MAINTAINABILITY OF WATERFRONT PROPERTIES : A STUDY OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MATERIAL SELECTION AND CORROSIVE MARINE ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Maintainability is part of the value chain which is heavily neglected in the local Construction Industry. This article aims to improve the current situation of maintainability. The increased presence of Waterfront Properties has sparked the author’s interest in researching on them. This is especially when the waterfront environment are known to affect the building materials in the building. Hence, a comprehensive literature review is developed to study the current works on maintainability and the impacts of the marine environment on materials. From the literature review, it has been realized that the initial design stage determines if maintainability will be optimized. Guidelines and strategies to maintainability are mandatory tools to strive towards efficient maintainability concept. Research methodology aims to explore the available strategies and guidelines towards maintenance in the current Construction Industry. The rationale behind the formulation of the interview questions has been depicted in Chapter 3. Each of the interviewees’ backgrounds has been illustrated in Chapter 4. Face to face interviews are carried out with these practitioners whom have invaluably contributed to this study. Through the research methodology, the top 3 materials that require more maintenance efforts are discovered. They are Ironmongery, Weathering Paint and Structural Steel. The interviewees attribute the need for higher maintenance to the aggressive marine environment. The harsh environment shortens the lifespan of the materials that results in higher frequencies of maintenance which translates into higher maintenance costs. Guidelines to retard the degradation of these materials have been listed in Table 5.3a. Maintenance strategies that approach efficient maintainability are also illustrated in Table 5.3b. The maintenance strategies serve as a platform for the practitioners to embrace efficient maintainability. In addition, the author hopes that these maintenance strategies will be applied by constructed buildings through gradual improvement of the building during each maintenance and R&R (Repair & Refit) schedules. iv Various recommendations to different stakeholders in the Construction Industry are suggested in section 6.4.