- gineers were not conversant with the prefabricated system of con- struction. As a result, frequent delays and breaks in the produc- tion of component units oc- curred and machinery was idl- ing intermittently throughout the duration of the construction. (iv) The economy in Singapore de-
pends completely on trade, and the drive for industrialisation has only started in the last few years. Therefore, very few workers are capable of handling the machinery to produce the prefabricated components or of driving a tower crane at the construction site. When the firm started the industrialised method of construction, the whole set of workers had to be trained to handle the new techniques in production and in construction. A lot of money and time had been spent on training this group of workers and this contributed substantially to the increase in cost of the new method of con- struction.
(v) On the building site where con-
struction is carried out in the traditional manner, if there is delay at the site, the workers can easily be absorbed at other con- struction sites. There is no idl-
ing of manpower or loss of wages. But on the site where the prefabricated system of con- struction is being employed, if there is a breakdown or delay of work the workers, being specially trained for this type of work, cannot be absorbed on other construction sites. The result is a loss of working hours and wages. (vi) In Singapore, there is not much
58
difference in the wages between workers working at the building sites and workers engaged in other trades. However, in the prefabricated type of construc- tion the workers, after being trained for this specialised work, demand higher wages
because of the skill they have acquired. As a result, the firm engaged in
the
of prefabricated system construction had to pay higher wages
This to their workers. appears to be just the opposite of European conditions.
(vii) In the industrialised method of construction, if there is a break-
down in
car parks have to be completed by the traditional method of construc- tion.
can
method Therefore, this new only shorten the construction time for the superstructure from 8 4 months to perhaps about 3 to
But in terms of the whole duration of the construction period, one should
not expect the prefa- brication method is do wonders and unless the cost of prefabrication can be similar or cheaper than the tradi- tional method
it of construction
appears
rather unlikely that this method of construction will be adopted very extensively in Singa- pore.
months. the machinery, the work has to stop for several days or even several weeks waiting for repair or replacement of spare parts. In the traditional method of construction where the equipment used is extremely simple, no delay of this nature will occur.
Superstructure Only
In the construction of the build- ings, prefabrication can only be adopted for part of the work.
Below is a table of information on the construction of the ten-storey flats in MacPherson Road (South).
From this table it can be seen that prefabrication can only sub- stitute for the construction of the superstructure of the building. The earthfilling of the site, piling, founda- tion work, lift, sanitary, electrical, water and other services, roads and
Contract
Building
come
On the other hand, one should not be so short-sighted as to to the conclusion that the prefa- bricated method of construction is not suitable in Malaysia and there- fore should not be further studied.
The industrialised method of con- struction has made great advances in the last ten years and I am of the opinion that further advances will With be made in the coming years. modifications to suit local condi- tions, it can be beneficially adopted for use in Malaysia in the future.
Balance Contract I
MacPherson Road (S) Cost of three-room units
Cost Per Unit of
3-Room Flat
$2,918.00
(Note: cost per sq. ft. = $3.92. Tank room and roof areas not included in floor area of flat but the costs for tank room and roof are included in the cost of flat).
$ 420.00
10-storey building
Construction Period
12
months (2 months for preli- minary work and foundation, 8 months for super- structure and 2 months for finishing work).
5 months
Remarks
Sanitary
Electrical
$
85.00
3 months
Elevator
Water
$ 150.00
3 months
Connection
$
70.00
Gas Connection
$
31.00
3 months
Roof Treatment
$
52.00
Work carried out together with Building Contract.
Sewerage Roads, Drains
$
33.00
4 months
and Carparks
$ 100.00
8 months
Turfing Piling Earthworks
(filling of site)
$ 17.00
$ 750.00
4 months
$
60.00
3 months
$
40.00
$4,726.00
| Clerk-of-Works
Salary
(i) Nett area per 3-room flat = 562 sq. ft.
Inclusive cost per sq. ft. = $8.41
Work carried out together with Piling Contract.
Far East Architect & Builder July, 1965
Page 20Page 21