DESIGN FOR MAINTENANCE:

A CASE STUDY ON THE POTENTIAL OF

GBI DESIGN VERIFICATION

IN IMPROVING THE MAINTENANCE QUALITY OF

MOSQUE

BY

RIZAL BIN HUSIN

A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for

the degree of Master of Science in Building Services

Engineering

Kulliyah of Architecture and Environmental Design

International Islamic University Malaysia

JANUARY 2018

ii

ABSTRACT

Mosque properties are Waqf assets that are non-removable and are meant to be in operation, managed and sustained for an extended period of time. The main challenge is that the mosques are usually run voluntarily by a group of community leader that plays the role of mutawwali (trustee) to waqf properties. Yet, the mutawwali is seldomly trained in building maintenance management. The two key issues identified are inconsistency in maintenance management and the lack of proper guidelines in building maintenance. The introduction of Green Building Index (GBI) rating system, whilst offering green benefits to building, does offer the potential solutions for these issues, especially the requirement of produces Building User Manual (BUM) that encourages the designing and planning of maintenance management process in buildings from the initial design phase. It is envisaged that with a proper BUM design verification process, a proper building maintenance will be ensured throughout the building life-cycle. The research used a cross-sectional descriptive research on two mosques that show distinct green building qualities and GBI certification. This research was guided by relevant literature on maintenance management and green buildings verification process. The result shows that despite the fact that GBI design verification process mostly concentrate on equipment performance, particularly in the green building features. The availability of BUM highly affect on the overall performance of building maintenance management. The mosques were better in most of the maintenance management areas, especially in the proper documentation, standard operation procedure, response duration and regular monitoring of mosque performance. The research also found that the main obstacles to the fullest potential of BUM in improving mosque maintenance are weakness in the management of funds as well as the knowledge gap between the design and maintenance teams. The research concludes that even though GBI design verification and BUM have not been utilised to the fullest potential, they have laid a good foundation for preventive management practice and a great potential for improving the quality of mosque maintenance management. Keywords: Maintenance management, green building, building user manual, design verification, mosque, Malaysia

iii

خلاصة البحث

لاستعمال والإدارة ادائما قيد أن تكون وينبغيزالة، لإغير قابلة ل هي عقارات وقفيةإن ممتلكات المساجد من الإداريينالتحدي الرئيس هو أن المساجد عادة ما تدار طواعية من قبل مجموعة و لفترة طويلة من الزمن.

إدارة صيانة علىتولي المنادرا ما يتم تدريب ، و يةالوقفعقارات اللي )الوصي( في و دور المتب يقومون نالذيوعدم وجود ،عدم الاتساق في إدارة الصيانة تتمثلان فيالمباني. والمسألتان الرئيستان اللتان تم تحديدهما

مبانيلليقدم مزايا ، الذيتطبيق نظام تصنيف المباني الخضراء وتقديم ،صيانة المبانيواضحة ل اتتوجيهالبناء الذي يشجع على يستخدملمدليل وضعمتطلبات خصوصاحلولا محتملة لهذه القضايا، و خضراء

أن تتم عملية من المتوقعي. و الأساسالتصميم بدايةتصميم وتخطيط عملية إدارة الصيانة في المباني من واستخدم البحث . المبنى فترة وجودطوال جيد دارة المباني لضمان صيانة المباني بشكل لإالصيانة المناسبة

المتميزة، وحائزان على البنايات الخضراءصفات تظهر عليهمامسجدين وتم تطبيقه على وصفيالمنهج الدارة الصيانة وعملية التحقق من بإ المتعلقةهذا البحث بالأدبيات استنار. و نظام المباني الخضراءشهادة

تصميم العملية التحقق من فإن ود نظام المباني الخضراءوجالمباني الخضراء. وتظهر النتيجة أنه على الرغم من دليل الصيانة لمستخدمي توافر ، وأنالمباني الخضراء مظاهر، وخاصة في الأداء الآليتركز في الغالب على

نطاقأفضل في معظم كانت المساجد وتبين أن المباني له آثار عالية على الأداء العام لإدارة صيانة المباني.ة المنتظم الرقابةو ،الاستجابة زمنالتوثيق ، وإجراءات التشغيل القياسية، و صحة الصيانة، خاصة في إدارة

لأداء المسجد. كما توصل البحث إلى أن العوائق الرئيسية التي تحول دون تحقيق أقصى استفادة ممكنة من إجراءات رق التصميم ووكذلك الفجوة المعرفية بين ف ،تحسين أداء المساجد هي ضعف إدارة الصناديق

الصيانة ودليل استخدام نظام المباني الخضراءتصميم تحقيق لص البحث إلى أنه على الرغم منوخ الصيانة.إمكانات وتوفير ،أساسا جيدا لممارسة الإدارة الوقائية أعدوا إلا أنهم، أقصى حد ممكنتستخدم إلى فإنها لم

إدارة صيانة المساجد. جودةكبيرة لتحسين

iv

APPROVAL PAGE

I certify that I have supervised and read this study and that in my opinion, it conforms

to acceptable standards of scholarly presentation and is fully adequate, in scope and

quality, as a dissertation for the degree of Master of Science in Building Services

Engineering.

…………………………………..

Abdul Razak bin Sapian

Supervisor

I certify that I have read this study and that in my opinion it conforms to acceptable

standards of scholarly presentation and is fully adequate, in scope and quality, as a

dissertation for the degree of Master of Science in Building Services Engineering.

…………………………………..

Zuraini Denan

Internal Examiner

This dissertation was submitted to the Department of Architecture and is accepted as a

fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science in Building Services

Engineering..

…………………………………..

Noor Hanita Abdul Majid

Head, Department of Architecture

This dissertation was submitted to the Kulliyyah of Architecture and Environmental

Design and is accepted as a fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of

Science in Building Services Engineering.

…………………………………..

Abdul Razak bin Sapian

Dean, Kulliyah of Architecture and

Environmental Design

v

DECLARATION

I hereby declare that this dissertation is the result of my own investigations, except

where otherwise stated. I also declare that it has not been previously or concurrently

submitted as a whole for any other degrees at IIUM or other institutions.

Rizal bin Husin

Signature ........................................................... Date .........................................

vi

Copyright Page INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA

DECLARATION OF COPYRIGHT AND AFFIRMATION OF

FAIR USE OF UNPUBLISHED RESEARCH

DESIGN FOR MAINTENANCE: A CASE STUDY ON THE

POTENTIAL OF GBI DESIGN VERIFICATION

IN IMPROVING THE MAINTENANCE QUALITY OF MOSQUE

I declare that the copyright holders of this dissertation are jointly owned by the

student and IIUM.

Copyright © 2018 Rizal bin Husin and International Islamic University Malaysia.

All rights reserved.

No part of this unpublished research may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval

system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,

photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior written permission of the

copyright holder except as provided below

1. Any material contained in or derived from this unpublished research

may be used by others in their writing with due acknowledgement.

2. IIUM or its library will have the right to make and transmit copies

(print or electronic) for institutional and academic purposes.

3. The IIUM library will have the right to make, store in a retrieved

system and supply copies of this unpublished research if requested by

other universities and research libraries.

By signing this form, I acknowledged that I have read and understand the IIUM

Intellectual Property Right and Commercialization policy.

Affirmed by Rizal bin Husin

……..…………………….. ………………………..

Signature Date

vii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Firstly, it is my utmost pleasure to dedicate this work to my dear parents and my family,

especially my wife and children who granted me the gift of their unwavering belief in

my ability to accomplish this goal: thank you for your support and patience.

I wish to express my appreciation and thanks to those who provided their time,

effort and support for this project. To the members of my dissertation committee, thank

you for sticking with me.

Finally, a special thanks to Professor Dr. Ar. Abdul Razak bin Sapian and Asst.

Prof Zuraini Denan for their continuous support, encouragement and leadership, and for

that, I will be forever grateful.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abstract .................................................................................................................... ii

Abstract in Arabic .................................................................................................... ii

Approval Page .......................................................................................................... iv Declaration ............................................................................................................... v Copyright Page ......................................................................................................... vi Acknowledgements .................................................................................................. vii List of Tables ........................................................................................................... xii

List of Figures .......................................................................................................... xiv

CHAPTER ONE : INTRODUCTION ............................................................... 1

1.1 Background of the Study ........................................................................ 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem........................................................................ 2 1.3 Purpose of the Study ............................................................................... 5 1.4 Objectives of the Study ........................................................................... 5

1.5 Research Questions ................................................................................. 5 1.6 Significance of the Study ........................................................................ 5

1.7 Assumptions of the Study ....................................................................... 6 1.8 Limitations of the Study. ........................................................................ 6

1.9 Delimitations of the Study ...................................................................... 7 1.10 Outline of the Study .............................................................................. 7

CHAPTER TWO: LITERITURE REVIEW .................................................... 9 2.1 Introduction............................................................................................. 9

2.2 General Information................................................................................ 9 2.2.1 Sustainable Building Maintenance ................................................ 9

2.2.2 Historical Development of Maintenance Management ................ 10 2.2.3 Recent development on the rising importance of Building

Maintenance .................................................................................. 11 2.3 The Components of Building Maintenance ............................................ 12

2.3.1 Maintenance Management in Conventional Buildings ................. 13 2.3.2 Types of Maintenance Practices ................................................... 14

2.3.2.1 Corrective Maintenance .................................................... 15 2.2.1.2 Preventive Maintenance ................................................... 16 2.3.2.2 Condition-Based Maintenance ......................................... 17

2.3.3 Maintenance Works in Conventional Buildings ........................... 18 2.4 Design Approach to Maintenance Management..................................... 20

2.4.1 The importance of proper design and construction to

maintenance .................................................................................. 20

2.4.2 The importance of maintenance strategy at design stage .............. 21 2.4.3 Maintenance strategy and energy efficiency ................................. 21 2.4.4 Maintenance strategy of green building ........................................ 22 2.4.5 Operational Efficiency of Maintenance Management .................. 23 2.4.6 Mosque Maintenance Management .............................................. 24

2.5 Components of Sustainable Maintenance in Green Buildings ............... 25 2.5.1 Sustainable Maintenance in GBI rating system ............................ 26

ix

2.5.2 Building User Manual ................................................................... 34

2.5.3 Key Drivers in Maintenance Management ................................... 35

2.6 Conceptual Framework ........................................................................... 37

CHAPTER THREE : RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ................................. 39 3.1 Introduction............................................................................................. 39 3.2 Research Design ..................................................................................... 39

3.3 Pre-Data Collection ................................................................................ 40 3.4 Data collection ........................................................................................ 41 3.5 Target Population.................................................................................... 42

3.5.1 Target Respondent ........................................................................ 43 3.5.2 Determining Population Size ........................................................ 44

3.6 Determining Sampling Size .................................................................... 45 3.6.1 Involvement up to Practical Completion Phase: Sample Size ...... 46

3.6.2 Involvement upon Practical Completion or Operation Phase:

Sample Size .................................................................................. 46 3.7 Sampling frame ....................................................................................... 47 3.8 Design of Survey Questions ................................................................... 48

3.8.1 Involvement up to Practical Completion Phase ............................ 48 3.8.2 Involvement upon Practical Completion or Operation Phase ....... 49

3.9 Distribution of survey. ............................................................................ 50 3.9.1 Data Collection Instruments.......................................................... 51 3.9.2 Data Analysis ................................................................................ 52

3.9.3 Statistical Analysis ........................................................................ 52 3.10 Validity of the Study and Research Instruments .................................. 54

3.11 Reliability of the Research findings ..................................................... 54 3.12 Chapter Summary ................................................................................. 54

CHAPTER FOUR : RESULT, ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS ........................ 56

4.1 Introduction............................................................................................. 56 4.2 Stratum A: Respondent Background ...................................................... 57

4.2.1 Involvement in mosque project ..................................................... 57

4.2.1.1 Result ................................................................................ 57 4.2.1.2 Role in the project............................................................. 57 4.2.1.3 The level of involvement based on the phases ................. 57

4.2.1.4 Analysis ............................................................................ 58 4.2.2 Motivation towards building a mosque with green features ......... 59

4.2.2.1 Result ................................................................................ 59 4.2.2.2 Analysis ............................................................................ 60

4.2.3 Maintenance management Consideration/Strategy ....................... 61

4.2.3.1 Result ................................................................................ 61 4.2.3.2 Analysis ............................................................................ 61

4.2.4 Awareness about the existence of the Building User Manual

(BUM) of the mosque ................................................................... 61

4.2.4.1 Result ................................................................................ 61 4.2.4.2 Analysis ............................................................................ 62

4.2.5 Attention given to green building’s salient features ..................... 62 4.2.5.1 Result ................................................................................ 62 4.2.5.2 Analysis ............................................................................ 63

x

4.2.6 Type of Maintenance Strategy ...................................................... 63

4.2.6.1 Result ................................................................................ 63

4.2.6.2 Analysis ............................................................................ 64 4.2.7 Maintenance Considerations during the Design Phase. ................ 64

4.2.7.1 Result ................................................................................ 64 4.2.7.2 Analysis ............................................................................ 66

4.2.8 The extent the preparation of the BUM has improved the

building maintenance: ................................................................... 67 4.2.8.1 Result ................................................................................ 67 4.2.8.2 Analysis ............................................................................ 67

4.3 Stratum B: ............................................................................................... 69 4.3.1 Respondent Background ............................................................... 69

4.3.2 Roles and Involvement.................................................................. 69 4.3.2.1 Result ................................................................................ 69

4.3.2.2 Analysis ............................................................................ 69 4.3.3 Involvement in mosque maintenance ............................................ 70

4.3.3.1 Result ................................................................................ 70 4.3.3.2 Analysis ............................................................................ 70

4.3.4 Knowledge/Experience in building maintenance ......................... 71 4.3.4.1 Result ................................................................................ 71

4.3.4.2 Analysis ............................................................................ 72 4.3.5 Awareness about BUM ................................................................. 72

4.3.5.1 Result ................................................................................ 72

4.3.5.2 Analysis ............................................................................ 73 4.3.6 Involvement in the preparation of BUM ....................................... 73

4.3.6.1 Result ................................................................................ 73 4.3.6.2 Analysis ............................................................................ 73

4.3.7 Level of BUM usage ..................................................................... 73 4.3.7.1 Frequency of BUM usage ................................................. 73

4.3.7.2 Adherence to Instruction and Guideline in BUM ............. 74 4.3.8 The impact of BUM in improving building maintenance ............. 75

4.3.8.1 Result ................................................................................ 75

4.3.8.2 Result ................................................................................ 76 4.3.9 Resistance towards full implementation of BUM ......................... 77

4.3.9.1 Result ................................................................................ 77

4.3.9.2 Analysis ............................................................................ 79 4.3.10 Mosque Maintenance: Performance and Quality ........................ 79

4.3.10.1 Maintenance Management Team .................................... 79 4.3.10.2 Human Resource Management ....................................... 82 4.3.10.3 Performance and Quality Management .......................... 84

4.3.10.4 Preventive Maintenance Management ............................ 86 4.3.10.5 Inventory and Parts Management ................................... 88 4.3.10.6 Fund and Financial Management ................................... 90

4.4 Discussion on the Findings ..................................................................... 92

4.4.1 Stratum A ...................................................................................... 92 4.4.2 Stratum B ...................................................................................... 93

4.5 Summary ................................................................................................. 95

xi

CHAPTER FIVE : CONCLUSION ................................................................... 96

5.1 Thesis summary ...................................................................................... 96

5.2 Conclusion .............................................................................................. 97 5.3 Future research........................................................................................ 100

REFERENCES ....................................................................................................... 101

APPENDIX A: GBI Non-Residential New Construction (NRNC)’s Criteria

and Submission Format

APPENDIX B: Stratum A: Survey Questionnaire

APPENDIX C: Stratum B: Survey Questionnaire

xii

LIST OF TABLES

Table 2.1 GBI rating classification 28

Table 2.3 List of criteria for NRNC category under GBI 30

Table 2.4 GBI NRNC criteria that give impact at only up to completion phase

and maintenance is not required. 32

Table 2.5 GBI NRNC criteria that give impact up to the operation and

maintenance phase and maintenance is required 33

Table 3.1 Sample of Stratum A survey questions 49

Table 3.2 Sample of Stratum B survey questions 51

Table 4.1 Summary of response to the surveys 56

Table 4.2 Influence factors that motivate the acquiring of green certification 59

Table 4.3 Influence factors that motivate the acquiring of green certification

(percentage and Mean Score Value) 60

Table 4.4 Green building salient feature that was given most attention 63

Table 4.5 The extent maintenance consideration aspect was given attention

during the design phase (Percentage Score) 65

Table 4.6 The extent maintenance consideration aspect was given attention

during the design phase (Percentage and Mean Score Value) 66

Table 4.7 The extent the preparation of the BUM has improved the building

maintenance (Percentage and Mean Score Value) 68

Table 4.8 Involvement in mosque maintenance 70

Table 4.9 Level of Knowledge/Experience 71

Table 4.10 Level of knowledge (frequency of hit) 72

Table 4.11 Responds on how often BUM is referred 74

Table 4.12 Respond on adherence to instruction and guideline in BUM 74

Table 4.13 Percentage score: Impact of BUM in improving building

maintenance 75

Table 4.14 Mean Score Value: Impact of BUM towards building

maintenance 76

xiii

Table 4.15 Percentage Score: Resistance factors towards full implementation of

BUM 78

Table 4.16 Mean Score Value: Resistance factors towards full implementation

of BUM 78

Table 4.17 Percentage Score: Maintenance management team factors 80

Table 4.18 Mean score value: Maintenance management team factor 81

Table 4.19 Percentage Score: Human resource management factors 83

Table 4.20 Mean Score Value: Human resource management factors 83

Table 4.21 Percentage score: Performance and quality management 85

Table 4.22 Mean Score Value: Performance and quality management 85

Table 4.23 Percentage Score: Preventive maintenance factor 87

Table 4.24 Mean Score Value: Preventive maintenance factors 87

Table 4.25 Percentage Score: Inventory and parts factors 89

Table 4.26 Mean Score Value: Inventory and parts factors 89

Table 4.27 Percentage Score: Fund and financial management factors 91

Table 4.28 Mean Score Value: Fund and financial management factors 91

Table 5.1 Research Questions, Objectives and Methodologies 96

xiv

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 4.1 Respondent background 57

Figure 4.2 Respondent involvement 58

Figure 4.4 Respondents that were involved in BUM preparation 62

Figure 4.5 Type of Maintenance Strategy 64

Figure 4.6 Respondent roles in maintenance management 69

1

CHAPTER ONE :

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

One of the major global challenges in the twenty-first century is how to cope

with climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions (United Nations, 2007). The

building industry has been identified as the biggest energy consumer, one solution might

be to ensure that the design, construction and management of the built environment is

done in a more sustainable manner (Brown, Southworth & Stovall 2005; Commission

for Architecture and the Built Environment, 2007).

In the last decade, there has been the significant international involvement and

support from governments, the construction and property development industry,

private, the public organisations in furthering a sustainable and climate-friendly built

environment through building “green” carbon-reducing buildings. The term “green

building” is applied to identify a building that is more energy and resource efficient,

releases less pollution into the air, land and water, and is healthier for occupants

compared to standard buildings. These are buildings which by an integrated and holistic

approach to location, siting, design, specification and use of energy and resources, seek

to minimize their environmental impact. Critically, the integration of innovative

technology that is efficient and appropriate to sustainable design need to be applied,

environmentally sensitive in site planning, ecological footprint through innovative new

building material at minimal cost has been achieved. (Ragheb, Ashraf, Jacobs, 2010).

In Malaysia situation, the government has taken a few steps in facing these

challenges; in April 2008, the Green Building Index (GBI) was initiated as the first

2

Malaysian green building rating system specifically design to suit Malaysian climate

(Leong, 2010), the Housing and Local Government Ministry is reviewing the Uniform

Building By-Laws in promoting the use of green technologies in buildings (The Star,

2010), apart from GBI, the government also introduced monetary and non-monetary

provisions toward green technologies, as well as tax incentives to stimulate the industry.

In a more promising move, The Malaysian Standard or MS 1525 Code of Practice on

Energy Efficiency had yet to be fully adopted and incorporated into buildings at their

design stage. The main implication to this is move is all new building including

mosques must fulfilled the MS 1525.

Various surveys were done in identifying the value of green building

conventional commercial building, but very little number of the same study were done

on mosque (Muin, Sapri, Sipan, & Adjei-twum, 2016). Some study concluded that

mosques in Malaysia have already shown sustainable qualities in term of design

(Baharudin & Ismail, 2014). It is envisioned that if green buildings were perceived as

outperforming conventional commercial buildings in terms of occupant wellbeing,

building value and return on investment (Ahmad Yusni et al., 2007), it should be

promising the same for mosques. It should be noted that the consideration of being

sustainable should be initiated at as early as the conception phase of the constructions

to ensure the most benefits from being green (Bownass, 2015).

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

In most part of Malaysia, mosques are playing an important role as a centre for

Islamic activities of an area (qariah) and usually run voluntarily by a group of

community leader (Fatin,2015). The mosque properties are usually managed as Waqf

assets that is non-removable and meant to be in operation, managed and sustained for a

3

very long extent of time. In ensuring that mosques are in its best form all the time, a

standard building operation manual is important to improve and increase the efficiency

and effectiveness of management of the Waqf properties.

Even though the concept of mosque as a Waqf asset is quite clear, there is an

uncertain in the maintenance management of the mosque. The Mutawwali (trustee) to

the Waqf properties are not usually trained in building maintenance management. From

a building maintenance point of view, the maintenance management practices of the

mosques were inconsistent and lack of proper management guidelines. It should be

noted that the managements are monitored by the respective State Islamic Religious

Councils(SIRCs) as well; due to that the mosque management among the mosques

usually has different vision as well as strategies for the maintenance. In another

puzzling scenario, with the green movement being a novel concept and seen as aligned

the principles in Islam; yet very few mosque buildings boasting green status in

Malaysia, serious questions in the maintenance management of these buildings plead

need to be answered.

It has been reported that companies will innovate to greener processes (RICS,

2004) if incentives are in place. The incentives being provided in the construction

industry range from financial incentives such as higher rental rates or property tax

rebates to reputation in the community. The Malaysian Government has given a few

incentives in term of tax reduction, yet this is only attractive to the business oriented

body but not voluntary basis bodies. In case of mosque, this incentive is less applicable

since they are considered as the latter and not going to be benefitted much from the

incentives.

McMullen (2001) observes that many companies are pursuing sustainability

because they are finding business value in it. Miller et al. (2008) investigated over 2.4

4

million properties and determined that tenants are willing to pay higher base rents for

greener buildings. As discussed earlier, mosque is functioned as a Waqf asset, where

the social value is positions over the business value and the maintenance funds are from

various voluntary basis contribution. Therefore, business value is not expected to be a

main factor for the mosque to be designed as a green building.

The intent of green buildings is to promote high performance, healthful, durable,

affordable and environmentally sound practices. Thus, facility organizations and

owners of buildings have seen the importance of green operations and maintenance to

cut down on maintenance budgets since energy efficiency is no longer an option but a

necessity. In addition, Gregory (2011) stresses that we can make the greenest products

in the world, but all of that is invalid if they are not properly installed and maintained.

The same dilemma might be applicable to mosque since the intent of green building is

so gratifying but some additional investment need to be done plus the need for better

maintenance. Once again, since mosque is managed by voluntary bodies, spending

extra money on the installation of green features might be seen as being lucrative since

a cheaper option is obvious, even for a relatively short-term benefit.

Effective operations and maintenance techniques coupled with the right vision

as well as proper application have been promising a better future for a lot of benefits to

the green building’s stakeholders. Little research has been done with regard to the

maintenance management of ‘green’ mosques and as such this study sought to address

the existing knowledge gap. As mosque managements should move toward sustainable

construction and design, it is becoming increasingly important that they have available

managerial tools and methodologies to gauge and to help not only maintain but improve

their ‘green’ performance. It is said that the difference in cost between a conventional

and green building is marginal, but the difference in performance is quite significant.

5

1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The study intended to recognise the potentials of green rating design verification

process in improving the maintenance management process of mosques in Malaysia.

1.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The objectives of this study were:

1. To identify the component of the maintenance strategy in designing a green

mosque in Malaysia.

2. To identify the type of maintenance practices used in mosques in Malaysia.

3. To determine the improvement of maintenance management in a certified GBI

mosque.

4. To explore the potential areas where BUM design verification potentially

improves the quality of maintenance works of a mosque.

1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The research questions of this study were:

1. Is the maintenance strategy considered as a factor in the design of a green

mosque in Malaysia?

2. What types of maintenance practices are used in mosques?

3. How far the GBI certification has improved the maintenance quality of the

certified mosque?

4. In which areas does BUM design verification has improved the maintenance

management of a mosque?

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It is hoped that this research will develop awareness amongst the stakeholders

in the mosque management in the design and implementation of effective maintenance

6

management for mosques. This will in turn enhance energy efficiency and other

sustainability initiatives through green operations and maintenance, thus cutting down

maintenance budgets. The findings of the study may also help in enlightening the

mosque’s users on how to participate more in the operation and maintenance of these

buildings.

The findings of the study may also be used by supporters of the ‘green

movement’ to push for legislation for mandatory construction of green building in

Malaysia and for the retrofitting of conventional buildings to green buildings. In

addition, the findings of the study will also be a springboard for stakeholders in the

construction industry to dive into the pool of sustainability literacy and awareness.

To academicians and professionals in the construction industry, the research will

help them understand the need for sustainable professional practices that safeguard

people’s lives and their future.

1.7 ASSUMPTIONS OF THE STUDY

The study was guided by the assumptions that all ethical considerations had been

adhered to and the findings of the study would not be harmful; the sample was

representative of the population; the data collection instrument had validity and

measured the desired constructs; the respondents answered the questions correctly and

truthfully.

1.8 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY.

This study was limited by a lot of bureaucracy and procedure in accessing some of the

resourceful areas for data collection leading to a long duration. Access to some of

services facilities the selected case studies involved a lot of procedures for security

reasons. Some of the data, such as drawings or specifications for the case studies was

7

held back by the owners or facility managers of the mosques due to security reasons

and design exclusive right. Even the permission to access the important documents for

this study such as the Building User Manuals (BUMs) took a lengthy time to be decided.

On official request, the drawings and photos of the building were captured where

necessary.

1.9 DELIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

The survey concentrated on early design and operational aspects of maintenance

management other than other facets of construction and building management. This

was because while other facets of building management were not greatly moved by

whether a building was green or not, the early design maintenance management required

special expertise. In addition, because the study is done in Malaysia, the Malaysian

Green Building Index (GBI) was used as the green rating system as the basis for the

comparison. This therefore implies that the study findings cannot extend the buildings

selected for the survey. However, the findings were relevant to enhance better

maintenance management for green buildings within Malaysia and those envisioning

going green.

1.10 OUTLINE OF THE STUDY

The study has been organized into five chapters. The first chapter presents the

background, research questions and justification of the field study. It also gives the

reader an understanding of the research problem. The second chapter reviews literature

of the same maintenance management problem from different sources. This affords the

reader an understanding of the different dimensions of the research problem. The third

chapter explains the methodology of the research where it highlights the research

design, defines the population of the study and explains the sampling techniques

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employed. This chapter also describes the data collection methods, instruments and the

type of analysis used. The fourth chapter shows the findings of the analysed information

and moves over a relevant interpretation of the same. The fifth and final chapter

discusses the findings and compares it with the literature review while relating this to

the study objectives.

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CHAPTER TWO:

LITERITURE REVIEW

2.1 INTRODUCTION

The second subchapter provides insight on design approach to maintenance

management with emphasise to the green building. Further, the components of the

Malaysian Green Building Index (GBI) that are related in sustainable maintenance is

distilled to find the components that determinedly related to the research objectives.

The third subchapter describes briefly the background of two mosques that were

selected in this study. This will provide a better understanding on the green initiatives

and features that were adopted in realising the mosque from the initiation up to the

current operational stage.

The fourth subchapter gives a conceptual framework that demonstrates the

interrelation between the dependent and interdependent variables.

2.2 GENERAL INFORMATION

2.2.1 Sustainable Building Maintenance

Sustainable buildings emerged throughout the 19th and 20th centuries (Cassidy,

2003; Wu & Sui Pheng, 2010). There are several terms in sustainable buildings and

green buildings. Sustainable building practices are to nurture the natural surroundings

and reducing pollution (Lukachko at al, 2008). Samer (2013), summarised that

sustainable building practice as a procedure to build buildings and infrastructure in

order to protect available resources, decrease negative impact on the environment, and

create to a higher standard environment for inhabitant.

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Since building maintenance is not a new field and this research is focused on

sustainable maintenance, the literature review will concentrate on the practice of

sustainable building maintenance with relation to green building rating system. In a

process of identifying the components of sustainable maintenance, there is a need to

look back to the history of building maintenance; why and when the sustainable

maintenance was comprehended and initiated at the beginning. Along with the review,

some of the challenges and resistance in practicing the sustainable maintenance will be

discussed. As much as possible, upon discussion of each issue, the review will try to

insert in the historical lesson in Malaysian context.

2.2.2 Historical Development of Maintenance Management

According to Shenoy and Bhadury (1998), in the pre-World War II era, people

thought of maintenance as an additional cost to the plant or facility which did not raise

the value of the finalised product. Thus, the maintenance at that era brings up to fixing

the unit when it starts giving trouble, because it was the most inexpensive option. In

Malaysia context, the mentality was claimed to be remained in the practice of Malaysian

building maintenance, once the former prime minister of Malaysia claimed that the

nation as having the first-class facilities but with the third class maintenance mentality.

During and after World War II, at the time when the advances in engineering

science and scientific technology developed, preventive maintenance were developed.

Masses in this era classified maintenance as a part of the output organization. In

preventive maintenance, care and services are organised by providing for systematic

inspection, detection, and correction of emerging failures either before they happen or

before they develop into major defects.