FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURE

KKKA6203 CONSTRUCTIONARIUM

MYCREST BUILDING ASSESSMENT: OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE STAGE

BY

NAME : AHMAD KHAIRUL ANWAR BIN AHMAD KASSIM (P94175)

: WAN MOHAMMED AFIQ BIN WAN MOHAMED KASBI (P94179)
: BILAL IBRAHIM ABDULLAH (P92007)

LECTURERS : DR. MUHAMAD AZRY BIN KHOIRY

: DR. NORAINI BINTI HAMZAH

BUILDING
: FKAB ACADEMIC BLOCK B
ASSESSED
 Table of Contents

1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 3

1.1 MyCREST Aim ........................................................................................................... 3

1.2 MyCREST Objectives ................................................................................................. 3

1.3 MyCREST Tools ......................................................................................................... 4

1.4 MyCREST Assessment Criteria .................................................................................. 5

2.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................. 6

3.0 MYCREST SCORECARDS ........................................................................................... 7

4.0 MYCREST ASSESSMENT ........................................................................................... 9

4.1 Infrastructure and Sequestration Management ............................................................ 9

4.2 Energy Performance Impacts ..................................................................................... 10

4.3 Occupant and Health ................................................................................................. 11

4.4 Lowering the Embodied Carbon................................................................................ 12

4.5 Water Efficiency Factors ........................................................................................... 13

4.6 Waste Management and Reduction ........................................................................... 13

4.7 Sustainable Facility Management .............................................................................. 13

5.0 ASSESSMENT LIMITATIONS AND ASSUMPTIONS ............................................ 14

6.0 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................. 14

REFERENCES ......................................................................................................................... 15

APPENDICES A ...................................................................................................................... 15

APPENDICES B ...................................................................................................................... 24

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1.0 INTRODUCTION
MyCREST, or the Malaysian Carbon Reduction and Environmental Sustainability Tool, aims
to guide, assist, quantify, and hence reduce, the built environment’s impact in terms of
reduced carbon emissions and environmental impact, while taking into account a more
holistic life cycle view of the built environment. It also aims to integrate socio-economic
considerations relating to the built environment and urban development.

1.1 MyCREST Aim

 To integrate carbon assessment criteria and reduction strategies into the matrix of
sustainability resulting in a combined sustainable assessment rating system for the
built environment

 To provide a quantifiable carbon assessment within a holistic sustainable rating system

by integrating and extending the present criteria into life-cycle-linked performances
and parameters

 To extend the present green building assessment into life cycle impacts and its
quantification

 To combine both carbon emission and sustainable performance factors into a

combined criterion linked to the design, construction, commissioning, and operations
of buildings

 To be in line with the aims of Low Carbon City Framework (LCCF) by Ministry of
Energy, Green Technology, and Water (KeTTHA)

1.2 MyCREST Objectives

 To quantify the environmental impacts of the built environment in both carbon
reduction and sustainable impact terms

 To ensure the best environmental practice according to global and local standards and
targets

 To maintain and improve a database of impacts and best practice case studies to
reduce carbon emissions in design and life cycle impacts

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  To raise awareness of the life cycle impacts of the built environment and its
components

 To balance robustness with ‘durability’ and practicality and ease of use

 To produce a tool flexible enough to be used by all stakeholders, consultants and

contractors and for all building types and scenarios

 To balance long and short term targets

 To balance environmental and 'human' socioeconomic issues

1.3 MyCREST Tools

MYCREST essentially combines three basic tools in order to construct a 'scoring plan' which
is then used to assess a building for certification. Figure 1 shows MYCREST basic tools as its
represent of how MYCREST assessment, recognition and award is given separately to the
three basic stages of the building lifecycle.

Figure 1 MyCREST basic assessment tools.

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Each tools is the basic of the ‘star’ rating for each phase of the project. MYCREST awards
different star rating to the different phase of the project and will award on overall star rating.
In this way, all three phase of the project is assessed as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2 Three phases of project to be assessed and corresponding certifications.

1.4 MyCREST Assessment Criteria

Figure 3 MyCREST Assessment Criteria.

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2.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Our group has been assigned the task of assessment project of an existing building by using
MyCREST scorecards assessment points. Project stage assessed is the Operation and
Maintenance Stage. The target is the Academic Block B which is the subsidiary building of
the main academic building. Figure 4 and 5 show the figure of building and the location map
of the building.

Figure 4 Front view of the assessed building.

Figure 5 Map view of FKAB academic building blocks. Red circle indicating the
location of assessed building.

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3.0 MYCREST SCORECARDS

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4.0 MYCREST ASSESSMENT
4.1 Infrastructure and Sequestration Management
For this part, the infrastructure of the building is being assessed as it integrates with the
environment. For the external building and hardscape, the machineries were assessed
comprising of parking lots, exterior cladding, roof and surrounding landscape. Machinery at
the parking lot is in good shape as it is still usable to detect the tickets used by authorized
parking lot users. For the exterior cladding, it seems that it has deteriorated to some point
which black trails and bleached parts seems visible to the naked eyes. For machineries on the
rooftop, legal access need to be issued to the authoritative figure before proceeding with the
assessments. From observational assessment taken from other perspectives, there was no
visible problems occurred.

The surrounding landscape of the building was observed and it seems that the
building integrated well with surrounding environment. This point was justified by the
presence of vegetated berm integration to the elevation or declination parts of platform levels
between the assessed building and surrounding structures. Erosion control by implementation

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of greenery element can be seen by observing the surroundings. Small weeds are used on
berms to reduce erosion during heavy rainfall. Some trees also seen planted at surrounding
berms making the soils to have better grip to not easily erode away. Stormwater management
can be seen as there is lake nearby served as retention area to avoid any flash flood to occur.
For transportations used by staffs, it seems that most of the cars used are petrol cars thus not
much it can contribute to greener approach. For the heat mitigation, the islands are available
especially on the side of the roads and surrounding the building rather than at the roof as the
assessment is off-limit to the roof assessment due to technical issue.

4.2 Energy Performance Impacts

This is a mandatory criterion that the building owner or operator must comply and achieve
energy reduction for energy efficient building and 6% reduction for non-energy efficient
building from the business as usual. A building cannot be considered ‘green’ if it is not energy
efficient. The energy used by buildings mostly generated by burning fossil fuels, which
release greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. No building should define
itself as “green” unless it consumes less energy and generates fewer greenhouse gas emissions
than average. An existing building’s energy assessment will help identify areas of building
operations that are not operating efficiently. Implement energy saving operational and
management practices and energy efficiency retrofits to reduce energy use to the level
required to meet this requirement.

For the Energy Management Policy, its aim to sustain energy efficient levels through
an energy management system. Energy management is the key to helping organisations to
improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and drive down energy costs.
Energy management is defined as the techniques, processes and activity which drive more
efficient energy use. Next, Energy Management Committee ensure the commitment of
management to implementing the energy management system. Implementation of the energy
management policy requires the support of skilled professionals and workers to facilitate
energy efficiency throughout their organizations. These include commitments to establish,
implement, maintain and improve energy management systems on a regular basis. From the
assessment that have been conducted, that building was managed well to sustain energy
efficient such as reduce gas emissions and optimize the used of energy consumption.

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 For improving energy performance, it is aim to achieve an increased level of
operational energy efficiency performance relative to typical buildings of similar type to
reduce environmental impacts associated with excessive energy use. For this part, to assess
the building energy performance we need to compare the baseline and the actual performance
by conducting measurement and verification audit. As a result from the assessment that have
been conducted, this building reduce 16% of energy consumption. So we can consider this
building as a green building but need to improve more in term of energy saving to become
more energy efficient building.

For renewable energy, this building did not implement renewable energy. As we know
from the installation of renewable energy, we can reduce effect to environment pollution by
reducing greenhouse gas emissions. So from the benefit that renewable energy provided, we
can install more renewable energy to that building such as solar, wind, micro/mini hydro,
biomass and other sources that do not pollute the environment. If we want to install the
renewable energy to that building, we need to develop maintenance plan and schedule for all
renewable energy installed. This is because to ensure that building maintain the renewable
energy performance not less than 80% from original system design. For your information, the
efficiency of the renewable energy will drop if it is not be maintain well. As the renewable
energy acts as carbon offset, it is important to ensure the equipment are being maintain
according to its schedule.

4.3 Occupant and Health

For the assessment of occupant and health, our group have been conducted a survey regarding
user’s comfort. The aim of the survey is to provide a simple assessment of occupants’
subjective responses to the internal environments such as indoor air quality and thermal
comfort. As a resulted from the survey that have been conducted, 80 % of the participating
occupants are satisfied with the indoor environmental quality of the building. So this result
satisfied the requirement that have been stated by MyCREST which is at least 80% of the
occupants are satisfied with the environmental of that building.

From the assessment that have been done, this building used the low VOC material for
paints, coating, adhesives and sealants. VOC are emitted as gases from certain solids or
liquids. VOC include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short and long-term
adverse health effects. Specifying low VOC materials helps to reduce indoor air pollution at

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source, which is one of the effective indoor air pollution control strategies. This building also
purchase a minimum of 30% of eco cleaning product from the total annual cleaning product
purchases. This purchases of eco products will help to reduce the usage of hazardous cleaning
products.

The thermal comfort assessment on this building have done to ensure acceptable
temperature and humidity control within established ranges per climate zone and to provide
on-going monitoring of thermal comfort performance and effectiveness of humidification or
dehumidification system. So from the assessment that have been done, air temperature and
humidity on that building in a good conditions. Next, assessment on mould occurrence have
been conducted as well. As a resulted, too many mould occur in that building area. As we
know, mould has the potential to cause health problems. So one of the way to solve this
problem by avoid any wet or damp areas on building surfaces or on related items in order to
prevent mould growth. Humidity around all room areas and any air vents must be controlled
and kept below saturation levels during building occupancy. All windows and door in air
conditioned area must be always kept closed to avoid the increase of air moisture.
Identification and reporting procedures of mould contaminated materials shall be conducted.

4.4 Lowering the Embodied Carbon

For this part, it is aim to reduce the environmental impacts of materials acquired for use in
operations, maintenance and upgrading of buildings. To assess this part we need to know
either that building implemented an eco-purchasing policy to establish product purchasing
sustainability standards. These policy describe how purchased materials will mitigate the
environmental impacts of product consumption and contribute to other sustainable purchasing
credits. The policy must state the purpose of the policy by giving the relevant definition,
include any related or supporting policies, and describe best practices. Confirm the validity of
any products’ certification criteria before including it in the sustainable purchasing policy.
Identify which products to be on-going consumables and durable goods. Any product can be
included in both categories but make sure no overlapped or redundant product are counted.
Our group can’t assess this part because of the limitation data about that building.

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4.5 Water Efficiency Factors
Water use efficiency planning can produce permanent and significant water savings leading to
future development opportunities. The objective of water use efficiency is to achieve the best
return from the available water entitlement (that is, to maximise productivity). The best return
may entail using less water to achieve the original purpose, or increasing productivity using
the same volume of water.

This part concentrated on the water efficiency management and improvement plan
where its policy was good as there was no water shortage, and the water performance
maintenance was checked and it was acceptable as assessed with no leakage. Rainwater
harvesting, pumps, tanks, equipment and piping systems were all in a good condition. We can
note that no cooling tower was seen around the building. The Rainwater Harvesting System
was convincingly good and the rain water is well used and reserved in the lake close by.

4.6 Waste Management and Reduction

Establishment for a Solid Waste Management Policy on the Waste Management Hierarchy
(Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Compost, and Landfill) was managed properly with the awareness
for the recycled and non-recycled waste and the right place for them to be. On-going
consumables waste management wasn’t properly conducted as assessed where 50% of that
waste is reused or recycled. 1 point for 50% reused or recycled removable asset was assessed
where not much electronic devices, furniture and Electrical appliances (such as television,
refrigerators, etc.) was noticed.

4.7 Sustainable Facility Management

Building facility management system is implemented and abides by the required
specifications in the Facility Management Policy. Preparation and implementation of the
facility management were good with the use of suitable software/systems. The building is
well maintained and performed as it is designed for performance management.

The sustainable management is to ensuring best practices for maintenance is fully

implemented according to maintenance plan to optimize asset interest value. For the
Maintenance Plan, Plan and Annual Asset Maintenance (POPAT) and Operational Budget

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and Annual Asset Maintenance (BOPAT) were done accordingly. As for Operation and
Maintenance Team all equipment and amenities are reasonably maintained.

5.0 ASSESSMENT LIMITATIONS AND ASSUMPTIONS

The assessment conducted by the team have encountered several limitations to the
assessments due to several reasons and technical difficulties. The limitations were identified
as the following:

 Lack of assessment tools needed to assess the building structure and operational
machineries.
 Unauthorized access to the building structure past records such as energy
consumptions and wastes management.
 Unauthorized access to the building daily/monthly/annual utilities details.
 Unauthorized access to the rooftop of building assessed.

Due to this several limitations, relevant assumptions were proposed to represent the data and
to simulate the relevant assessment of the structures involved. Though, some assessment
cannot be fully assumed due to insufficient information. Thus, invalidity of the particular
assessed parts were assumed.

6.0 CONCLUSION
From the operation and maintenance assessment conducted on FKAB old building academic
block, various factors have been taken into account and ratings have been given respective to
the things assessed with the total mark of 73.5 out of 115. The assessment divided into several
sub-sections with the ratings given:

1. Infrastructure and Sequestration Management (9.5 out of 15)

2. Energy Performance Impacts (35 out of 59)
3. Occupant and Health (8 out of 10)
4. Lowering the Embodied Carbon (0 out of 2)
5. Water Efficiency Factors (10 out of 12)
6. Waste Management and Reduction (6 out of 10)
7. Sustainable Facility Management (5 out of 7)

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From the respective assessment, the rating can be classified as 3 ‘star’ as the score is 64% of
the total assessment point. This gave an impression on the environmental impacts of the
building on both carbon reduction and sustainable impact term. Improvement should be
implemented to make the building becoming more eco-friendly and thus, balancing
robustness with durability and practicality.

REFERENCES

 http://www.cidb.gov.my/index.php/en/pengumuman/106-2017/666-qualified-
professional-training-course-mycrest
 https://www.nst.com.my/business/2018/01/320769/mycrest-help-increase-number-green-
buildings
 http://www.citp.my/2017/wp-content/uploads/4-Environmental-Sustainability-Aminah-
Abdul-Rahman.pdf

APPENDICES A

Figure 6: IS15 total carbon capture for assessed building.

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Figure 7: IS15 site inventory analysis calculator.

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Figure 8: MyCREST carbon sequestration calculator.

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Figure 9: Methods of carbon sequestration calculation.

Figure 10: Low carbon transport factors assessment.

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Figure 11: MyCREST low carbon transport factor calculator - transportation used by staff.

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Figure 12: MyCREST low carbon transport factor calculator – low emission vehicle
designated parking.

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 Figure 13: MyCREST energy model.

Figure 14: MyCREST energy consumption reduction model calculator.

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Figure 15: MyCREST water efficiency factors.
Figure 16: Water efficiency factor calculator.
APPENDICES B

Figure 17: Team assessing the machineries of external building and hardscape.

Figure 18: Exterior building view.

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Figure 19: Parking lot condition.

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Figure 20: Small weeds on a part of exterior landscape to reduce soil erosion.

Figure 21: Team members assessing the building exterior landscape.

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Figure 22: Suspended particles in drain might have potential in being the cause of drain
clogging.

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Figure 23: Mould on the surface of the surrounding structures.

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Figure 24: FKAB lake served as retention area.

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Figure 25: Recycle bin provided.

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Figure 26: Interior view – room ceiling condition.

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