Report: 44

Building Type: Reinforced concrete frame building with timber roof

Country: Malaysia

Author(s): Dr. Azlan Adnan, Tuan Norhayati Tuan Chik, Bahiah Baharudin

Last Updated:

Regions Where Found: Buildings of this construction type can be found in almost all parts of Malaysia. This type of housing construction iscommonly found in both rural and urban areas. About 30-40% are located in semi-urban areas.

Summary: This housing type is commonly used for family housing and it is found in urban areas of Malaysia.Columns and beams are of reinforced concrete to provide structural strengths. Roof consists oftimber trusses. These houses are designed according to the British Code BS 8110 without seismicdesign considerations.

Length of time practiced: 25-60 years

Still Practiced: Yes

In practice as of:

Building Occupancy: Residential, 10-19 units

Typical number of stories: 2

Terrain-Flat: Typically

Terrain-Sloped: 3

Comments:

Plan Shape: Rectangular, solid

Additional comments on plan shape: The typical shape of a building plan for this housing type is rectangular shape.

Typical plan length (meters): 6

Typical plan width (meters): 20

Typical story height (meters): 4-Mar

Type of Structural System: Structural Concrete: Moment Resisting Frame: Designed for gravity loads only, with URM infill walls

Additional comments on structural system: The lateral load-resisting system is reinforced concrete moment resisting frame. Columns and walls give stiffness tothe structure, which controls the lateral drift. The common size of columns is 600 mm X 600 mm and for walls are150 mm thickness.The vertical load-resisting system is reinforced concrete structural walls (with frame). The roofs are designed totransmit gravity loads to the slabs, beams, and columns. The walls are from the non-load bearing wall system. Allexternal walls and partition walls are 9-inch brick walls. Internal partitions are timber framing.

Gravity load-bearing & lateral load-resisting systems: Structural Concrete: Moment resisting frame, designed for gravity loads only (predating seismic codes i.e. no seismic features)

Typical wall densities in direction 1: 1-2%

Typical wall densities in direction 2: 1-2%

Additional comments on typical wall densities: The typical structural walldensity is up to 5 %. 2% (1% -5%).

Wall Openings: A typical house has approximately several windows, with average size of 2.4 sq. m.

Is it typical for buildings of this type to have common walls with adjacent buildings?: No

Modifications of buildings:

Type of Foundation: Shallow Foundation: Reinforced concrete isolated footingShallow Foundation: Mat foundation

Additional comments on foundation: The typical separation distance between buildings is 10 meters or more.

Type of Floor System: Other floor system

Additional comments on floor system: Structural concrete: cast in place and precast solid slabs. Floor/roof are considered to behave as rigid diaphragms.

Type of Roof System: Roof system, other

Additional comments on roof system: Timber: thatched roof supported on wood purlins. Floor/roof are considered to behave as rigid diaphragms.

Additional comments section 2: When separated from adjacentbuildings, the typical distance from a neighboring building is 10 meters.

Who is involved with the design process? EngineerArchitect

Roles of those involved in the design process: Engineers are in charge of the structural design and the construction process. Architects are in charge of the architectural design.

Expertise of those involved in the design process: Engineers and architects have experience in design and construction process. This is one of the most typicalconstructions in Malaysia, so there are good capable professionals with experience on this kind ofbuilding.

Who typically builds this construction type? Other

Roles of those involved in the building process: It is more typically built by developers or for speculation.

Expertise of those involved in building process:

Construction process and phasing: Developers normally build structures of this type. Process start with the foundation of the building, then columns and brick walls are built, finally beams and roofs are made at the time to get a monolithic structure. The tools typically used in this type of construction, are hammers,nails, construction wire, etc. and the equipment used include concrete vibrator, concrete mixer and others. To start the construction of the building one needs to get a construction license. Municipal authorities are in charge of giving this license to the builder companies.Each housing project must have four kinds of technical drawings: structural drawings, architectural drawings, water installation drawings and electric installation drawings. Municipal authorities need to approve this technical information in order to get construction license.Construction typically takes place over time, buildings are originally designed for a specific number of stories. However, it is commonly found that o wners decide to build additional stories some years later of the end of the original construction.

Construction issues:

Is this construction type address by codes/standards? Yes

Applicable codes or standards: BS 8110 (British Standard). The year thefirst code/standard addressing this type of construction issued was 1980's. The BS 8110 code also includes nationalbuilding codes, specifications for materials and seismic standards.

Process for building code enforcement: Municipal authorities just approve the design of the building. Typically, the owner hires aparticular supervisor for construction of the building.

Are building permits required? Yes

Is this typically informal construction? No

Is this construction typically authorized as per development control rules? Yes

Additional comments on building permits and development control rules:

Typical problems associated with this type of construction: There are no typical problems associated with this type of construction.

Who typically maintains buildings of this type? BuilderOwner(s)Renter(s)

Additional comments on maintenance and building condition:

Unit construction cost: Unit construction cost is approximately 13.3 US$/sq. m.

Labor requirements: This type of building needs about 12 months or more to complete the construction. However, thetime required does not depend on the architectural characteristics of the building.

Additional comments section 3:

Patterns of occupancy: One family occupies a single apartment or housing unit.Each building typically has more than 10 housing unit(s). These housing unites are usually clustered.

Number of inhabitants in a typical building of this construction type during the day: <5

Number of inhabitants in a typical building of this construction type during the evening/night: 10-May

Additional comments on number of inhabitants:

Economic level of inhabitants: Low-income class (poor)Middle-income classHigh-income class (rich)

Additional comments on economic level of inhabitants: Ratio of housing unit price to annual income: 5:1 or worse The house price indicated is just for one tenement. Economic Level: For Poor Class the Housing Price Unit is 6250and the Annual Income is 2100. For Middle Class the Housing Price Unit is 25000 and the Annual Income is 4500 ForRich Class the Housing Price Unit is 30000 and the Annual Income is 4600.

Typical Source of Financing: Owner financedPersonal savingsCommercial banks/mortgagesGovernment-owned housingOther

Additional comments on financing: Other: Government loan.

Type of Ownership: RentOwn outrightOwn with debt (mortgage or other)Units owned individually (condominium)

Additional comments on ownership:

Is earthquake insurance for this construction type typically available?: No

What does earthquake insurance typically cover/cost:

Are premium discounts or higher coverages available for seismically strengthened buildings or new buildings built to incorporate seismically resistant features?: No

Additional comments on premium discounts:

Additional comments section 4:

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Damage patterns observed in past earthquakes for this construction type:

Additional comments on earthquake damage patterns:

The main reference publication used in developing the statements used in this table is FEMA 310 “Handbook for the Seismic Evaluation of Buildings-A Pre-standard”, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Washington, D.C., 1998.

The total width of door and window openings in a wall is: For brick masonry construction in cement mortar : less than ½ of the distance between the adjacent cross walls; For adobe masonry, stone masonry and brick masonry in mud mortar: less than 1/3 of the distance between the adjacent cross walls; For precast concrete wall structures: less than 3/4 of the length of a perimeter wall.

Additional comments on structural and architectural features for seismic resistance:

Vertical irregularities typically found in this construction type: Other

Horizontal irregularities typically found in this construction type: Other

Seismic deficiency in walls: Wall is not designed to sustain the seismic forces

Earthquake-resilient features in walls:

Seismic deficiency in frames: Seems sufficient due to the design method

Earthquake-resilient features in frame:

Seismic deficiency in roof and floors: Have adequate rigidity.

Earthquake resilient features in roof and floors:

Seismic deficiency in foundation:

Earthquake-resilient features in foundation:

For information about how seismic vulnerability ratings were selected see the Seismic Vulnerability Guidelines

Additional comments section 5:

Additional comments on seismic strengthening provisions:

Has seismic strengthening described in the above table been performed? Yes.

Was the work done as a mitigation effort on an undamaged building or as a repair following earthquake damages? Yes.

Was the construction inspected in the same manner as new construction? Yes.

Who performed the construction: a contractor or owner/user? Was an architect or engineer involved? A contractor performed the construction and also an engineer was involved.

What has been the performance of retrofitted buildings of this type in subsequent earthquakes?

Additional comments section 6:

• BS 8110 - British Standard

• Structural Terrace Plan And Brochures of Residential Area.