Quality Assessment System in Construction (QLASSIC) is a system or method to measure and evaluate the quality of workmanship of a construction work based on the relevant approved standard (Construction Industry Standard – CIS 7:2006). QLASSIC enables the quality of workmanship between construction projects to be objectively compared through a scoring system.
Scope of QLASSIC
QLASSIC sets out the standard on quality of workmanship for various construction elements of building and infrastructure construction work. The quality of workmanship of a construction work is assessed according to the requirement of the relevant standard, and marks are awarded if the workmanship complies with the standard. These marks are then summed up to calculate the QLASSIC Score (%) for a construction project.
QLASSIC assessments are carried out through site inspection and use the principles of first time inspection. Construction works that are rectified after an assessment will not be re-assessed.
Objective of QLASSIC
- To benchmark the quality of workmanship of the construction industry
- To establish a standard quality assessment system on quality of workmanship of construction work
- To assess the quality of workmanship of a construction project based on the relevant approved standard
- To be used as a criterion to evaluate the performance of contractors based on quality of workmanship
- To compile data for statistical analysis
QLASSIC Assessors
QLASSIC assessment on a construction project shall be carried out by assessors that have no interest and any relationship with that project.Only assessors who passed the QLASSIC training course and hands on site assessments are qualified to be registered with CIDB (Construction Industry Development Board) as QLASSIC Assessors.
Assessment Approach and Sampling Process
Prior to carrying out the assessment, construction elements that need to be assessed are pre-determined through a sampling and statistical approach. The sampling is based on the gross floor area (GFA) of the building. These samples will be distributed evenly throughout the project or various construction stages according to the type of building, location and weightage specified in the CIS 7: 2006.
Assessment samples are selected from drawings and plans of the relevant construction project.
All locations in the construction project shall be made available for the assessment. This is to ensure that the selected samples adequately represent the entire construction project.
Construction Industry Standard (CIS 7:2006) on Quality Assessment System for Building Construction Work
This CIS 7 was developed in November 2006 by CIDB’s Technical Committee (TC) that comprises of representatives from Public Works Department (PWD), Jabatan Perumahan Negara (JPN), Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association (REHDA), Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM), Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM), National House Buyers Association (HBA) and other relevant organizations. This standard specifies requirements on quality of workmanship and assessment procedures for building construction work. The requirements in this standard are divided into four main building components.
A. Structural Works
Assessment is carried out throughout the various construction stages. The numbers of samples are determined based on the gross floor area of the building, with a minimum and maximum number of samples. Structural work assessment comprises of the following building elements:
- Formwork Rebar
- Finished concrete
- Concrete quality
- Steel reinforcement quality
- Precast specific requirement
- Concrete uniformity
- Concrete cover
B. Architectural Works
Assessment is carried out upon project completion with Certificate of Practical Completion (CPC) and prior to handing over. The numbers of samples are determined based on the gross floor area of the building, with a minimum and maximum number of samples.
Architectural work deals mainly with the finishes. This is the part where the quality and standards of workmanship are most visible. Architectural work assessment comprises of the following building elements:
- Internal Finishes
- Floor
- Wall
- Ceiling
- Door
- Window
- Fixture
- Roof
- External Wall
- Apron & Perimeter Drain
- Material & Functional Tests
C. Mechanical and Electrical (M & E) Works
The numbers of samples are determined based on the gross floor area of the building with a minimum and maximum number of samples. Assessment is carried out throughout the various construction stages or upon project completion with Certificate of Practical Completion (CPC) and prior to handing over. M & E work assessment comprises of the following building elements:
- Electrical work
- Air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation work (ACMV)
- Fire protection work
- Sanitary and plumbing work
- Basic M & E fitting
D. External Works
Assessment is carried out upon project completion with Certificate of Practical Completion (CPC) and prior to handing over. The numbers of samples are determined based on 10m length section or per location with a minimum number of samples. External work assessment comprises of the following building elements:
- External drain
- Road work and car park
- Link-way or shelter
- Footpath and turfing
- Playground
- Court
- Fence and gate
- Swimming pool
- Electrical substation
- Rubbish chamber
- Guard house
CIS 7 also specifies the sampling guideline and the weightage allocated according to component and building category (see Allocation of Weightage According to Component and Building Category).
The weightage system is aimed at making the score quantitative in representing the quality of workmanship of a building. It takes into consideration the distribution between the cost proportions of the four components in various buildings and their aesthetic considerations.
Each building category comprises the following:
Category A, Landed Housing – Detached, Semi-Detached, Terrace and Cluster House.
Category B, Stratified Housing – Flat, Apartment, Condominium, Serviced Apartment and Town House.
Category C, Public Building – Office Building, School and other related facilities/buildings intended for public use.
Category D, Special Public Building – Hospital and Airport only.
Allocation of Weightage According to Component and Building Category
| Category A | |
| Landed Housing | |
| Structural Work (%) | 25 |
| Architectural Work (%) | 60 |
| M&E Work (%) | 5 |
| External Work (%) | 10 |
| Total Score (%) | 100 |
| Category B | |
| Stratified Housing | |
| Architectural Work (% | 30 |
| Structural Work (%) | 50 |
| M&E Work (%) | 10 |
| External Work (%) | 10 |
| Total Score (%) | 100 |
| Category C | |
| Stratified Housing | |
| Structural Work (%) | 30 |
| Architectural Work (%) | 45 |
| M&E Work (%) | 15 |
| External Work (%) | 10 |
| Total Score (%) | 100 |
| Category D | |
| Special Public Building | |
| Structural Work (%) | 30 |
| Architectural Work (%) | 35 |
| M&E Work (%) | 25 |
| External Work (%) | 10 |
| Total Score (%) | 100 |
APPLY TO CIDB
- developers/project owners/contractors to submit application
SCOPE OF ASSESMENT
- architectural work
- structural work
- M & E work
- external work
SAMPLING BY ASSESSOR
- no. of samples to be assessed are based on the sampling guidelines in CIS (GFA)
- location of samples are predeterminied and marked in the constuction drawing
ONSITE ASSESSMENT
- Independent and qualified assessors to carry out assessment
- quality of workmanship are based on requirements CIS 7
- assessment form
QLASSIC SCORE (%)
CIDB to Issue assessment report on project basis
