Kuching 31st July 2010

MATRIX OF RESPONSIBILITY OF
THE ENGINEERING TEAM

by
Ir. Chen Thiam Leong
Past President ACEM
 WHO CONSTITUTE
THE ENGINEERING TEAM ?

The Building Industry players:-

1. C & S team
2. M & E team
The Engineering Team Members

Qualified Person
Submitting Person
Design Engineer
Resident Engineer
Project Engineer
Clerk of Works
Main Contractor
Trade Contractors
Principal Submitting Person
MATRIX OF RESPONSIBILITY

CCC or CFO or OP
Who is liable?
Who is responsible?
Who is accountable?
 The Building Construction Matrix

DESIGN STAGE

Design Submitting Person

Engineer IR

Engineering
Assistant Submit
for
Approval
 The Building Construction Matrix

CONSTRUCTION STAGE

Resident Submitting Person

Engineer IR

COWs Main/Trade Sub

Contractors Contractors
 The Building Construction Matrix

POST CONSTRUCTION STAGE

Liability? Professional
Resident Submitting Person Liability
for Life
Engineer IR

COWs Main/Trade Sub

Contractors Contractors

Accountability?
Responsibility? ???
Accountability?
 THE SUBMITTING PERSON

When does the responsibility and

professional liability begin? And end?
Can it be for Design only ?
Construction stage only ?
What if Supervision is by Others ?
Design NOT Supervise BUT sign CCC ?
Any other permutations ?
CCC Master
Planning Approved
Flow-chart
Pre-Comp Plan Approved
Submission to Submission by IR
Technical depts for Infra Works
R&D Submission by Earthworks
Street Lighting AR/IR on Bldg Plan Ext Main Drains
Planning Dept Passive Fire
Ext Water Ret
Landscape Int Water
Structural Plan Sewerage Ret
Sub-struct/Foundation Active Fire Ext Electrical Infra
Int Sanitary Lift Etc Telecommunication

Completion of construction certification by builder, tradesmen, IR, AR

Liaise with Liaise with

Authorities to Issue CCC Authorities to
take over take over
 Forms Fs and Gs

Form E replaced by Form F or F1

Forms G1 to G21- must be submitted together
with either Form F or F1
Forms Gs serve to track those responsible,
accountable and liable THE MATRIX OF
RESPONSIBILITY
 UNIFORM BUILDING BY-LAWS 1984
FORM F
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION AND COMPLIANCE
[By -Law 25]

Date:..
To:
*.

I hereby issue the Certificate of Completion and Compliance for the building/s
on Lot/s........ Section...... Jalan...................................................
upon being satisfied that it has been completed in accordance with approved
plan No. ................. dated .......................

I have supervised the erection and completion of the building/s and it is to the
best of my knowledge and belief that such work/s is/are in accordance with the
Act, Uniform Building By-laws 1984 and approved plans. I hereby certify that
the building/s is/are safe and fit for occupation.

(Principal submitting person)
1. Particulars of principal submitting person
Name : ...
Address: ....
**BAM/BEM Registration No. ................................

2. Copy to:

(a) Local Authority : ...........................................

(Name of Local Authority)

(b) Board of Architects Malaysia (BAM)/Board of Engineers

Malaysia (BEM)

* The developer, if it is for development other than individually built

buildings or, the owner, if it is for an individually built building
** Delete whichever is inapplicable.
___________________________________________________, and
(c) by inserting after Form F the following forms:
 UNIFORM BUILDING BY-LAWS 1984
FORM G 1
STAGE CERTIFICATION : EARTHWORKS
(By-law 25 or 27)
Project Title: .....................................................................

*1. We certify that we have supervised and/or carried out the construction and
completion of the earthworks and that to the best of our knowledge and belief
such works are in accordance with the Approved Earthwork Plans Ref. No. :
.. and that we accept full responsibility for the same.

Name (Individual) #Registration No. Signature

(a) Contractor ............................ ........................... ....................

(CIDB) (Date: )

(b) Submitting person ............................ ........................... .....................

(BEM) (Date: )
I
 UNIFORM BUILDING BY-LAWS 1984
FORM G 4
STAGE CERTIFICATION : STRUCTURAL
(By-law 25 or 27)

Project Title: .........................................................................

* We certify that we have supervised and/or carried out the erection and
completion of the structural works and that to the best of our knowledge and
belief such works are in accordance with the Deposited Structural Plans Ref.
No. : ................................. and that we accept full responsibility for the same.

Name (Individual) #Registration No. Signature

(a) Contractor ............................ ........................... ....................

(CIDB) (Date: )

(b) Submitting person ............................ ........................... .....................

(BEM) (Date: )
 UNIFORM BUILDING BY-LAWS 1984
FORM G 5
STAGE CERTIFICATION : INTERNAL WATER PLUMBING
(By-law 25 or 27)

Project Title: ...................................................................

*1. We certify that we have supervised and/or carried out the erection and
completion of the internal water plumbing works and that to the best of our
knowledge and belief such works are in accordance with the *approved
plans/Deposited Plans Ref. No. : ........................................... and that we
accept full responsibility for the same.

Name (Individual) #Registration No. Signature

(a) Trade contractor ............................ ........................... .....................

(Licensed plumber) +( ) (Date: )

(b) Submitting Person ............................ ................................ .........................

(*BAM/BEM) (Date: )
9 FORM F
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION AND COMPLIANCE
9 FORM F1
PARTIAL CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION AND
COMPLIANCE

FORM G 1 (Approved Plans)

STAGE CERTIFICATION : EARTHWORKS
FORM G 2 (Approved Plans)
STAGE CERTIFICATION : SETTING OUT
FORM G 3 (Deposited Plans)
STAGE CERTIFICATION : FOUNDATIONS
FORM G 4 (Deposited Plans)
STAGE CERTIFICATION : STRUCTURAL
 FORM G 5 (Approved/Deposited Plans)
STAGE CERTIFICATION : INTERNAL WATER
PLUMBING
FORM G 6 (Approved/Deposited Plans)
STAGE CERTIFICATION : INTERNAL SANITARY
PLUMBING
FORM G 7 (Submitting persons Endorsed Plans)
STAGE CERTIFICATION : INTERNAL ELECTRICAL
FORM G 8 (Approved/Deposited Plans)
STAGE CERTIFICATION : FIRE-FIGHTING (PASSIVE)
FORM G 9 (Approved/Deposited Plans)
STAGE CERTIFICATION : FIRE-FIGHTING (ACTIVE)
FORM G 10 (Submitting persons Endorsed Plans)
STAGE CERTIFICATION : MECHANICAL VENTILATION
 FORM G 11 (Submitting persons Endorsed Plans)
STAGE CERTIFICATION : LIFT/ESCALATOR
INSTALLATION
FORM G 12 (Approved Plans)
STAGE CERTIFICATION : BUILDING
FORM G 13 (Approved Plans)
STAGE CERTIFICATION : EXTERNAL WATER SUPPLY
SYSTEM
FORM G 14 (Approved Plans)
STAGE CERTIFICATION : SEWERAGE RETICULATION
FORM G 15 (Approved Plans)
STAGE CERTIFICATION : SEWERAGE TREATMENT
PLANT
FORM G 16 (Approved Plans)
STAGE CERTIFICATION : EXTERNAL ELECTRICAL
SUPPLY SYSTEM
FORM G 17 (Approved/Deposited Plans)
STAGE CERTIFICATION : ROAD AND DRAIN
 FORM G 18 (Approved/Deposited Plans)
STAGE CERTIFICATION : STREET LIGHTING
FORM G 19 (Approved)
STAGE CERTIFICATION : EXTERNAL MAIN DRAIN
FORM G 20 (Approved/Deposited Plans)
STAGE CERTIFICATION : TELECOMMUNICATION
FORM G 21 (Approved)
STAGE CERTIFICATION : LANDSCAPE
Building Services (M&E) Failures
How extensive is this problem in
Malaysia ?
 Engineering Failures: Building Services
engineers (M&E) are a lucky lot compared
to their (C&S) brethrens
The fault of the engineer (be it the designer,
installer or supervisor) can hardly be
disputed when a landslide or building
structure collapses
One and/or the other of these relevant
engineering professionals will be held
responsible and accountable
The call for someones head to roll is
normally associated with such failures
especially when there are human fatalities
These failures are almost always visible and
cannot be swept under the carpet
 Difficult and usually cumbersome, if not
almost inconclusive to establish who is at
fault when an M&E failure occurs
Only rarely is there a fatality (or even
casualty) and even then it is more likely to
be established to be due to human error
(operational fault)
Therefore, it is not surprising to perceive
that M&E failures are not prevalent,
including in our local industry
Does not mean that the nation should be at
ease with our track record because whilst
injury and lives may not be at stake,
unnecessary monetary losses can affect our
national economy and progress
 Whenever there is need to establish the
party responsible for a particular M&E
failure, the end-user is short-changed
In recognizing the need to address this
fundamental service to the community at
large, the ACEM-IEM Panel of Experts was
set up in 2000, which includes a register of
M&E experts side by side with C&S
engineers
 ENGINEERING FAILURES
Earliest tragic building industry failure in
Malaysia: the 1968 collapse of the 4-Storey Jalan
Raja Laut Flats in Kuala Lumpur, which
contributed to the subsequent gazetting of UBBL
1984
Most devastating failure was undoubtedly the
Highland Towers tragedy in 2003
Both relate to C&S engineering failures with
fatalities that led to wide spread media coverage
and White Papers
Other less impactful failures are the Defence
Bunker, MRR2, Matsushita bridge, roof
structure collapses and so on
All these C&S failures made it to the news since
such failures are rather obvious and visible
 What about M&E failures ?
Building fires immediately come to mind, such as
the Campbell Complex fire, the series of Subang
Airport fires, the Bank Bumiputra fire, Bright
Sparklers fire, UM Hall fire, and so on
However, none of these are ever classified as M&E
engineering failures but rather as purely fire
incidents and avoidable tragedies
Next list: the Hospital Mould fiasco, TNB Sub-
station explosions, Elevator mishaps etc
Here again it is not conclusive to pin these failures
decisively on M&E engineering per se
 Therefore, it is true that M&E engineers tend to
get away rather easily, especially when there are
no human casualties but merely financial
setbacks
Nonetheless, it cannot be disputed that there
have indeed been significant failures (or errors)
attributed to M&E engineering in this country
 LOCAL MODUS OPERANDI
In general, (potential) failures of M&E
installations can occur during the following
stages (or a combination) of the building
construction industry;
Design stage
Supervision stage
Installation stage (including procurement)
Testing & Commissioning stage
Operation stage
Maintenance stage
EXAMPLES OF M&E
FAILURES
 DOWNCOMER PROBLEM

Lack of water pressure for fire fighting at

topmost floor of an apartment block
When a fire broke out at the topmost floor of a
20 storey apartment block, there was
insufficient water pressure at the landing valves
to fight the fire although the Downcomer fire
riser system was in proper working order
 10000gal
20 Storey Downcomer
Apartment Water Tank
on roof top
Building

= 80m
 Was this a case of design fault ?
No, because UBBL 84 (& SBO 94), permits
the installation of a Downcomer system instead
of a pressurized Wet Riser system
This has resulted in the lack of adequate water
pressure for the upper floors where it is most
needed in times of emergency
(Note that with or without the Downcomer
system, the lower floors can be easily served by
the Fire Tender)
The industry will sooner than later need to
address this issue for a permanent solution
 10000gal
20 Storey Downcomer
Apartment Water Tank
on roof top
Building

>13F water
Pressure
NOT ok

Hose Pressure = 80m

75 psi
only
at 13F & below

<13F water
Pressure ok
Fire sprinkler failure during a hotel fire

When a fire broke out on the upper floor of a

high rise hotel, the sprinkler bulb broke but
water only dripped out although the sprinkler
pump was working
Clearly there was insufficient water pressure and
all fingers pointed to an under-sized sprinkler
pump
 Subsequent investigation uncovered the
following embarrassment;
The hotel was designed with a 2-stage
sprinkler pumping system and both designs
are in compliance with the relevant codes and
standards
The upper stage sprinkler pump was
unfortunately connected to the lower stage
sprinkler riser, and the lower stage pump to
the upper stage riser, with the end result of
one being over-pressurised and the other
under-pressurised
 There was no design error but rather the failure
of proper supervision of installation and
commissioning
Hopefully, such an error will never be repeated,
and fortunately there was no human casualty in
this fire
Diners smelling like the food
Diners patronizing a 5-star restaurant
complained that their expensive clothing smelled
like the food they ate
Such a problem is common with low-end shop-
lot type restaurants which are air-conditioned
with low budget split units but certainly
avoidable for high end restaurants with a
properly designed air-conditioning and
ventilation system
 Split fan
Coil unit

Conditioned air recirculated

No fresh air introduced
 Fresh air duct
Supply air duct AHU / FCU

Return a
ir

Conditioned air recirculated

with fresh air introduced
 The problem was traced to defective installation
rather than the original design
In this instance, the resident project manager
modified the design when encountered with
space constraint to install the supply and exhaust
fans
The lack of sufficient air-change resulted in the
undiluted recirculated conditioned air to be
absorbed by the clothing of the patrons (together
with its odour)
 s t
au
h
ex

Fresh air duct

Supply air duct AHU / FCU

Return a
ir

Conditioned air recirculated

with fresh air introduced
BEM Circulars (13)
Submission of Plans by Architects, Professional
Engineers and Registered Building Draughtsmen
Supervision of Construction of Projects
A Guide to Good Engineering Practice for M&E
Engineers
Guidelines for An Engineer Taking Over The
Work of Another
 END
THANK YOU