The Putrajaya International Convention Centre uses a piled foundation and suspended concrete slabs. Piled foundations are suitable for multi-story buildings as they can support large loads through weak soils. Suspended concrete slabs have their perimeter supported by walls, beams or columns and span between supports. This allows them to be used for upper floors of tall buildings. The convention centre likely uses precast concrete slabs that are made off-site and lifted into place.

1. SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN
BACHELOR OF QUANTITY SURVEYING (HONOURS)
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AUGUST 2014
[BLD60104] CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY l
Group Assignment: Research on Construction Technology of a
Building
Name: ID:
LIM CHERN YIE 0315688
CHUA WEI JIE 0316323
YONG BOON XIONG 0321754
GAN JET FOONG 0315998
LAI CHOON FENG 0315898
Lecturer: Ms. Azrina Md Yaakob

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Content
Part 1
Illustration of the type of the building with plan -------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3-8
Part 2
(By using diagram) Identification and explanation of the
(i) type of foundation -------------------------------------------------9-11
(ii) type of slab ---------------------------------------------------------12-13
(iii) type of roof of the building --------------------------------------14-15
Part 3
Comparison and contrast with TWO (2) other types and recommend
an alternative to replace the existing type of
(i) foundation ----------------------------------------------------------16-18
(ii) slab -------------------------------------------------------------------19-22
(iii) roof -------------------------------------------------------------------23-25

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Introduction
Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC)
The Putrajaya International Convention Centre
The Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) is the main convention
centre in Putrajaya, Malaysia. It is located on the peak of Taman Puncak Selatan
in Precinct 5.
It was constructed from 2001 to September 2003. Its first conference was the
10th Organization of Islamic Conference in October of the same year. It was
renamed from the Putrajaya Convention Centre in October 2004 to its present
name to reflect its international status on par with conference centres in world-class
cities such as London, Tokyo and Paris. It is a precinct landmark that grew
out of an idea from a truly inspirational man, Malaysia’s fourth Prime Minister,
Tun Dr. Mahathir Bin Mohamad.
The PICC covers an area of 135,000 square meters, or approximately 1.3 million
square feet.

4. Night view of PICC (Photo taken from https://www.flickr.com/photos/sslimss/6613234917/)
Bird’s eye view of PICC (Photo tak en from http://worldyouthjazzfest.com/)
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Floor plan of PICC

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9. Part 2-(By using diagram) Identification and
explanation of the
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i) type of foundation
Foundation (Piling)
This is a famous multi storey international convention centre in Malaysia. Piled
foundation is the best choice for constructing this centre because it is suitable
used in multi storey building. Besides that, there are 3 types of load, dead load,
live load and wind load. Dead load is the intrinsic in variable weight of a structure
and includes any permanent loads attached to the structure. For example, walls,
floors, roof, and other permanent components of the building. It also called dead
weight compared with live load. Live load is the weight of everything
superimposed on, or temporarily attached to, a structure. For example, people,
machinery and equipment, furniture and appliances. Wind load is the horizontal
load used in the design of a structure to account for the effects of wind.
Piled foundation is the deepest foundation compared with the others, such as
pad foundation, strip foundation, trench foundation and raft foundation. Piled
foundation is formed by a group of piles made from steel or reinforced concrete
and sometimes timber to support a superstructure.
Piling is transmitted load through weak and unstable soil condition. Basically,
piles are classified as end-bearing piles (where most of the friction is developed
at the toe of the pile, bearing on a hard layer) or friction piles (where most of the
pile-bearing capacity is developed by shear stresses along the sides of the pile,
suitable when harder layers are too deep). Most piles use some end-bearing and
some friction, in order to resist the action of loads.
There are many advantages of piled foundation. Piled foundation can be
precast to the required specifications. Piles of any size, length and shape can be
made in advance and used at the site. As a result, the progress of the work will
be rapid. Moreover, a pile driven into granular soil compacts the adjacent soil
mass and as a result the bearing capacity of the pile is increased. The work is
neat and clean. The supervision of work at the site can be reduced to a minimum.
The storage space required is very much less. Driven piles may conveniently be
used in places where it is advisable not to drill holes for fear of meeting ground
water under pressure. Drivens pile is the most favored for works over water such
as piles in wharf structures or jetties. However, there are many disadvantages of
piled foundation too.
Precast or prestressed concrete piles must be properly reinforced to withstand
handling stresses during transportation and driving. Advance planning is required
for handling and driving. It requires heavy equipment for handling and driving.

10. Since the exact length required at the site cannot be determined in advance, the
method involves cutting off extra lengths or adding more lengths. This increases
the cost of the project. Driven piles are not suitable in soils of poor drainage
qualities. If the driving of piles is not properly phased and arranged, there is
every possibility of heaving of the soil or the lifting of the driven piles during the
driving of a new pile. Where the foundations of adjacent structures are likely to
be affected due to the vibrations generated by the driving of piles, driven piles
should not be used.
In conclusion, piled foundation is a deep foundation. It is suitable to construct
the multi storey building. Therefore, the building will be a very steady and stable
building. Piled foundation classified as end-bearing piles and friction piles. The
end-bearing piles and friction piles is used in depending the condition of soils.
Pile caps Structure of Piling
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11. 11 | P a g e
Piled foundation Pile driving
Pile driving in construction

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ii) Type of slab
Suspended Concrete Slab
The decision of type of slab for a specific floor relies on upon numerous
variables. Economy of development is clearly a critical attention, yet this is a
qualitative controversy until particular cases are examined, and is a land variable.
The design loads, required spans, serviceability requirements, and strength
requirements are all important. Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC)
definitely will choose the best suitable slab for its floor depends on the suitability,
economic and aesthetic.
Serviceability necessities must be considered, and diversions are some of the
time hard to control in the floor. Vast live loads and little breaking points on
passable avoidances may drive the utilization of substantial segment capitals.
Negative-minute splitting around segments is at times an issue with level plates,
and again a section capital may be valuable in its control.
This is one of the side to
show the floor slab of PICC
Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) mostly apply suspended
concrete floor slab to its floor. A suspended concrete floor is a floor slab where its
perimeter is, or at least two of its opposite edges are, supported on walls, beams
or columns that carry its self weight and imposed loading. The floor spans
between supports and will normally turn aside under load to a dimension that is
limited by the design used. The prestressing of a concrete floor slab can get rid
of its usual deflection below support level. This is achieved either by pre-tensioning,
where precast floor units are used, or by post tensioning with steel
wire tendons incorporated in an in-situ concrete slab.
Suspended slabs are above-ground level slabs which are not directly made
contact with with the earth. They are commonly used to create floors for the
upper storeys of building but can also be sat on top of pre-constructed walls to

13. form a ground floor. They are normally built to the multi-storey buildings as it can
bear high uplift force.
Suspended concrete slabs are made of concrete but sometimes it will still
have with steel mesh, the same as a ground slab. They are normally brought by
the transport of truck and will prefabricate offsite. Some slabs even have unfilled
conduits sprinting through them and these 'hollow core slabs' are used to help
reduce weight, and also to allow cabling and piping to be run through the slab.
Suspended floors can be constructed in three basic forms as wholly of
reinforced in-situ concrete, as a floor consisting of reinforced or prestressed
precast concrete units, usually spanning in one direction and as a floor
comprising reinforced or prestressed precast concrete units overlaid by an in-situ
concrete layer formed in such a way that it acts compositely with the precast
concrete units.
There are plenty of advantages of using suspended floor slab which one of the
advantages is it is easy to install once the support and great machinery is ready
for it. Then, it is more effective than the joist sub-floors in blocking out noise from
upper floors and allows access to under floor access. Although suspended is
easier, it must have crane to access. If there is an issue of lacking this machinery,
the process of the construction will be delayed and there will be a possibility of
extra charging.
Precast concrete floor slab is one of the types of suspended floor slab. In the
point of view of us, we saw this building mostly apply precast concrete floor slab
to it. Precast concrete slabs are made off site and extended into spot, either in
completed structure or with an extra thin spill of cement crazy. They can be
produced using customary or post-tensioned fortified solid, or from autoclaved
circulated air through cement (AAC).
Individual precast solid units may be built and incorporated with a floor,
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ordinarily, to compass one-path between supporting parts.
The floor section is precast in the precast concrete segment production line
under perfect conditions, and contains the torsionally hardened support that is
obliged to give firmness once introduced, and the flexural strain fortification,
lengthways and crossways, that is needed for gathering and the last state. The
floor chunk is made into a strong and solid strengthened solid floor by utilizing
blend in-situ cement that is spilled at the development site. The thickness of the
completed floor chunk is somewhere around 12 and 30 cm, contingent upon the
compass and the stacking. The jutting truss fortification and the cement surface
itself give the obliged tying down, guaranteeing great holding and attachment
between the completed part and the mix in-situ cement.

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iii) Roofing
Copper Roof
Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) is an award winning building
and landmark in Putrajaya. The roofs of Putrajaya International Convention
Centre (PICC) are made of copper. Roof is the uppermost part of a building and
its main purpose is to protect the building from weathers, notably rain, and also
heat, wind, sunlight.
However there are more to be concerned about when choosing the perfect
roof for a building, first of all would be the corrosion resistance. As an
architectural metal, copper provides excellent corrosion resistance. Copper
surfaces form tough oxide-sulfate patina coatings that protect underlying copper
surfaces and resist corrosion for a very long time.
The durability of copper roofs is undeniable. Copper roofs are extremely
durable in most environments. They have performed well for over 700 years,
primarily because of the protective patina that forms on copper surfaces.
Properly designed copper roofs minimize movements due to thermal changes.
Copper’s low thermal expansion, 40% less than zinc and lead, helps to prevent
deterioration and failure. Also, copper’s high melting point ensures that it will not
creep or stretch as some other metals do.

15. For buildings like PICC which has roof that is hard to access for maintenance,
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copper is a good choice because copper does not require cleaning or
maintenance after installation.
Unquestionably copper is a light metal which is a good quality to be
considered when choosing the suitable roof. When used as a fully supported roof
covering, copper is half the weight (including substrate) of lead and only a
quarter of tiled roofs. This generally provides savings in supporting structure and
materials costs. Copper cladding offers additional opportunities to reduce the
weight of copper structures.
Lightning strike protection minimizes damage to buildings during lightning
terminations, so lightning protecting quality of a roof should also be take in
account too. Copper effectively facilitates the transmission of lightning energy to
the ground because of its excellent electrical conductivity. Also, it bends easily
compared to other conductor materials.
Broad worldwide tests have proved that uncoated copper and copper alloys for
example brass, bronze, copper nickel, copper-nickel-zinc, have strong intrinsic
antimicrobial properties with efficacies against a wide range of disease-resistant
bacteria, molds, fungi and viruses. After years of testing, the U.S. approved the
registration of over 300 different copper alloys (copper, brasses, bronzes,
copper-nickels, and nickel-silvers) as antimicrobial materials. These
developments are creating markets for antimicrobial copper and copper alloys in
interior architecture. To meet the design needs for building surfaces, structures,
fixtures, and components, antimicrobial copper-based products are available in a
wide range of colors, finishes, and mechanical properties.
From the aspect of performance, maintenance, service life, and recovery costs
from recycling, copper is a material with high cost effectiveness compared to
other materials. Although the initial cost of copper is higher than some other
architectural metals, it usually does not need to be replaced during the life of a
building. Due to its durability, low maintenance, and ultimate salvage value, the
additional cost for copper may be insignificant over the life of a roofing system.
As a conclusion, copper one of the most suitable material for building with low
accessibility and big roof surface from the aspect of corrosion resistance,
durability, thermal expansion, maintenance, weight, lightning protection,
antimicrobial and cost effectiveness.

16. PART 3: Compare and Contrast with two
other types
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i) Foundation
In this part, we will compare and contrast with 2 other types and recommend
an alternative to replace the existing type of foundation, slab, and roof.
Foundation is the element of a structure that serves to support the loads
super-imposed to it through the transmitting elements (such as columns).
Foundations provide support for buildings by transferring their load to layers of
soil or rock that have sufficient bearing capacity and suitable settlement
characteristics.
All foundations are divided into two categories: shallow foundations and deep
foundations. Shallow foundations are used when the earth directly under a
structure has sufficient bearing capacity to support the loads from the structure. It
transfer load to subsoil at a point near to the ground floor of a building. Deep
foundations are used when the soil near the ground surface is weak. It transfer
load to subsoil some distance below the ground floor of a building. This is usually
at depth >3m below finished ground level.
Shallow foundations include: strip foundations, pad foundations, raft
foundations. Deep foundations include: pile foundations. Each foundation types
are suitable for different applications, depending on considerations such as
ground conditions.
RAFT FOUNDATIONS
Raft foundations are a large concrete slab which can support a number of
columns and walls. It is called a raft because the structure is like a vessel that
'floats' in a sea of soil.
The raft foundation was easier to install, cheaper and did not require as much
excavation as the usual strip foundations. A raft foundation spreads the weight of
the building over the whole ground floor area of that building. Hence, it can be
used for large loads. The raft is laid on a hardcore or scalping bed and usually
thickened at the edges, especially in very poor ground.
Raft foundations are used where the soil is weak, and therefore building loads
have to be spread over a large area, or where columns are closely spaced, which
means that if individual footings were used, they would touch each other. By
using rafts, less work is required to get a solid foundation.

17. Raft foundations are economic and quicker to use than traditional footings
because the foundation and floor slab is combined, which saves time and
material. Also, less excavation is required. Raft foundations are ideal for poor
ground condition where normal footings would not cope well as they cannot
spread the load as effectively. This foundation can reduce differential settlement,
which reduces cracking and other more serious problems.
The main disadvantage of raft foundations is that they require specific
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treatment for points loads. If they are not treated properly, they will be
susceptible to edge erosion.
PAD FOUNDATIONS
Pad foundations are typically rectangular or circular pads which are used to
support localized loads such as columns. They spread the load to the ground
below. Pad foundations are generally square or rectangular in plan. Square is the
most economic plan shape. The shape in plan will be dictated by the
arrangement of the columns and the load to be transferred into the soil.
Pad foundations are ideal for point loads from framed buildings when bearing
capacity of ground is suitable a shallow depths. They must be supported on fairly
stiff soil that is unlikely to subside.
A pad foundation is a shallow foundation. It requires little excavation and is
therefore generally cheaper to build. Pad foundations can be designed to
accommodate tight sites. It is also economic due to control of foundation size.
The size of foundation can be reduced by adding steel reinforcement towards the
bottom of foundation running in both directions.
However, pad foundations have a few disadvantages. The size of the
foundation can be very large to cope with high point loads. Pad foundations are
weak against uplift forces, wind forces and earthquake forces. Separate
foundations make this design weak against differential settlement that may affect
the building.
I would recommend raft foundation to replace pile foundation as compared to
pad foundation. In terms of cost, raft foundation is more expensive than pad
foundation due to higher labour costs and it requires longer time to build.
However in terms of durability and quality, raft foundation is better. Putrajaya
International Convention Centre (PICC) is the main convention centre in
Putrajaya, Malaysia. This building is a precinct landmark of Putrajaya. Therefore,
its foundation should be high in quality to ensure the building will stand strong
and last as long as possible.
Table of comparisons for pile foundation, raft foundation and pad foundation.

18. Pile foundation Raft foundation Pad foundation
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Costing The most
expensive among
the tree types of
foundations (pile
foundation, raft
foundation and
pad foundation).
More expensive
than pad
foundation but
cheaper than pile
foundation.
The least
expensive among
the three types of
foundations (pile
foundation, raft
foundation and
pad foundation).
Strength Strongest. Stronger than pad
foundation but
weaker compared
to pile foundation.
Weakest.
Time Requires most
time to build.
Requires more
time to build
compared to pad
foundation but
quicker than pile
foundation.
Requires least
time to build.
Resistance Highest
resistance.
Lower resistance
compared to pile
foundation but
higher resistance
than pad
foundation.
Lowest resistance.
Labour Requires
specialist
engineering.
Needs specialists
sometimes, but
requires fewer
skills as to do pile
foundation.
Specialists are not
really required,
depending on the
structure.
Machinery Requires big
machineries such
as bigger cranes
to build big
structures.
Does not require
machineries that
are used for pile
foundation.
Does not require
machineries that
are used for pile
foundation.

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ii) Slab
Slab is flat piece of concrete, typically used as a walking surface but it may
also serve as a load bearing device. It is essential to have a ground slab or floor
slab and top slab in a building or a house in light of the fact that piece which is
made by concrete has been utilized as a mobile surface and a heap bearing
gadget to a building. Section is utilized for supporting heaps of a building,
protecting against sound, hotness and blaze, giving space in the middle of roof
and itself to place building offices and even the upper chunk can turn into the roof
for the story underneath. Being as a divider for the inhabitants, it must give a
level surface to keep from any wounds to individuals who live or work in the
structures.
In this Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC), precast concrete
floor slab are used to the floor respectively. Precast concrete floor is known as
slabs are manufactured off site and craned into place, either in finished form or
with an additional thin pour of concrete over the top. They can be made from
conventional or post-tensioned reinforced concrete. There are other types of slab
which are in situ concrete floor slab or precast timber floor slab. Anyone of it has
its own characteristics, usage and suitability of the certain area.
In situ Concrete Slab
An in situ concrete suspended floor is manufactured with reinforced concrete
and planned to bear its weight and any forced a stacking, the supporting parts
that will compass around the structure. It is picked up backing for floors and is
regularly beams, columns or dividers.
In situ concrete reinforced suspended floors can be designed to span one-way
or two-ways between supports. Such floors can be designed and
constructed to have a continuously flat soffit. Alternatively, the slab soffit can be
formed with special moulds to give an indented profile to produce a `waffle` or
`trough` floor.
In situ reinforced concrete suspended slabs can be monetarily planned as
level pieces. A flat slab could conceivably have dropped areas at beam strips
and column helps. It might be robust or have a coffered or waffle soffit profile.
Flat slab are exceptionally flexible components that typically connected in
development of what it is giving least profundity, quick development and
permitting adaptable section frameworks.
Flat slab is one the quickest method for the construction because of its
medium span with load-bearing which its span is around 20 feet to 40 feet and it
can also reduce slab displacement which can reduce cost at the same time.

20. This is how in situ concrete
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cast into the site.
Flat slabs are normally suitable for areas where upsides of partitions want
to be stacked to the slab soffit for noise and fire resistance. Flat slabs are
considered to be faster and more financially viable than other forms of
construction, as partition heads do not need to be cut around downside of beams
or ribs.
Flat slabs can be designed with a high-quality facade results to the soffit, it
allows exposed soffits to be utilized. This allows development of the building’s
thermal mass in the design of heating, freshening and cooling conditions and this
will definitely increase its energy efficiency.
Other than in situ concrete floor slab, precast timber floor slab will kindly
been used to the buildings due to its availability and suitability of the material.
Precast Timber Floor
Slab
This is a suspended and
ventilated timber ground floor. The
protection is set between the joists
and underpinned on polypropylene netting. The mesh ought to be situated to
backing the protection so that there is no crevice between the protection and the
underside of the floor deck. The floor joists running parallel with stone work
dividers ought to be divided no less than 35mm far from the divider to permit

21. protection to be put beside the divider. The divider protection ought to begin at
least 200mm underneath the highest point of the floor protection to minimize
warm crossing over.
Suspended timber floors at ground floor level have dependably been viewed
as helpless to woodworm and dry decay and hence present building regulations
require dampness evidence, solid blinding layer underneath such floors. Right
away floor level timber flooring has demonstrated perfect since it is effortlessly
bored to support the establishment of pipes and warming funnel and electric links.
The workability of timber floor slab is it has some flexibility and will accept nail
fixing and underside of ground floor must keep dry to prevent the attack of fungus.
Other than that, it is ideal for running water pipes and electric cables because of
its space beneath. Although it is cheaper than precast concrete floor system,
people would still prefer precast concrete can span longer distances than the
precast timber floor slab. These are slender products which propose greater
effectiveness to the developer allowing them to achieve with the expectation of
the construction. For the floor slab that is made of precast concrete, these sorts
of floors are much cost proficient than the timber ground slab and offer a more
secure working stage for a progressing development.
As my recommendation, I would like to suggest the plan of the building
continue using precast concrete floor slab because precast concrete offers
strong, flexible solution for floors, walls and even roofs in every kind of local
development from individual bungalows to multi-story condo. Concrete’s high
initial embodied energy can be offset by its stretched out life cycle up to 100
years and high potential for reuse and movement. Common production methods
include tilt-up which poured on site and precast which poured off site and
transported to site.
There are plenty of reasons why the clients of this building chose to apply
precast concrete for its floor slabs were because of the various advantages. First
and foremost, precast concrete saves a lot of the time of construction and this
increase the speed of production. Then, it has high level performance in thermal
comfort, durability, acoustic separation, and resistance to fire and flood. It is also
has inherent strength and structural capacity able to meet engineering design
standards. Other than that, precast concrete also has high structural efficiency,
low wastage rates on site minimal waste, as most waste in the factory is recycled
safer sites from less clutter.
Materials utilized by precast makers are normally sourced generally for
expense reasons and transport restrictions. Precast components are for the most
part by regional standards made and transported short separations to
destinations. This regularly reduces the vehicle part of typified vitality with
respect to other high mass frameworks. This was the reason why some of the
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22. company prefers precast concrete in order to reduce costs especially on
transport side.
This is how
precast concrete
be set during the
construction.
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One of the benefits using concrete
slab is thermal comfort. ‘Thermal mass’
describes the potential of a material to
store and re-release thermal energy.
Materials with high warm mass like
concrete slab can help direct indoor
solace by transmitting or retaining heat.
In winter, slabs should be designed
so they can absorb heat from the sun
and in contrast as in summer, slabs
must be ensured from immediate
daylight and presented to cooling night
breezes and night sky radiation so heat
gathered amid the day can scatter. This
is one of the crucial benefits of why I am
suggesting people to use concrete slab instead of any other materials slab
such as timber flooring slab because of this factor.

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iii) Roof
Roof comes with variety of designs, shapes and materials. There are many
kinds of materials to construct a roof such as copper, aluminum, slate, wood and
zinc.
Roofing materials act as insulation against heat and cold. The choice of
materials of roofs can depend on the climate of the place and surrounding of the
building. While some people prefer economical materials to reduce the capital
and maintenance cost, others prefer the materials to be benefitable to the
building such as weatherproofing materials.
However, when considering the differences between the materials, the
advantages and disadvantages must be acknowledged. There also can be a big
difference in terms of labor and material for the installation.
Copper
Copper is widely used in contemporary architecture, this is because it
complements materials such as glass, stone, and glass that are used for
traditional or modern building styles. Copper is ultimately selected for its color,
strength, hardness, corrosion and thermal conductivity.
Copper is excellent for roofing because of its strong corrosion resistance to
protect a building for a very long time. Copper roofs are durable in many
environments, it can last over 700 years. It has low thermal movement to
minimize its movement when high temperature in the surrounding.
Copper is also used for green buildings because it uses only 20% of energy for
recycle and can be recycled continuously without any loss of quality. It is also
one of the most efficient thermal and electrical conductors, which helps to
conserve energy. It does not require any cleaning or maintenance.
Although copper cost is higher than most materials, however, it gives a
better effectiveness for a building in terms of performance, maintenance and
service.
Slate
Slate is a metamorphic rock that is dense and strong. It has been used in
construction for thousands of years.
Slate is primary used for its beauty and durability. It is fireproof and available in
a variety of natural colors and shapes. It is one of the most attractive roofing
materials available and often used on traditional homes.
The main advantage of using slate is because of its low water absorption,
makes it very resistant to freezing and frost damage. It requires only minimal
processing and little maintenance.

24. In addition, slate is also fire resistant to protect the building from fire. It is more
expensive than most other materials, slate is durable and has a long life-span up
to 200 years.
However, slate is very heavy compare to other materials and need extra roof
support which will cost more expense. It has a dull surface compare to other
material and absorbs more heat, thus not suitable for hot climate country. It is
also breakable if not carefully handle and requires a very specialized installation.
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Aluminum
Aluminum is one of the most energy efficient and sustainable construction
materials. Consumers choose aluminum roofs because it is attractive, durable,
energy efficient and affordable.
Generally, aluminium is the lightest material for roofing and it do not add much
weight to the building structure. It is made from alloys that are weather-proof,
corrosion-resistant and immune to the effects of UV rays. Furthermore, it is fast
to build and can last up to 500 years.
Aluminium is fully recyclable without any loss of quality. It can provide
insulation that allows fresh air into building. It is a good thermal and electrical
conductor, the shining body of it can reflect the greater UV light of the sun best
suited for hot climate and rainy country,
Aluminium is resistant to corrode even without any painting, minimal
maintenance and, unlike concrete, require no extension framework or cure time.
It is easy to carry and install, thus reduce the cost for labour work.
Comparison between copper, slate and aluminium in roofing
Copper Slate Aluminium
Strength High Very high High
Durability Over 700 years Up to 200 years Over 500 years
Cost High Very high Medium
Labour Less More Less
Resistance Weather, strong wind Water, fire Weather, thermal
Climate Any Cold Any
Weight Light Heavy Light

25. Based on the comparison of the materials for roofing, I would recommend
aluminium for its alternative material for Putrajaya International Convention
Centre (PICC). This is because aluminium is the most cost effective and lightest
weight compare to the other materials.
Aluminium is the best for thermal insulator and resistance to benefit the
building especially in this hot climate country. Although it has shorter lifespan
than copper but it is still has strong as copper.
In addition, it can make things done faster because of its light weight and less
labour work. It is better for energy efficient and save the cost of power supply
more than copper. The shining body of it can reflect the greater UV light of the
sun compare to the dull surface of slate.
As a conclusion, aluminium gives better benefits and attractive style for the
roof of Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) than copper at a
reasonable cost.
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