NEW UTHM LIBRARY TAKING SHAPE

The Main Library Building from Utility Block (M&E Services)

Universiti Teknologi Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Batu Pahat is constructing a new 6-storey cylindrical block to house its Main Library. The block will also house six Lecture Theatres (to accommodate a total of 1,000 students), Vice-Chancellor Office and other administration offices.
The building is being constructed by Pembinaan Hamid-Ecovest Construction JV Sdn. Bhd., an established Design-and-Build Contractor in the country. The consultants involved inthe project are :
1. Juhari Hashim Architect (Architecture)
2. SAFF Consultants (Mechanical & Electrical Engineers)
3. Kristal Padu Sdn. Bhd. (Quantity Surveyor)
4. Civil & Structure Engineers
5. AV Consultant
6. ICT Consultant
7. Landscape Consultant

Recently on the 20-August-2008 (20-08-2008), I managed to visit and inspected the site. The new building is taking shape and the construction has reached the second (2nd) floor.
It is hoped that the building will be completed on-time to provide a modern and up-to-date library facilities to the students and surrounding community.

AFK_Skudai

UPGRADING 11-KV SUB-STATIONS AT UTHM

Unloading of 200mm x 200mm RC Pile from Lorry at SSU 1

The upgrading works on 11-kV system at UTHM has been awarded to a cloass 1 Electrical Contractor at a cost of about RM 6.7 million. The works comprises of building a new Switching Station No. 1, constructing two new 11/0.433-kV sub-station buildings, upgrading the existing TNB sub-stations and supplying the 11-kV and 415-V related electrical equipment required in the SSU1 and sub-station buildings.

Unloading of 150mm x 150mm RC Pile from Lorry at PE 02

Today (29-08-2008), two lorry loads of RC piles have been delivered to site by the contractor. The setting out of SSU 1 and PE 02 had been confirmed by UTHM and the piling work will start very very soon.


With the initial commitment shown by the contractor, we hope the project could be completed ahead of time so that the activities and programs arranged by the UTHM could be carried out smoothly without any problem or shortcoming.

BPahat/Skudai

NEW CHILLERS TO BOOST USIM A/C PLANT ROOM

USIM Central Utility Block No. 1 which housed 2 x 400 TR was commissioned in 2006 to supply chilled water to the Administration Block and Pusat Teknologi Maklumat.

Recently, the plant has been upgraded with the additional 3 x 400 TR Chillers which were successfully commissioned. This has increased the plant capacity to 2000 TR which will be used to feed chilled water to the new faculties under construction i.e Fakulti Quran & Sunnah (FQS), Fakulti Ekonomi dan Muamalat (FEM), USIM Main Library and Students Affairs buildings.

Due to very high starting currents of chillers (and compressors), Variable Frequency Starters or Soft Starters (SS) are used in the Chiller Control Panel. The starters (Danfoss) are used to limit the starting currents at a known period and are co-ordinated with the protection relays to prevent tripping of breakers during starting. The relay characteristic curves need to be changed from the normal IDMT Standard Inverse to the IDMT Long Time Inverse at the Circuit Breakers before the SS.

The plant is also equipped with the latest Building Automation System (BAS) whereby the chillers could be remotely monitored and controlled.

BBNilai

NEW IPD SELAMA COMPLEX

Recently, work has started to constrcuct a brand new and modern office complex at Ibu Pejabat Daerah Selama, Perak.
The works awarded to a contractor from Ipoh consists of consruction of new buildings over the existing ones. This entails the shifting of equipment to a temporary buildings for operational continuity.

Yesterday, the demolishing of existing quarters block was undrway and the hob'c risk is high.

COMMISSIONING OF 11-KV SUPPLY

Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) formerly known as Kolej Universiti Islam Malaysia (KUIM) main campus is located at Bandar Baru Nilai, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan.
The campus initially received its 11-kV supply from Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) in 2005 via Stesen Suis Utama (SSU) No. 2, located just about 100 meters from USIM Main Entrance. This is because TNB was not ready to deliver its supply via its 132/33-kV Main Intake located to the North-Eastern tip of USIM Campus.

However, as the new buildings are being added to the campus, the initial supply of about 3 MW is expected to be exceeded by the new faculties buildings demand. As such, on the 11th. November, 2007 TNB has commissioned its two new 11-kV supply to USIM Main Intake Sub-station. TNB supply is fed via two 11-kV Overhead Lines circuits.

Thus, on the 11th November, 2007, 11-kV supply from TNB was safely transferred from SSU 2 to USIM Main Intake Sub-station. Intricate switching procedures were planned and carried out successfully without any accident. Live-phasing Test on 11-kV Test supply from two sets of TNB Incoming Feeders was carried out using Live-Phasing Sticks. The test was carried out by Syed Abdul Hadi (SAFF Testing Engineer) and me.

Alhamdulillah, at last a more stabilised and sizeable electricity supply system has been established and commisioned to USIM to ensure all its activities are not interrupted.

Bandar Baru Nilai

KOMTAR JB .. DI MANA WAJAH BARU MU ...?

The project sign board and demolishing works of podium floors

Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak (KOMTAR) is the first high-rise building being constructd at Johor Bahru. It was constructed in 1970. Being the first high rise building constructed about 40 years ago, the building does not has all the modern Building Automation System (BAS) or BMS facilities to control and monitor its amenities to the users. Nevertheless, it has served its occupants well without any unto wards accident happened.

Project Team in a deep discussion while site work continues ..

The planning for KOMTAR Podium Commercial Complex at Jalan Wong Ah Fook/Jalan Tun Razak, Johor Bahru has started way back in 1995. It was put off several times due to several unforseen circumstances and reasons. At last, in January this year (2008) the upgrading works was awarded to a building contractor; Taqi Holdings Sdn. Bhd. The RM50++ million works is to be completed by September 2009 which will change the image of 1970s KOMTAR to a new modern and vibrant Shopping Complex in the city of Johor Bahru.

Clearing work at car park area for new lift core & loading bay ..

With its new facelift and new means of internal transportation system (travelator, escalator, bubble lift, goods lift, passenger lifts), bigger and wider atrium, ample parking space, pre-paid metering, new air-conditioning system, performance-based fire fighting system, wireless internet access and other modern amenities available at modern shopping and commercial complexes will bring up KOMTAR to be at par with other similar premises.

Main Concourse of KOMTAR and view of podium from Jln Tun Razak

So, hopefully, a long wait by the consultants, contrarctors, the users and the public will be paid off once the new KOMTAR is open next year.

Some of familiar faces from project team members.
View of temporary Kebayan Food Courts

To those in the Project Management Team, be steadfast in carrying out the tasks and try to give your level best to accomplish the mission ... May all our sincere effort to make the project a success be rewarded by Allah SWT...Ameen...

JBahru.

PROJECT SITE VISIT - SMKPP MUAR

The site for Sek. Men. Keb. Persisiran Perdana (SMKPPP) is located at Tanjung Agas, Muar, Johor. The construction of this secondary project was awarded to the contractor sometime in December, 2006 and expected to be completed by September, 2008. However, based on current progress of th project, it is envisaged that the project could not be completed on time.

The electrical contractor was appointed around April, 2008 this year and had since been working on the project. Today's inspection, visit and meeting on the project had given me an opportunity to meet with the contractors and site staff. Informal discussion was held at the Canteen while watching the contractor working.

As for TNB sub-station building, it needs to be handed over to TNB in a good condition and as per TNB requirement. The photographs below show the existing sub-station building and cable trenches which need to be completed and tidy-up.

Among items that the cointractor needs to prepare are :
1. Corrugated HDPE TNB cable pipes shall be made up of solid HDPE 150mm diameter;
2. To repair/make good cable trench inside Transformer Room;
3. Vermin-proof netting size shall be SWG23 Mesh 10;
4. To repair leaks at ceiling slab inside Low Voltage Room;
5. To replace DANGER and NO ENTRY notices at sub-station doors with standard notices;
6. To clean up cable trenches;
7. To pump out water from cable trench;
8. To paint TNB logo on sub-station building;