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Embrace Solar PV in Malaysia: Government Direction and Escape TNB ICPT Tariff Hike Demands Renewable Solutions!

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The current government direction in Malaysia, coupled with the recent hike in TNB ICPT tariff, underscores the urgent need for embracing Solar PV as a sustainable and cost-effective solution. An average consumption of RM 0.35 and ICPT of RM 0.20 makes the rate now is rocketing to RM 0.55 on each kWhr consumed. Here’s why you should consider adopting Solar PV in light of these developments:

Government Support and Incentives: The Malaysian government has placed a strong emphasis on renewable energy, including Solar PV, as part of its sustainable development goals. Various incentives and initiatives have been introduced to encourage the adoption of Solar PV systems. These include feed-in tariffs, tax exemptions, grants, and net energy metering schemes. By going solar, you can benefit from these government-driven incentives and reduce the impact of the TNB tariff hike.

Energy Independence and Cost Control: The recent TNB tariff hike has resulted in increased electricity costs for households and businesses. By installing Solar PV systems, you can generate your own clean energy and reduce your reliance on the grid. Solar PV enables you to take control of your energy consumption and hedge against future tariff increases. With a well-designed and properly sized Solar PV system, you can significantly reduce your monthly electricity bills and achieve long-term cost savings.

Environmental Responsibility: Malaysia, like many other countries, is committed to mitigating climate change and reducing carbon emissions. Solar PV is a renewable energy source that produces electricity without harmful greenhouse gas emissions. By transitioning to Solar PV, you actively contribute to environmental sustainability and help Malaysia achieve its renewable energy targets. It’s a tangible way to make a positive impact and create a greener future for the nation.

Energy Security and Reliability: Solar PV offers a decentralized energy generation model, ensuring greater energy security. It reduces dependence on traditional fossil fuel sources and the potential risks associated with power disruptions. With Solar PV, you have a reliable and self-sustaining energy source that can provide electricity during grid outages, contributing to a more resilient and robust energy infrastructure.

Long-Term Financial Returns: Solar PV installations are long-term investments that deliver attractive financial returns. With proper system design and installation, Solar PV systems can generate electricity for 25 years or more. This translates into substantial savings over time, offsetting the impact of TNB tariff hikes. Moreover, surplus electricity generated by your Solar PV system can be sold back to the grid, creating an additional income stream.

Embrace Solar PV in Malaysia to align with the government’s renewable energy direction, combat the recent TNB tariff hike, and secure a sustainable future. Take advantage of government incentives, gain energy independence, contribute to environmental responsibility, and enjoy long-term financial returns.

Contact us today to explore how Solar PV can transform your energy consumption and make a positive impact on Malaysia’s renewable energy goals!

AHAR Consultants PLT is a Engineering Consulting firm who can help you in doing feasibility study, technical and commercial assessment for Solar PV System. It’s a one stop center from project acceptation to the commissioning of the Solar PV System. Our existing and previous client speaks on our durability of services.

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EACG Energy Audit: Why It’s Important?

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SEDA is now giving hefty grant for Energy Audit Conditional Grant. Although energy audits are readily available to most people, few folks choose to get one. The likely reason is that most are unaware they exist or how beneficial they can be.  

An energy audit can help reduce your carbon footprint by pinpointing trouble areas in your home or commercial building that may be wasting energy. And as you know, reducing your energy consumption can help save money on your energy bill.  

This guide will further explain what an energy audit is, why it can reduce energy costs, and how it can evaluate your building’s impact on the environment.  

What Is an Energy Audit? 

An energy audit is completed at a residential or commercial building to determine its energy efficiency. Simply put, energy efficiency means using less energy to do the same job. The audit will provide you with a complete electricity consumption and energy efficiency assessment. 

You can obtain important information regarding your energy usage and Energy Star rating from the audit report. With this information, you can identify and correct any energy usage issues to cut electricity costs. It’s advisable to always undertake an energy audit before implementing a renewable energy system.  

Who Conducts an Energy Audit?  

A registered energy advisor or energy auditor will conduct a home energy audit or business energy audit. In addition, energy auditors are responsible for completing energy efficiency assessments of commercial and non-commercial buildings. 

What Is Done During an Energy Audit? 

There are three parts to an energy audit: evaluation, testing, and efficiency recommendations. 

Once the audit is complete, the auditor will provide you with a report outlining energy consumption, a final energy grading, and home improvement suggestions to cut energy costs on energy bills. 

MENGHALALKAN PREMIS KEDIAMAN ASRAMA TAHFIZ DAN KEBAJIKAN

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Seperti yang saya jangkakan, tragedi kebakaran pusat tahfiz Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah akan menjadi sejuk selepas tujuh hari (lihat http://penadaritanahmelayu.blogspot.com/2017/09/diharapkan-kematian-mereka-mengubah.html). Tambahan pula pihak Bomba telah mengeluarkan kenyataan bahawa punca kebakaran adalah perbuatan khianat; dan suspek-suspek yang terlibat sudah ditahan. Maka persepsi masyarakat adalah kes sudah selesai; biarlah sistem perundangan mengadili kes dan kehidupan diteruskan sehingga tragedi seumpama ini berlaku lagi. Lalu sarkis yang sama berulang semula.

Yang menarik ekoran tragedi ini terdapat pihak-pihak yang menawarkan perkhidmatan percuma untuk membantu sekolah-sekolah tahfiz melengkapkan premis dengan sistem pencegah kebakaran malahan mengadakan latihan keselamatan. Tidak kurang juga individu-individu yang memberi sumbangan dalam bentuk kewangan; bahkan ada selebriti yang sanggup membawa mangsa-mangsa kebakaran ini menunaikan umrah secara percuma. Sikap suka menghulurkan bantuan ini memang digalakkan oleh Islam; bahkan dituntut penganutnya, tetapi diharapkan janganlah ianya datang berkala-kala, tatkala berlaku tragedi seumpama ini sahaja.

Di pihak penguasa pula, pelbagai gesaan diutarakan tentang pendaftaran, penguatkuasaan, pemeriksaan berkala, mengadakan akta khas tahfiz dan berbagai lagi. Soal pokoknya, sebarang pendaftaran atau akta
khas tahfiz tidak memberi apa-apa kesan sekiranya persoalan pokok masih tidak ditangani. Negara kita ada berbagai-bagai akta, tetapi kita masih terbelenggu di takuk lama kerana ketiadaan kesedaran di kalangan masyarakat berkenaan soal kedaulatan undang-undang. Bayangkan bagaimana negara-negara seperti Jepun atau Sweden menangani isu sebegini sekiranya ia berlaku di sana. Contoh mudah seperti masalah pembuangan sampah merata-rata. Di bandaraya Tokyo tidak disediakan tong-tong sampah di tepi-tepi jalan sebanyak di Kuala Lumpur, tetapi tidak kelihatan sampah-sampah di buang merata-rata. Dibandingkan dengan negara kita, kawasan sekitar tong sampah merupakan paling banyak sampah berlonggok!

PEMATUHAN KEPADA KEPERLUAN MENGHALALKAN ORGANISASI DAN PREMIS

Bagi pengusaha premis-premis kediaman untuk pusat tahfiz atau rumah anak-anak yatim yang berhasrat untuk memenuhi keperluan penguasa, saya gariskan di sini panduan untuk menghalalkan premis anda.

Pertama, pertubuhan yang mengendalikan premis ini mestilah berdaftar samada sebagai yayasan, pertubuhan atau syarikat. Bagi pendaftaran sebagai yayasan, biasanya dikendalikan di bawah Jabatan Perdana Menteri; manakala untuk pertubuhan di bawah Jabatan Pendaftaran Pertubuhan. Bagi yang mendaftar sebagai syarikat, pendaftaran diuruskan oleh Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia (SSM). Sebagaimana biasa, keperluan pendaftaran seperti lembaga pemegang amanah atau pengarah, perlembagaan dan lain-lain kehendak jabatan perlulah disediakan sebagai syarat kelulusan pendaftaran. Setelah pendaftaran diluluskan, barulah sebarang yayasan atau pertubuhan itu boleh beroperasi secara sah.

Sudah pasti perkara kedua setelah penubuhan pertubuhan itu perlukan sebuah premis untuk beroperasi. Dalam artikel ini, saya menumpukan kepada kes di mana pertubuhan itu beroperasi di bangunan yang tersedia di bina. Kita andaikan pertubuhan ini menggunakan sebuah rumah bungalow berkeluasan 500 meter persegi yang diwakafkan. Justeru, sijil CCC atau CF asal diperolehi berdasarkan bangunan kediaman.

Pada asasnya kegunaan bangunan tersebut telah bertukar dari kediaman ke institusi. Biasanya, rumah tersebut perlu diubah-suai untuk menyediakan ruang-ruang untuk pejabat, dormitori, ruang makan, dapur dan sebagainya. Sekiranya pengubahsuaian ini melibatkan perubahan rekabentuk, maka permohonan pertukaran syarat guna perlu dikemukakan ke pihak berkuasa tempatan (PBT). Seperti biasa, PBT akan mendapatkan ulasan dari jabatan-jabatan teknikal dalaman mahupun luar seperti Jabatan Bomba.

Artikel ini menyenaraikan keperluan kebombaan yang perlu dipatuhi. Keperluan kebombaan terbahagi kepada dua elemen iaitu, 1) keperluan pasif, 2) keperluan aktif. Bagi keperluan kebombaan pasif, ia melibatkan keperluan rekabentuk arkitek termasuk penggunaan jenis bahan-bahan binaan. Perkaraperkara ini dinyatakan di dalam UBBL 1984 Part VII By-law 133 hingga 224. Seksyen ini menerangkan keperluan kebombaan berkaitan dengan perkara-perkara rekabentuk pasif. Pada amnya arkitek akan mengambilkira keperluan-keperluan ini semasa mereka-bentuk bangunan tersebut. Kebanyakan keperluan-keperluan ini seperti contohnya By-law 136 (Provision of compartment walls or compartment floors), By-law 141 (Separating wall), By-law 143 (Beam or column); merupakan By-law umum untuksemua bangunan. Untuk kes institusi bangunan dua tingkat bungalow ini, keperluan khusus yang diperlukan antara lain seperti berikut:

  • By-law 134 – Designation of purpose group
  • By-law 162 – fire doors in compartment walls and separating walls
  • By-law 165 – measurement of travel distance to exits
  • By-law 166 – exits to be accessible at all times
  • By-law 172 – emergency exit signs
  • By-law 175 – Calculation of occupant load
  • By-law 176 – Computing number of staircases and staircase widths
  • By-law 181 – Width of means of egress
  • By-law 182 – Rate of discharge
  • By-law 194 – Building with single staircase
  • By-law 204 – Classification of restriction of flame over surface of walls and ceilings
  • By-law 205 – Classification of interior finish materials
  • By-law 206 – Classification of surface of wall or ceiling

Sepertimana dinyatakan di atas, terdapat 92 By-law melibatkan keperluan rekabentuk pengubahsuaian bangunan. Sudah pasti pengusaha atau pengurusan institusi yang tiada pengetahuan dan kompetensi dalam bidang rekabina tidak mengetahui perkara-perkara yang diperlukan.

Justeru, dalam kes pengubahsuaian bangunan seperti bungalow ini, semua perkara-perkara di atas perlulah dipatuhi sebagai syarat mendapatkan kelulusan. Pihak pengurusan institusi perlu mendapat khidmat professional seperti arkitek atau pelukis pelan berdaftar sebagai orang berkelayakan mengemukakan pelan-pelan tersebut ke PBT. Mengikut keperluan rekabentuk sekiranya pengubahsuaian ini melibatkan perubahan struktur, maka pihak arkitek perlu mendapatkan khidmat jurutera struktur untuk memastikan keperluan struktur bangunan selamat diduduki.

Bagi keperluan-keperluan pencegahan kebakaran aktif pula, ianya melibatkan rekabentuk sistem-sistem pencegahan dan melawan kebakaran secara aktif. Sistem aktif ini bermaksud sistem-sistem yang digunakan untuk mengesan kebakaran di peringkat awal dan peralatan untuk digunakan semasa memadam api apabila api telah mula merebak. Perkara-perkara ini dinyatakan di dalam UBBL Part VIII (Fire alarms, Fire detection, Fire extinguisher and Fire Fighting Access). Keperluan-keperluan khusus sistem pencegahan and melawan kebakaran untuk bangunan institusi adalah digariskan seperti dibawah:

  • By-law 225 – Detecting and extinguishing fire
  • By-law 227 – Portable extinguishers
  • By-law 237 – Fire alarms
  • By-law 251 – Smoke vents to be adequate to prevent dangerous accumulation of smoke
  • By-law 252 – Smoke vents to be openable by Fire Authority

Sekiranya keperluan-keperluan ini tidak melibatkan reka-bentuk peralatan sistem pam dan perpaipan yang memerlukan kepakaran jurutera mekanikal dan elektrikal, perkara-perkara di atas boleh dimasukkan di dalam skop kerja arkitek untuk dikemukakan ke Bomba.

Seringkali kita terdengar punca kebakaran disebabkan oleh pendawaian elekrik. Pendawaian sistem elektrikal termasuk di dalam Akta Bekalan Elektrik 1990. Masalah pendawaian elektrik biasanya disebabkan oleh litar pintas; manakala litar pintas ini berpunca dari, 1) pendawaian lama atau tidak mengikut spesifikasi, 2) beban melebihi kapasiti pendawaian (electrical overload). Sudah tentu pendawaian lama boleh mengakibatkan kebakaran oleh kerana sambungan longgar, penyalut PVC dawai koyak kerana digigit tikus, tergesel dengan besi trunking kerana getaran dan sebagainya. Manakala masalah “overloading” biasanya disebabkan salah guna punca-kuasa. Sering kita melihat satu punca kuasa yang disambung dengan berbagai-bagai peralatan elektrik; contohnya pemanas air dan alat
hawadingin menggunakan punca-kuasa yang sama! Kehendak beban yang tinggi melebihi kapasiti dawai ini menyebabkan dawai menjadi panas sehingga salutan penebat PVC cair dan seterusnya pembakaran bermula jika dawai tersebut menyentuh bahan mudah-bakar.

Selain dari itu, pemasangan sistem pendawaian dan alat-alat elektrik perlu mengikuti piawaian yang terpakai; contohnya Malaysia Standards (MS), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), dan Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Penggunaan komponen yang tidak mengikut piawaian juga boleh mengakibatkan berlaku kebakaran. Di Malaysia, alat-alat komponen pemasangan elektrikal hendaklah menggunakan peralatan yang mendapat pengesahan kualiti daripada SIRIM. Terdapat banyak lambakan peralatan elektrik di pasaran yang tidak mematuhi piawaian yang dibawa masuk dari Negara China.

Walaupun pengubahsuaian sebuah rumah bungalow ke bangunan institusi dianggap kecil dan remeh, tetapi proses pematuhan seperti yang saya nyatakan di atas bukanlah satu perkara yang mudah. Tambahan pula bagi orang awam yang tiada pengetahuan proses permohonan, pasti sukar melaksanakan kehendak-kehendak PBT dan mematuhi piawaian keselamatan. Bukan sahaja itu, kos-kos yang terlibat juga perlu menjadi satu pertimbangan organisasi.

APA TINDAKAN PBT?

Bagaimana tindakan PBT untuk menangani isu ini? Persoalan yang mudah tetapi sukar untuk memberi jawapan. Pastinya pihak PBT mahukan premis-premis mematuhi setiap satu perkataan di dalam UBBL itu. Bagi saya, nawaitu semua agensi-agensi penguasa perlulah bermatlamat memastikan premis-premis ini mematuhi peruntukan sediada dengan kos yang minima; memandangkan premis-premis ini biasanya dibiayai oleh derma orangramai yang pada asasnya berniat baik. Tindakan yang bersifat punitive tidak akan mencapai apa-apa kesan positif; sebaliknya menggalakkan lagi ketidakpatuhan kepada undangundang. Contoh mudah seperti keperluan mendapat lesen restoran di mana pengusaha restoren perlu menyediakan jubin di sekeliling dinding kedai dan menghadiri kursus penyediaan makanan; walhal di hadapan kedai tersebut terdiri sebuah gerai haram yang tidak mematuhi sebarang peruntukan. Apakah perasaan anda sekiranya anda sebagai pengusaha restoran berbelanja besar untuk memastikan lesen diperolehi tetapi jiran anda sigerai haram, dengan mudah berniaga di hadapan restoren anda?

Justeru, satu tindakan bersepadu semua agensi dengan kerjasama NGO-NGO (seperti Persatuan Arkitek Malaysia, Persatuan Jurutera Perunding Malaysia, Persatuan Pengguna Islam Malaysia dan lain-lain) perlu berganding kepakaran bagi membantu premis-premis ini. Setiap kes premis ini perlu dinilai berdasarkan sesuatu kes bukan semata-mata mengikut senarai-semak sahaja. Perlu ada pertimbangan (discretion) terhadap keperluan mengadakan dokumen-dokumen tertentu di pihak PBT supaya harapan menghalalkan premis jagaan ini tidak dikecewakan di tengah jalan.

Hanya dengan niat yang ikhlas dan kesedaran mematuhi undang-undang dari semua pihak barulah matlamat menghalalkan premis kediaman institusi tahfiz atau kebajikan ini akan selesai. Kalau PBT boleh berusaha menghalalkan kilang-kilang haram, pastinya premis kediaman kebajikan lebih mudah jika dibandingkan. Di samping itu, bagi mudir-mudir dan pengusaha pusat tahfiz dan jagaan perlulah mendapatkan khidmat nasihat dari golongan professional yang berkelayakan dalam urusan memastikan
keselamatan premis mereka terjamin; disamping mengamal sikap mengutamakan keselamatan anak-anak didik. Setelah semua ikhtiar sudah dijalankan, barulah boleh dikatakan takdir menentu segalanya.

Ditulis oleh:
Ir. Hj. Arul Hisham b Abdul Rahim

AnyConv.com__1234

COMMON ISSUES ON ESSAY WRITING – PROFESSIONAL INTERVIEW FOR GRADUATE ENGINEERS

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Attaining the status of Professional Engineer (P. Eng) ought to be the primary objective for young engineer graduates. Under Section 10(2) of the Engineers Act 1967 (Rev 2015), a Professional Engineer registered with the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) may:

  1. Take up employment which requires him to carry out or perform professional engineering services.
  2. Be entitled to use the title “Professional Engineer”, “P. Eng” or its abbreviation “Ir.” on his name card or any identification to describe himself.
  3. Display any sign, board, card or any device to imply that he is a Professional Engineer.
  4. Use the stamp of Professional Engineer.

Engineers Without Borders, a non-governmental organisation in the United States of America, listed the following top five reasons to want to be a P. Eng:

  1. It impacts human civilisation advancement through specialised skills with high standards for ethics and quality assurance.
  2. It solves the puzzles in everyday life through imagination of creative solutions that he has designed.
  3. The licence opens the door to opportunities. Having the qualification is indication that you belong to a small group of people who are highly desirable to employers or for career advancement.
  4. It represents a certification of trust to the public of your engineering skills. It means you have reached a certain level of competency acceptable to your peers. It means you are able to take more responsibilities and can handle complicated and important tasks.
  5. It also means that, with greater responsibilities and competency levels, you can earn a salary higher than that of a non-P. Eng.

In the nutshell, a P. Eng qualification gives prestige and dignity to an engineer. Having interviewed many candidates, from young graduates to corporate CEOs, over the last 10 years, I have found that many fail because of poorly written essays. Some candidates did well on their experiences and technical reports as well as the oral interview, but they stumbled on the technical and ethics essays.

For the purpose of illustration, I have appended comments from interviewers and reviewers to show the process of evaluating a candidate. There are two interviewers for each candidate. The principal interviewer is a senior engineer with over 10 years’ experience post-P. Eng experience while the second interviewer has over 5 years’ experience post-P. Eng. All failure cases are referred to a reviewer (very senior P. Eng) for a second opinion prior to being tabled at the IEM PI Board. Candidates have a choice to write in either English or Bahasa Malaysia and are given three hours to write two essays.

TECHNICAL ESSAY

The following are some comments by the interviewers and reviewers on technical essays.

These comments are typical for all engineering disciplines. Technical essay questions are normally tailored according to the candidate’s working experience. Rightfully, it should not be too difficult to pass if the candidate had gone through sufficient training with solid engineering fundamentals and proper supervision. From the comments above, the following are major problems for the candidates:

  1. Inability to put together thoughts in a coherent manner. Essays were written without clear ideas and direction. Lacked organisation and structure. The irony is that some candidates are able to submit very well-written technical reports but are unable to replicate the same for their essays! Writing an essay under pressure requires a clear mind, unlike preparing reports where candidates have the time to plan and conduct reviews. Nevertheless, candidates must learn to deal with the pressure with proper strategy.
  2. Poor command of language, especially English. Candidates have the option to write in Bahasa Malaysia if they feel their command of English is poor. The inability to communicate properly in either language hampers proper comprehension by the interviewers on the matters being written. Not being able to master a language with proper grammar, spelling, vocabulary and punctuation with reasonable literary flair would render the essay meaningless as it would not convey the thoughts of the writer.
  3. Inability to articulate knowledge to impress the interviewers of their wealth of experience. Essays are found to be too simplistic or merely touching the surface of the subject, without examples, deliberations of facts and not delving into the detailed technicalities of the matter. In universities, engineering students are taught to write assignments, laboratory reports and subsequently, in the course of their work, would have written many technical reports, so they should be able to replicate this during the interview session.
  4. Some candidates cannot put together convincing arguments in their essays because they have not gone through a thorough training process. They may have a sufficient post-graduate working period (minimum three years) to qualify for the interview but if they have been job-hopping, they only spend short periods with each employer. As a result, they will not have gone through the whole engineering project cycle which is commonly between 3 and 5 years. They may have experienced the whole process only in bits and pieces with each employer; this is not holistic or rigorous enough to prepare them for the interview. It is important that aspiring P. Engs find suitable employment and training supervisors to ensure they get proper guidance and supervision.

The intent of the technical essay question is to find out the candidate’s communication skills, analytical and critical mind as well as maturity of thoughts. It is also to gauge the awareness and concerns of engineers in safeguarding public interest in their judgments. The principal interviewer would normally set the question at the end of the oral interview in accordance with the candidate’s training. Typical technical essay questions are listed below.

EXAMPLE 1
The term “value engineering” began with a creative, team-based approach which allowed the generation of alternatives to the existing solution. The implementation of Value Management/Value Engineering (VM/VE) in construction project is new in Malaysia.

  1. What are the differences between VM/VE practices compared to the normal roles that have been practised by the construction project management consultant.
  2. Discuss the problems/difficulties you have encountered in implementing it in one of your projects. Describe the solutions that you have taken to overcome these problems.
  3. What are the drawbacks (policy/culture/legal/ethical) in implementation of VM/VE? Discuss your answer by providing examples. What are the liabilities of Value Manager with the implementation of VE in design?

EXAMPLE 2
The issues of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and humidity have been in the limelight lately. Recent examples of such problems are mould and fungus problems in hospitals.

  1. What are the factors affecting indoor air quality problems?
  2. What are the legislations in Malaysia or Standards that govern the IAQ in buildings? Discuss the relevance of such legislation or standards in relation to current industry practice in Malaysia.
  3. Give a brief methodology of how to diagnose IAQ problems.
  4. Discuss on how you would do to ensure the building you are designing will not suffer IAQ problem during operation.

EXAMPLE 3
Elaborate on:

  1. The conceptual and detail engineering design of the metering skid for Tanjung XXXXX drilling platform.
  2. Explain the Coriolis meter principles and implication to system design/impact on design.
  3. Elaborate on the impact of design flowrate if it is higher or lower than the recommended design specifications.

EXAMPLE 4
Discuss how universities and academicians in the engineering fraternity can assist Small Medium Industries Entrepreneurs (SME) in upskilling and upgrading their capabilities in terms of manufacturing professionalism and quality of product.
If SMEs raise the issue on financial constraints as a stumbling block to implementing “Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)” principles, how will universities and academicians provide assistance to achieve this?

EXAMPLE 5
Explosions in industrial facilities lead to loss of life, financial capital loss and environmental pollution. As you have gained experience in quality control engineering, how would you eliminate such an accident from happening?

EXAMPLE 6
What are the challenges of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) development and operations in the Malaysian civilian environment.

EXAMPLE 7
Your institute is going to undertake a group of young electrical engineers to attend a 33/11kV transformer maintenance course. As a trainer, you are required to develop the course for the group. Describe the procedures to develop the course on 33/11kV transformer maintenance.

EXAMPLE 8
Your client is desirous to install 500 kW grid-connected photo voltaic system in his building with the intention to sell some of the electricity generated to TNB. Explain the design process, statutory requirements and approval process of the authorities.

EXAMPLE 9
As a design engineer, elaborate on the various considerations that have to be taken into account in the design of building structural components with due regards to sustainable construction.
These are typical questions put forward to candidates from various backgrounds, from design, operation and maintenance to academic. In principle, the questions are set to test candidates on (1) general knowledge, norm or common engineering practice of the subject matter, (2) legislations or standards governing the subject and (3) critical appraisals or assessments on current engineering practice.

CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT ESSAY

The main purpose of the Code of Professional Conduct essay questions is to allow candidates to demonstrate their professionalism in discharging their duties. For the ethical questions essay, the most common comments from interviewers and reviewers are:

The Code of Professional Conduct is available from BEM website. Essay questions on the Regulations on Professional Conduct can be accessed from IEM website. There are 13 essay questions which cover the whole spectrum of engineering practice in Malaysia. Candidates are normally required to answer one question closest to their working experience.

From the above, it can be seen that most failures are related to the inability to relate the Code of Professional Conduct to reality. Candidates are either ill-prepared to sit for the interview or lack the capability for story-telling to relate the code to real-life situations. General knowledge and maturity of thoughts are also important to enable a candidate to relate the many circumstances in which one’s professionalism is being tested. Candidates should not only conversant in their technical knowledge, but should also have a general understanding of ethical issues related to the profession.

Some people feel that the Code of Professional Conduct can be taught in universities or at seminars. While this may serve as a good introduction to the Code, the actual test is when graduates are faced with a real-life situation. In a study by Institut Integriti Malaysia in 2017 , it was reported that 35.8% of respondents felt that “Penerimaan hadiah dalam bentuk wang, barangan atau perkhidmatan sebagai balasan atas perkhidmatan yang diberikan” was NOT considered a corrupt practice! This is shocking indeed; it means one out of three young graduates consider accepting gratifications for services rendered as a non-corrupt act.

With all the current world technological sophistication and financial wizardry, young engineers are easily exposed to many compromising circumstances. Therefore, it is insufficient for a P. Eng candidate to merely regurgitate word-by-word the Code of Professional Conduct in his essay without truly understanding the philosophy behind the creation of the Code.

CONCLUSION

Aspiring P. Eng candidates need to prepare themselves properly before sitting for the interview. Examples mentioned in this article are not confined to young engineers only as even middle-aged candidates have suffered the same fate. Although BEM and the IEM are desirous to increase the number of professional engineers in this country, it has to done with caution as only the deserving, qualified and competent candidates should be passed.

A candidate are given 3 hours to complete the two essays. It is important that he manages his time properly between the two essays. Each essay should have sufficient length with proper legible handwriting. Proper sentence structure must be used and point-form write-ups should be avoided.

Generally, in order to write a good essay, one needs to remember the following essay structure:

  1. A clear introduction with a thesis statement (an answer to the question or a response to the task) and a well-defined structure
  2. Logically structured body paragraphs which include supporting evidence or example.
  3. A clear conclusion which restates your topic and summarises your essay and thesis.

For the technical essay, it is very important that candidates spend some time to gather their thoughts prior to writing the essay. The essay must include examples and elaboration of the examples. Critical appraisal or problem solving would be an added advantage. To aid the preparation, candidates need to also read articles in magazines and journals that are related to his job scopes. A well-read person would likely be able to present better views to the question asked.

As for the ethics questions, candidates need to familiarise themselves with the pre-prepared questions. Most likely, they will be asked to write on a topic closest to their job scopes and experience. As professional ethics is a set of standards defined by the professional community which serves as a guide for behaviour expected in a professional, they should also keep themselves abreast of ethical issues surrounding the engineering profession. General knowledge of financial crisis, project failures, corruption cases, fraud cases as well as government policies are also important to add flavour to the essay. A professional engineer with the prefix “Ir” carries greater responsibilities, so candidates should approach the professional interview with the highest standards expected of them.

The article was written by Ir. Hj. Arul Hisham bin Abdul Rahim. This article was published in magazine “JURUTERA” April 2019 issue.

SAMPAH DAN ANDA?

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Islam dan Kebersihan

Semua penganut agama Islam akan mengatakan bahawa agama Islam merupakan agama yang mementingkan kebersihan. Kita diajar bagaimana untuk bersuci dari kecil lagi; bagaimana untuk beristinjak, jenis-jenis air untuk bersuci, bagaimana mengambil wuduk; hatta hingga cara membersihkan hadas sekalipun. Kita juga diajar jenis-jenis najis dan cara mensucikan sesuatu tempat sebelum tempat itu dikira bersih lagi suci. Bahkan tular di dalam media sosial apabila dikatakan beberapa bahan makanan mengandungi DNA babi; walhal perkara tersebut belum dapat dipastikan. Sehinggakan ada pihak yang mempersoalkan samada wang kertas perlu disamak kerana wang tersebut dipegang oleh peniaga bukan-Islam yang memegang daging babi dan anjing! Begitu sensitif masyarakat Islam tentang kesucian.

Banyak firman Allah SWT dan hadis-hadis tentang keutamaan kebersihan. Sikap membudayakan amalan kebersihan adalah bukti kekuatan akidah seseorang dan disukai oleh Allah SWT. Firman Allah SWT dalam surah al-Baqarah ayat 222:
Maksudnya:”Sesungguhnya Allah mengasihi orang yang banyak bertaubat, dan mengasihi orang yang sentiasa mensucikan diri”.

Antara hadis-hadis RasulAllah SAW yang menekankan faktor kebersihan seperti berikut:
“Diriwayatkan dari Sa’ad bin Abi Waqas dari bapanya, dari Rasulullah SAW. : Sesungguhnya Allah SWT itu suci yang menyukai hal-hal yang suci, Dia Maha Bersih yang menyukai kebersihan, Dia Mahamulia yang menyukai kemuliaan, Dia Maha Indah yang menyukai keindahan, karena itu bersihkanlah tempat-tempatmu” (HR. Tirmizi)”
Dari Abu Malik Al-Asya’ari RA katanya: Rasulullah SAW bersabda “Bersuci membersihkan diri (zahir dan batin) adalah setengah daripada iman.”

Amalan kebersihan bukan setakat untuk diri individu semata-mata, bahkan kebersihan persekitaran seperti pencemaran sampah, air, udara, kesucian makanan, dan rumah ibadat juga perlu dititik beratkan oleh orang yang mengaku dirinya berugama Islam. Malangnya, apa yang sepatutnya menjadi amalan setiap umat Islam tidak digambarkan sedemikian jika kita melihat keadaan di sekeliling kita. Benarlah kata pujangga Muhammad Abduh pernah menyatakan: “Aku pergi ke Barat dan melihat Islam, tetapi tidak berjumpa Muslim; aku pulang ke Timur berjumpa ramai Muslim, tetapi tidak melihat Islam.” Jika ingin melihat Islam diamalkan, pergilah ke negara bukan Islam seperti Jepun atau Jerman bukan ke negara umat Islam. Hakikatnya jika kita mengembara ke negara Jepun atau Jerman, kita akan melihat bagaimana bersihnya persekitaran mereka sehingga kita sendiri berasa malu untuk membuang sampah merata-rata.

Gambar 1: Sampah sarap di tepi jalan

Bandingkan pula dengan negara-negara umat Islam seperti Indonesia dan negara kita Malaysia. Lihatlah di persekitaran kita sendiri di kawasan-kawasan perumahan. Kita dapati sampah sarap bersepah merata-rata. Barangkali sekiranya tiada kontraktor menyapu sampah seminggu, sudah pasti sampah sarap bertimbun di pinggir-pinggir jalan!

Akibatnya masalah sampah sarap tidak selesai. Masalah anjing liar dan penyakit seperti pembiakan nyamuk Aedes terus membelengui pertempatan kita. Maka penguasa tempatan terpaksa membelanjakan jumlah yang besar membiayai kerja-kerja pembersihan. Pasti sahaja rakyat Malaysia tidak mencukupi untuk bekerja sebagai buruh-buruh mengutip sampah; lalu pekerja import di bawa masuk. Walhal pekerja-pekerja import ini juga merupakan salah satu punca sampah kerana mereka membawa budaya dari negara mereka.

Kemuncak kepada masalah sampah ini adalah kisah bagaimana seorang remaja maut akibat sampah yang dibuang dari tingkat atas pangsapuri Sri Pantai, DBKL. Ini merupakan manifestasi kebobrokan sikap kiasu di kalangan penduduk Malaysia. Sekarang DBKL akan memasang jaring supaya sampah-sampah yang di buang dari tingkat atas tidak jatuh ke lantai. Soalnya, adakah ini satu penyelesaian? Yang pasti, jaring ini akan dipenuhi sampah kelak dan akan menjadi masalah untuk mengutip sampah-sampah ini.

Gambar 2: Mangsa terbunuh akibat kerusi yang di buang dari tingkat atas
(Ihsan: Sinar Harian)

Beginikah mentaliti rakyat negara yang berwawasan 2020 satu ketika dahulu? Sikap pengotor dan tidak mengambil-kisah kemaslahatan umum ini menunjukkan bahawa kita masih jauh ketinggalan berbanding negara-negara seperti Singapura, Jepun, Sweden dan seumpamanya dari segi perkembangan intelektual dan sahsiah. Sebagai penganut ugama Islam pula, di mana letaknya iman kita? Bukankah kita di ajar konsep hubungan vertikal kita kepada Allah (Hablumminallah), sedangkan hubungan horizontal adalah hubungan kita kepada sesama makhluk Allah (Hablumminannas)? Malah Nabi Muhamad SAW bersabda bahawa sebaik-baik manusia adalah yang memberi manfaat kepada orang lain.

Beginikah mentaliti rakyat negara yang berwawasan 2020 satu ketika dahulu? Sikap pengotor dan tidak mengambil-kisah kemaslahatan umum ini menunjukkan bahawa kita masih jauh ketinggalan berbanding negara-negara seperti Singapura, Jepun, Sweden dan seumpamanya dari segi perkembangan intelektual dan sahsiah. Sebagai penganut ugama Islam pula, di mana letaknya iman kita? Bukankah kita di ajar konsep hubungan vertikal kita kepada Allah (Hablumminallah), sedangkan hubungan horizontal adalah hubungan kita kepada sesama makhluk Allah (Hablumminannas)? Malah Nabi Muhamad SAW bersabda bahawa sebaik-baik manusia adalah yang memberi manfaat kepada orang lain.

Bukan sahaja kita kalah dengan perbandingan dengan negara-negara sekular, pada neraca Islam sekalipun kita tewas. Lihat sahaja kebesihan sebuah tandas pekerja di sebuah kilang di Jepun yang di lawati oleh penulis. Lihat sahaja kebersihan lantai tandas tersebut; sehingga boleh tidur di dalamnya. Bandingkan pula kebersihan tandas di negara Jepun dengan negara kita. Bahkan juga, tandas di masjid atau surau juga tidak sebersih ini!

Gambar 3 : Tandas di sebuah kilang di Jepun

Budaya menjaga kebersihan memang diterapkan oleh bangsa Jepun sejak kecil lagi. Di sekolah-sekolah, murid-murid dikehendaki membersihkan bilik darjah dan tandas menggunakan tangan. Sessi mencuci tandas ini menjadi sebahagian daripada ritual mingguan dan sebahagian daripada silibus pendidikan. Pembaca boleh merujuk laman-laman web atau di YouTube untuk melihat sendiri perkara ini seperti berikut:

https://mic.com/articles/118030/look-at-what-students-in-japan-are-doing-that-the-u-s-would-never-consider#.A3RqJ4PeA

https://www.quora.com/Does-the-Japanese-education-system-really-require-students-to-clean-schools-by-themselves

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jv4oNvxCY5k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IwXYy_2BeU

Bayangkan jika perkara sebegini dilaksanakan di sekolah-sekolah di negara kita. Kemungkinan besar ia akan menjadi satu peristiwa yang mengejutkan dan mendapat tentangan dari kalangan ibubapa.

Gambar 4 : Murid-murid Jepun membersih tandas
Ihsan: suzimuzi.blogspot.my/2011/07/school-children-was-toilets-barehanded.html

Pengalaman penulis sebagai pelajar di sebuah sekolah berasrama penuh 40 tahun dahulu juga mempunyai ciri-ciri persekolahan di Jepun. Di sana setiap pelajar perlu membersihkan dormitori dan bilik darjah mengikut giliran setiap hari. Sementara pada setiap minggu diadakan pemeriksaan mingguan sehinggakan kebersihan kuku dan kekilatan kasut di ambilkira. Pengalaman ini mengajar penulis tentang keprihatinan terhadap kebersihan sehingga sekarang.

Kebersihan Premis Makanan

Sejak akhir-akhir ini pertumbuhan gerai-gerai tanpa lesen begitu mendadak di sekitar kawasan-kawasan perumahan. Sudahlah gerai-gerai ini berniaga secara haram, kebersihan dan kesucian makanan juga diragui. Lihat sahaja bagaimana pinggan mangkuk dan persediaan bahan makanan dilakukan di gerai-gerai ini.Bukan sahaja kerta-kertas bungkusan dibuang ke longkang-longkang, sisa-sisa makanan juga di buang. Akibatnya longkang telah tersumbat dan pembiakan tikus kian menjadi-jadi. Bukan menjadi sesuatu yang pelik sekiranya kita terlihat tikus sebesar anak kucing melintas jalan di kawasan-kawasan gerai ini!

Kepada sipenjaja, jangan beranggapan artikel ini umpama mencurahkan pasir ke dalam periuk nasi anda. Sebaliknya sipenjual hendaklah bertanya kepada dirinya:

  • Adakah anda seorang Muslim yang dalam ertikata sebenarnya dengan berniaga secara tidak berlesen ini?
  • Adakah kebersihan dan kesucian makanan anda terjamin untuk dijamu kepada pembeli?
  • Adakah adil sekiranya seorang pekedai yang berniaga secara sah terpaksa membelanjakan ribuan ringgit untuk sewa kedai, menyediakan jubin setinggi 2 meter sekeliling dinding kedai dan dapur mengikut kehendak PBT, membayar cukai setempat, bil elektrik dan air, membayar papantanda dan gaji pekerja; berbanding anda yang memacak gerai tanpa kos sewa, tanpa mengadakan kehendak syarat kebersihan PBT, tanpa bekalan air yang bersih?
  • Adakah perbuatan anda tidak menyumbang kepada pencemaran alam sekitar dengan membuang sisa-sisa makanan ke dalam longkang? Bukankah ini menggalakkan pembiakan tikus yang menjijikan?
  • Apakah pembiakan tikus ini tidak membahayakan jiran-jiran atau penduduk setempat? Bukankah ini menyebabkan ketidak-selesaan kepada penduduk setempat?
  • Adakah agama Islam menggalakkan umatnya menyusahkan umat Islam yang lain?
  • Bagaimana pula status halal-haram pendapatan anda dengan berniaga tanpa lesen yang sah (atau menyewakan tapak lot ke pihak ketiga di atas tanah awam) di samping mengakibatkan kekotoran pula; dan tanah awam ini menjadi milik/hak diri sendiri pula?
  • Bagaimana pula sekiranya anda merasuah penguatkuasa agar tiada tindakan di ambil ke atas gerai anda?

Petikan rencana seperti berikut dari blog Dr. MAZA perlu diambil ikhtibar mengikut perspektif Islam:
“Dalam hadis yang lain Nabi s.a.w bersabda:
“Sesiapa yang menyakiti kaum muslimin pada jalan-jalan mereka dia pasti mendapat laknat mereka” (Riwayat al-Tabarani dengan sanad yang hasan).

Perbuatan mengotor atau merosakkan harta awam adalah termasuk dalam menyakiti perasaan kaum muslimin. Maka ia mengundang kutukan dan cercaan mereka. Wajib membersihkan semula atau menggantikannya jika rosak dengan cara yang tidak sepatutnya.
Malang sekali, ramai yang tidak perasaan bahawa mereka sebenarnya melakukan dosa apabila mereka mengotor atau merosakkan kemudahan awam sehingga menimbulkan kesusahan kepada orang lain. Nampaknya, pengajian atau pendekatan pengajian agama yang diajar kepada masyarakat kita masih gagal untuk diterjemahkan secara praktikal dari segi prinsip dan ruhnya…”
(http://drmaza.com/home/?p=1130)

Gerai-gerai tanpa lesen ini bukan sahaja merosakkan pemandangan estetik kawasan, ia juga menimbulkan kesesakan lalulintas apabila pengunjung gerai-gerai meletakkan kereta mereka di sepanjang jalanraya.

Gambar 5 : Kesesakan lalulintas akibat gerai-gerai haram

Apa Tindakan Kita?

Mengharapkan tindakan penguatkuasaan dari PBT semata-mata tidak memadai. Dengan kekangan kakitangan PBT yang terhad dan kawasan yang luas, ternyata tindakan penguatkuasaan PBT tidak efektif. Tambahan pula terdapat tekanan politik yang ingin mengekalkan status quo agar sokongan politik diperolehi. Masalah pelindungan daripada ahli-ahli politik setempat yang ingin menjadi juara kepada golongan ini merumitkan lagi keadaan. Sepatutnya ahli-ahli politik menanam prinsip kedaulatan undang-undang secara samarata di kalangan rakyat. Dengan cara ini, barulah anjakan paradigma ke arah mentaliti negara maju terhasil.

Justeru, penduduk perlu bertindak dengan memulaukan gerai-gerai ini dan menyatakan ketidak-selesaan kita dengan fenomena ini. Penulis menyeru agar semua penduduk dan persatuan penduduk dan NGO setempat sama-sama bangkit supaya kebersihan persekitaran kita terjamin. Mahukah kita kiranya kawasan kita menjadi seperti kawasan setinggan satu hari kelak sekiranya fenomena ini dibiarkan?

Pihak PBT diseru supaya menyediakan tempat menjaja yang sesuai dilengkapi kemudahan elektrik, air dan kebersihan. Contohi food court terbuka seperti di Singapura. Kos-kos pembersihan sampah, longkang tersumbat, operasi tangkapan anjing dan kucing liar, operasi penyemburan nyamuk bahkan penguatkuasaan, pasti boleh membayar kos pembangunan terancang ini. Cuba buat cost-benefit anaysis! Bukan kita anti penjaja, tetapi biarlah keharmonian, kebersihan setempat dan kemaslahatan umum diutamakan!

Dinukil oleh:
Ir. Hj. Arul Hisham b Abdul Rahim

Covid-19

COVID-19 AND VENTILATION ENGINEERING

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Since the Movement Control Order was introduced from March 18, social media apps WhatsApp and Facebook have not been silent with various comments by netizens about the Covid-19 virus and its effects on humans. What an irony that such a microscopic creature of Allah SWT is able to create a huge pendemonium on human life.

Figure 1. Fungus growth on walls [1]
Source: Lew Harriman

Humans are exposed to various types of bacteria and viruses at all times; it is only that certain types of bacteria and viruses that can be harmful to human health. In addition, people spend a lot of time living in the office. Generally one third of our time is spent in the office. Have we ever wondered, is the air in our office really clean? Are we free from infection if the air in the office is exposed to various chemicals and pathogens? Have we ever had a bad smell when entering a hotel room? Have we seen some stain marks on wall like the enclosed photo [1]?

Ventilation is defined as the process of supplying or discharging air from a space with the aim of controlling the level of pollution, humidity and temperature of the space. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994, it is the responsibility of employers and building owners to provide safe workplaces to employees or occupants of a building, especially to air-conditioned buildings. Through the Industry Code of Practice on Indoor Air Quality 2010 [2], the level of exposure to chemical and biological and the suitability of physical parameters such as temperature and humidity are specified. In addition, the mechanisms for identifying, assessing and controlling indoor air pollution, and occupational safety and health measures are also outlined.

The importance of relative humidity (RH)

Usually we will feel uncomfortable and irritated when the office air-conditioner is not operating properly. We also feel sensitive if the conditioned air supplied is too hot or too cold.

The function of the air conditioning system is not simply to supply conditioned air. The conditioned air also supplies oxygen while filtering out dust, dirt, odors and pathogens from inhalation while we breathe. The air must also have relative humidity that is suitable for humans as well as at levels that control the reproduction of bacteria and fungus. Relative humidity refers to the amount of water vapor content in each kilogram of dry air. For example, relative humidity of 20% refers to dry air such as climate in Mecca, while at RH of 90% the sensation is humid similar to the feeling before rain.

Generally, engineers design air conditioners based on ASHRAE standards (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Engineers) tailored to the Malaysian climate. The psychrometric chart shows the specified range of air conditioning parameters based on Malaysian Standard MS 1525 which is 24.5 +/- 1.5 ° Celsius and relative humidity of 60 +/- 10%.

Figure 2. Psychrometric chart

What does this chart have to do with the transmission of the Covid 19 virus? According to Dr. Stephanie Taylor of the United States; a medical doctor and architectural expert, she stated “Ten years ago, we learned that viruses studied as surrogates for Coronavirus, the family of SARS and Wuhan, were INACTIVATED on surfaces when the ambient relative humidity (RH) was 40-60%. Conversely, when RH was either below 40% or above 60%, the viruses remained virulent and infectious” [3].

Obviously, one way to control the outbreak of infection through the air-conditioning system is by controlling the humidity level! Proper control of the air humidity is important to control the reproduction of micro-organism in air.

Unfortunately from past experience, the writer, while conducting audits in some buildings had found that the air conditioning system did not meet the expected performance. For example, if there is black stain in the air funnel on the ceiling, it is an indication of fungus growth in the ceiling. There are even air conditioned areas with a relative humidity of up to 80% despite having acceptable air temperatures. As a result, one can see some water droplets due to condensation on air-conditioning diffusers.

Supply of oxygen and removal of carbon dioxide

The air conditioning system also works to deliver oxygen into the building. The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) Malaysia sets out the requirement of having fresh air in air-conditioned spaces. This requirement is set forth in the Industry Code of Practice on Indoor Air Quaity 2010 which sets the maximum limit on carbon dioxide (CO2) content not exceeding 1,000 ppm (parts per million) and carbon monoxide (CO) not exceeding 10 ppm.

Split-unit type air conditioning systems are often used at home or in the office. Compared to a central air-handling unit (AHU) system that brings fresh air through ducting, split-unit system works by simply recirculating air in a space. If the fresh air is not brought into this air space, the CO2 content will continue to rise from the respiration while the oxygen concentration will slowly decrease. High CO2 concentration in humans will induce people into dizziness, drowsiness and lack of concentration.

Figure 3. Split unit air-conditioner at Klinik Kesihatan
Source: AHAR Consultants PLT

Imagine if this recycled air was used in the waiting room of a clinic or hospital as shown in the accompanying photo which was taken by the author at a government health clinic. There could be various viruses and bacteria in the air that could infect visitors and all health workers!

How clean is the air we breathe?

Foul smell is also an indicator of the performance of the air conditioner when it is not working optimally. This odor is due to the chemical reaction that occurs when there is fungus on moist surface. When the air conditioner fails to adequately dehydrate the air stream (moisture exceeds 65% relative humidity), this promotes fungal and micro-organism reproduction. Black spots on the ceiling or walls are indicative of fungal colony breeding. DOSH sets a total Bacterial Count of 500 cfu / m3 (coloni forming units per cubic meter) while the Total Fungal Counts at maximum of 1000 cfu / m3 for office buildings.

Figure 4. Stain on ceiling
Source : AHAR Consultants PLT

Requirements for health buildings are more stringent and referenced in the ASHRAE 170 (Ventilation of Health Care Facilities) Standard. In addition to moisture, fungi need food to survive. This fungal food comes from organic dust that sticks to the surface or microscopic holes. Therefore, air must be filtered to ensure that no dust passes through.

The use of filters for this air conditioning system depends on the use of space. For example, for critical rooms such as surgery or intensive care, a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter is used. For comparison, split-unit filters can only filter up to 10 micrometers (μm) while HEPA filters can filter as small as 0.3 micrometers. It means split-units filter can allow 33 times larger organism to pass through than HEPA filter. If the reader can sight dusts around air diffusers, it indicates that the air filter is not functioning properly.

The role of air movement in air-conditioning system

Recently, a group of researchers from Guangdong China has conducted a research on transmission of Covid-19 through aerosol. They investigated the role of aerosol in the transmission of Covid-19 virus in building and the effect of ventilation air movement within the environment [4]. The study looked at the relationship between disease transmission in a confined restaurant and air-conditioning system operation.

The study links the location of air-conditioner blower; which affects the airflow movement pattern, to the transmission of Covid-19 within the restaurant environment. The study confirms that virus transmission happens not only through droplet transmission, it can also be transmitted through aerosol transmission. Air flow pattern and velocity of air stream also play an important role in propagation of aerosol within a confined space.

The outdoor air ventilation rate is also important in controlling the room aerosol concentration. The average room concentration of aerosol is a function of ventilation rate and source strength. Study by Gao et al. (2016) showed that relative contribution of aerosols to respiratory infection is a function of ventilation rate. When the ventilation rate in a room is low, the room’s concentration of aerosol from exhaled air becomes highly concentrated. In the case above, the average air flow was found to be between 1.04 L/s to 0.75 L/s per patron compared to ASHRAE’s Standard 62.1 of 8-10 L/s per person.

In the case of the restaurant under study, it was found that none of the waiters were infected despite serving the affected tables. The researchers conclude that this could be due to short exposure time to the exhaled aerosol of the index patient. The study also confirms that occupancy density also contributes to the infection rate.

What do we learn from this Covid-19 pandemic?

The world has bet most of its research funding on finding a vaccine and effective drugs. That effort is vital, but it must be accompanied by research on how to target and improve the non-drug interventions that are the only things that work so far. Debates still rage over basic questions such as whether the public should use face masks; whether we should stand 1, 2 or 4 metres apart; and whether we should wash our hands with soap or sanitiser [5].

Other non-drug options to research include the built environment, such as ultra-violet irradiation, ventilation, air conditioning circulation, and surface material (if the virus can “die” faster on certain surfaces).

The air conditioning system not only provides air to the building but also serves as a lifeline for us from supplying oxygen to controlling air pollution that causes infection. Air-conditioning and ventilation are a complex and important science for the sustainability of life. All these while, we have taken for granted the design and maintenance requirements of the air conditioning system. Just look at the air conditioners in your office for any signs of negligence because who knows, someday there will be another virus that can cause such a pandemic.

For professionals in the field of building construction, the performance of the air conditioning and ventilation systems depends on the cooperation between developers, mechanical engineers and contractors. The ventilation system will only work properly when it is well designed and the building envelope is well built. Buildings need to be built air-tight to prevent intrusion of air and dust from the outside for proper moisture control and cleanliness. Indoor air flow must be well understood. We can use computational fluids dynamics (CFD) simulations to make sure the airflow works as desired. Engineering practitioners need to equip themselves with more advanced technical competencies.

From this pandemic, our society, especially the building developers and construction industry professionals, should re-evaluate the importance of ventilation engineering in the context of our health well-being.

References

  1. Diagnosing and fixing humidity control problems in real-world buildings; Lew Harriman, 2013
  2. DEPARTMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH, MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCES, MALAYSIA , JKKP DP(S) 127/379/4-39
  3. https://www.hpac.com/industry-perspectives/article/21125154/editors-notes-iaq-ieq-public-health-humidity-controls
  4. Evidence for probable aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in a poorly ventilated restaurant; https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.16.20067728v1
  5. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/05/vaccine-coronavirus-alternatives-covid19-vaccinations/

Citation

  1. https://www.sinarharian.com.my/article/79266/KOLUMNIS/Kawalan-udara-elak-Covid-19
  2. https://www.hmetro.com.my/mutakhir/2020/04/567828/pastikan-penghawa-dingin-bersih-dan-sesuai

PLUMBING AND WIRING

SELAMATKAH REKABENTUK PLUMBING DAN WIRING RUMAH ANDA?

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Rumah seharusnya tempat yang paling selamat untuk sekeluarga. Tempat untuk MEMBINA kebahagiaan keluarga DAN membesarkan anak anak.

Selalunya, kita memberi kepercayaan kepada kontraktor untuk uruskan segala perkara termasuk plumbing dan wiring. Dan mereka akan meng“sub”kan kerja plumbing dan wiring ke orang lain. Tak sampai setahun, plug point kat dapur terbakar semasa buat kuih raya tatkala Ramadhan. Jadi, Raya dalam keadaan bergelap. Atau, paip bocor kerana pemilihan jenama paip yang tak betul.

Kami adalah jurutera perunding mekanikal dan elektrikal. Kami rasa berdosa sekiranya ILMU dan PENGALAMAN luas kami mereka-bentuk sistem dalaman wiring dan paip, dari reka bentuk rumah hinggalah ke stesyen janakuasa tidak dikongsi bersama anda.

1. PLUG POINT DI BAHAGIAN DAPUR

Rekabentuk Tipikal
Dapur atau garaj kereta selalunya menggunakan peralatan yang memerlukan intensity tenaga elektrik yang tinggi. Oven, ketuhar, mesin pengering baju, compressor air utk cuci kenderaan dan sebagainya. Selalunya hanya 2 atau 3 sokets 13A di reka bentuk untuk rumah di bahagian dapur. Jumlah ini selalunya tidak mencukupi berbanding peralatan dapur yang banyak. Periuk nasi, peti sejuk, toaster roti dll. Itu belum masuk lagi oven besar untuk juadah hari raya. Kabel wiring pun selalunya menggunakan 3 wayar besaiz 2.5mm2 setiap satu. Selalunya, ketiga-tiga sokets tersebut di sambung atau di “loop” menggunakan litar yang sama.

Akibat
Penggunaan “extension cord” ke soket tersebut mengakibatkan lebihan beban kepada litar tersebut. Ini menyebabkan suiz terpelantik dan seluruh rumah mungkin bergelap.

Penyelesaian
Socket dapur boleh direka bentuk dengan kaedah “spur’, yakni 3 wayar hanya untuk SATU soket, dan lagi 3 wayar untuk soket seterusnya .. dan seterusnya. Dengan cara ini, beban tambahan peralatan tidak tertumpu hanya pada satu pelantik keselamatan (breaker) dan kabel tersebut. Ibarat sistem sekarang menjadi 3 lorong hiway dari lorong jalan kecil. Kalau nak guna extension cord pun adalah lebih selamat. Kualiti socket juga berperanan dalam issue ini. Sebaiknya minta kontraktor anda hantar sample dan skematik untuk dianalisa sebelum kebenaran pemasangan.

2. PEMASANGAN WATER HEATER

Rekabentuk Tipikal
Selalunya, contractor hanya memasang water dari bekalan kuasa sedia ada dengan penyambungan wayar elektrik. Ini adalah merbahaya, dan tidak patuh kepada undang undang wiring antarabangsa. Rujuk IEEE 17th Edition. Walaupun water heater mempunyai pelantik individu (ELCB), tetapi ianya tidak merangkumi keselamatan keseluruhan agihan kuasa rumah anda.

Akibat
Ini adalah merbahaya, dan tidak patuh kepada undang undang wiring antarabangsa. Bekalan kuasa hanya terhenti pada water water heater, tetapi tidak pada wayar dibelakangnya. Bayangkan anak anda cuba memperbaiki atau menyentuh water heater tersebut dalam keadaan basah tatkala mandi, amat merbahaya.

Penyelesaian
Setiap soket atau bekalan yang melibatkan pengguna memegang barangan elektrik tersebut seharusnya perlukan pelantik keselamatan. Jadi, ELCB haruslah dipasang untuk litar water heater tersebut. Sebaiknya, litar harus lah khusus untuk water heater dan terus dari panel agihan.

Sepanjang bulan March ini, antara CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) dari AHAR Consultants PLT adalah untuk mengadakan kempen kesedaran, pendedahan serta kependidikan kepada pengguna berkenaan rekabentuk wiring dan plumbing untuk bangunan termasuk rumah kediaman. Untuk kempen ini, pihak AHAR Consultants PLT bakal memberi tips, khidmat nasihat, do and don’ts serta menerangkan kesilapan atau amalan kejuruteraan yang selalu diabaikan tatkala merekabentuk wiring serta plumbing dalaman. Jurutera kami juga akan cuba menjawap persoalan melalui comment anda.

Harapan kami, agar kempen ini dapat memberi menafaat kepada ramai orang untuk kehidupan seharian yang lebih selamat dan selesa.

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TRIPPING DI SEBABKAN KILAT? DAH CUBA AMBIL SEGALA PENDEKATAN UNTUK MENGURANGKAN RISIKONYA?

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Kadangkala, kilat atau petir yang memanah bumi jauh dari rumah juga pun selalu menyebabkan trip di rumah anda. Tapi yang peliknya, bila anda lihat rumah jiran anda masih lagi berfungsi pula lampu rumah mereka. Kenapa jadi macam itu ya? Kenapa rumah anda sahaja yang trip?

Kilat menghasilkan Voltan yg amat tinggi, kadangkala mencecah ribuan kiloVolt. Berbanding voltan yang disambungkan ke rumah kita hanyalah 240V atau 415V(sekiranya 3 fasa). Bila wujudnya perbezaan Volt ini (atau dikenali sebagai Potential Different), ianya akan menyebabkan arus elektrik mengalir deras dalam kuantiti yang banyak. Arus elektrik ini (Ampere) kadangkala akan menjadi 1000 kali ganda dari sepatutnya dalam masa yang amat singkat (atau dipanggil transient)

Banyak faktor yang menyebabkan tripping tatkala kilat, tetapi posting kali ini hanya lah menerangkan secara ringkas hubungan kilat dan sistem pembumian (earthing) ;

Tujuan pembumian (earthing) ini (wayar kuprum berwarna hijau bersama kotak konkrit earth chamber yang ditanam diluar rumah) adalah sebagai tempat aliran lebihan arus terus kedalam bumi. Jika ada kebocoran sistem elektrik, lebihan arus pun akan dialirkan ke pembumian juga. Lagi banyak wayar, lagi besar wayar ke kekotak earth dan lagi rendah bacaan earthing nya, adalah lebih cepat lebihan arus ini dialirkan ke bumi. Ianya ibarat terdapat banyak lorong PLUS hiway ketika musim perayaan, jadi aliran nya cepat dan tidak jam.

Ya, kami juga setuju, kadangkala fungsi earthing juga terbatas sekiranya arusnya terlalu tinggi dan deras dan tak dapat dikawal oleh sistem pembumian ini. Terdapat rating tertentu pada peranti elektrik di rumah kita. Selalunya menggunakan rating sehingga 10kA, iaitu system hanya mampu bertahan sehingga 10,000 Ampere sahaja untuk beberapa saat. Disebabkan itu, kos tambahan selalunya diperlukan untuk menyediakan “lightning surge arrestor”. Dan “lightning surge arrestor” adalah amat mahal. Setidak tidaknya, perkara pertama yang perlu diperiksa terlebih dahulu adalah kita perlu memasti kan bahawa rumah kita dilengkapi oleh sistem pembumian (earthing) yang effisien.

>> Permasaalahannya
Sesetengah orang, dia tak tahu pun rumahnya dilengkapi sistem pembumian ini. Lebih teruk lagi sekiranya ketika garaj kereta mereka di renovatekan dan sistem earthing tidak disambungkan semula atau dihapuskan terus oleh pihak kontraktor. Atau, wayar bumi warna hijau tersebut terputus semasa mencangkul diluar ketika bercucuk tanam. Jadi, secara theori nya, lebihan arus ini tidak dapat di alirkan kebumi, sebaliknya, ia akan terus mengalir ke dalam system elektrik rumah pula, sehingga menyebabkan system elektrik trip.

Disebabkan oleh isu selalu trip ketika hujan, pengguna selalunya memikirkan untuk memasang system pencegah kilat di bumbung rumah dengan harapan akan menyelesaikan masaalah trip mereka tatkala hujan. Setentunya pihak kontraktor bertepuk tangan kerana kos nya amat menguntung kan mereka. Harga kuprum amatlah mahal. Kontraktor akan memasang pencegah kilat di bumbung, dan dalam masa yang sama diam-diam mereka perbaiki sistem pembumian anda.

>> Cadangan
Sekiranya boleh, elakkan wiring di tanam bawah tanah kerena konsep “potential different” ini berlaku pada kabel tersebut. Contohnya wiring untuk lampu gate, door bell atau auto gate. Sekiranya perlu, asingkan pelantik (breaker) untuk tujuan tersebut, agar pelantik tersebut dapat di tutup secara manual ketika hujan atau kilat yang ketara.

Dapatkan khidmat kontraktor elektrik utk periksa dan dapatkan bacaan pembumian ini. Sekiranya bacaan tinggi, “loop” wayar bumi tersebut ke kekotak earth chamber tambahan dan seterusnya. Ini tidak melibatkan kos yang besar. Monitor bacaan ini secara berkala. Periksa pelantik keselamatan selalu (ELCB) and yang penting dapatkan khidmat nasihat dari jurutera bertauliah.

Akhir kata, sebelum berbelanja kos RM 10,000.00 untuk tujuan mengatasi masaalah, adalah lebih baik sekiranya checklist yang berkos RM 1.00 diatasi terlebih dahulu.

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Sepanjang bulan March ini, antara CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) dari AHAR Consultants PLT adalah untuk mengadakan kempen kesedaran, pendedahan serta kependidikan kepada pengguna berkenaan rekabentuk wiring dan plumbing untuk bangunan termasuk rumah kediaman. Untuk kempen ini, pihak AHAR Consultants PLT bakal memberi tips, khidmat nasihat, do and don’ts serta menerangkan kesilapan atau amalan kejuruteraan yang selalu diabaikan tatkala merekabentuk wiring serta plumbing dalaman. Jurutera kami juga akan cuba menjawap persoalan melalui comment anda.

Harapan kami, agar kempen ini dapat memberi menafaat kepada ramai orang untuk kehidupan seharian yang lebih selamat dan selesa.