Where It Should Be Fresh Air?

“A Serious Need for a full Construction Performance Audit”

Submitted to The Star newspaper, KL, Malaysia

on 22nd December 2009

I refer you to the front page news report “Roof Disaster II” today in The Star (22.12.2009). The recent spate of public building disasters over a short period of time (involving the Sultan Mizan Z.A. Stadium, the Sultan Mahmud Airport Terminal, the Batu Burok Aquatic Complex and yesterday’s collapse of the Skylight Reflector of a bus terminal in Kuala Berang etc) is an imminent indication that there is a need for a serious overhaul on the current construction practice by contractors in the State of Terengganu.

Public Contract Governance and Responsibility

Due to the public nature, scope and extent of the disasters, the government must take immediate governance action to resolve the underlying problems relating to the construction performance involving public buildings in Terengganu and elsewhere in other States where similar situations have occurred over the past decades.

Independent Certification and Verification

It is interesting to know how these public buildings which were certified to be fit in the first place totally failed the fitness test subsequently after approval. It is believed that the Certificates of Fitness in question may have been issued without conducting thorough building fitness analysis and material test performance. Even if such tests have been conducted by the relevant authority, there is no certainty that these data is a true reflection of legal compliance when there is no independent testing party to verify the same. Approved and pre-approval certification process must therefore be subjected to a new and independent standard of test confirmation/verification process.

Public Contract Tendering Process

In the award of public contracts, contractors engaged in constructing public buildings must be subjected to the same rigorous private tender process to select only suitably qualified developers/contractors who will complete such projects according to schedule, construction best practice and statutory provisions. In this regard, it is advisable to elect only contractors from the higher Grade category who have the financial means apart from construction experience to comply with all safety, environmental, building and construction specifications.

If a lower Grade category contractors are given the opportunity to execute public project, it must be made abundantly clear that the construction works must be supervised by a construction committee comprising of certified construction experts. Perhaps, CIDB, the Works Ministry, the relevant District Councils and the Contractors Associations etc could work together to map out a common best practices framework with regards to the award and performance of public project contracts.

“Public Construction Policy”

The best approach forward is for the government to map out an integrated national “Public Construction Policy” to ensure smooth compliance, co-operation and understanding by all stakeholders with a view to rectify a horrendous building and construction record since the collapse of the Highland Towers in 1993.

The above proposals could also be incorporated into the current government’s Key Performance Indicators(KPIs) assessment and will contribute to long term achievement in the respective National Key Results Areas(NKRA).

……………………………………
Jeong Chun Phuoc
Lecturer-in-Law
and a reader in Strategic Environmental Intelligence(SEI)
The writer can be reached at Jeongphu@yahoo.com
* Submitted to The Star newspaper, KL, Malaysia on 22nd December 2009

Terra cotta clay roof tiles are commonly seen throughout the Mediterranean and are becoming increasingly popular here in the United States for a high-end summery look. Clay roof tiles insulate roofs against the hot summer sun and keep interiors cooler. They also last longer than asphalt shingles and are more impervious to wind and rain. Clay roof tiles are meant to be semi-permanent but, if you need to remove or replace them, consider recycling by selling them to a building restoration company. Vintage clay tiles are always a hot commodity and the price you get can offset some of the costs of your new roof.

Before you remove the clay roof tiles, take some time to assess whether you really need to replace your clay tiles. Leaks or other issues may be fixable rather than replacing the roof as clay tiles are designed to be long lived. To find a replacement tile, start with your local roofing supplies store. If your clay roof tiles are discontinued, call up the local vintage tile store who may have access to several sources of tile that match yours.

If you do remove the entire roof, take the time to remove the tiles methodically. The goal is to leave as many tiles intact as possible, so remove them slowly and carefully. Some clay roof tiles will be attached with a nail or a clip, and some will be seated in with adhesive. Starting at the roof line, determine how the clay roof tiles are attached to the planking. Lift up the tile gently to see if it is attached by nail. Pull out the nail straight and carefully set the tile aside. If the clay roof tile is held with an adhesive, carefully tap with a chisel between the top edge of the tile and the adhesive to break the bond. This method will take far more time than the nail method so set your goals accordingly. It can also result in more broken tiles.

Once you have reclaimed your tiles, look for a vintage clay tile dealer who might be interested in purchasing your clay tiles. Start by looking in the local Yellow Pages. You may find a larger regional tile dealer by searching the internet. When negotiating a price, make sure you can give the dealer an accurate count of how many full tiles you have available. The dealer may also be interested in any broken tiles you have for repairs of other clients’ roofs. Provide the dealer with any other information you have on the tiles: date they were laid, type of tile, and manufacturer. In general, the older and more authentic the tile, the higher its value.

Do not try to clean the tile yourself before speaking with a tile dealer. They may have a specific method for cleaning that they prefer. Some cleaners and methods may damage or destroy the tile so leave it up to the experts.

Put an ad on Craigslist for your tiles if there is no dealer close by. Placing a Craigslist ad is free and many home renovators scan Craigslist regularly to find vintage building materials for house restoration.

Also consider using your tiles for your own renovation project. You can use clay tiles on an outdoor shed or garage to keep it cool in the summer.

Recycling clay roof tiles not only helps the environment but can also put some cash in your pocket!

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