THE GREEN MAINTAINABILITY OF OPEN CONCEPT BUILDINGS IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

Open Concept Buildings (OCB) are gaining traction in Singapore after the Building and Construction Authority’s (BCA) initiative to push for sustainability in the nation’s built environment. However, maintainability is often overlooked in the development of OCBs. The aim of this paper is to examine the maintainability of OCBs in Singapore by identifying the challenges faced and recommend effective solutions to address these issues. Site investigations of OCBs in Singapore and interviews of professionals were conducted as part of the research. Maintenance cost data was also obtained from CPG Facilities Management and a reputable facility management organisation in Singapore. These sets of data were analysed to determine the cost effectiveness of maintaining OCBs. A Green Maintainability Guideline was then developed to improve the performance and longevity of OCBs. The findings reveal that eminent in OCBs is a lack of erected physical boundaries. This allows OCBs to be susceptible to environmental elements, wildlife invasion and unforeseen danger. Despite having larger open spaces, the axing of lettable spaces reduces the ability of OCBs to finance its maintenance expenditures. Inaccessibility to parts of the building also poses a challenge to the maintenance of OCBs. However, OCBs are comparatively better furnished with durable materials for its internal spaces. The reduced air-conditioned spaces and adoption of new energy-saving technologies also result in lower energy consumption for OCBs. To minimise and address challenges, early intervention is the optimum solution. The facility management team could be engaged to integrate maintainability considerations at design phases. Ensuring quality during construction and the use of technologies to reduce manpower requirements during the Operation & Maintenance (O&M) phase are also recommended. The recommendations would cover the five aspects of green Maintainability.