Facilitating Future Renovation of Industrialised Building System (IBS)

Abstract The construction industry has promoted many efforts and initiatives to ensure optimal energy utilization through sustainable construction practices. The Industrialised Building System (IBS) is a modern construction technique that effectively supports sustainable building practices. Even though IBS is widely adopted, not all IBS building projects have considered future renovation since the beginning. Not to mention, some of the building owners perceive that renovating IBS is challenging as the renovation contractors have limited experience with IBS buildings. Therefore, this research intends to discover the challenges in renovating existing IBS buildings and establish consideration factors for future use. This research adopts a qualitative research approach, conducting in-depth interviews with seven (7) experienced contractors and designers to gain insights into the challenges and best practices related to IBS building renovation. The data analysis reveals key themes such as economic, technical, design, management, safety, material, and aesthetic factors. Based on the findings, it could be inferred that although IBS offers significant potential for improving efficiency, quality, and safety in renovation projects, there are few substantial barriers. The barriers included logistical and financial constraints, Structural Constraints, Leakage & Water Damage, Supply Chain Management, Safety and Materials Concerns, and resistance to change. The findings from this research are expected to contribute to improving building renovation performance, especially for IBS buildings, by addressing the identified challenges and implementing the best practices.