Cast-in-Place Prefabricated Housing

Cast-in-place prefabricated housing generally refers to prefabricated concrete houses, whose construction process is divided into two stages: component fabrication and on-site construction. Modular construction is conceptually related but differs from it.

Construction Process of Prefabricated Concrete Houses

1. Component Fabrication

   • Mold Assembly and Pre-treatment: Workers assemble metal steel plates into molds using bolt connectors and spray release agents on the surface to ensure smooth demolding after concrete setting.
   • Reinforcement Cage and Connector Installation: Reinforcing bars are cross-tied into a mesh cage to enhance the tensile strength of the concrete. Connectors are placed symmetrically within the reinforcement mesh to serve as attachment points for the components and cranes, facilitating subsequent lifting.
   • Concrete Pouring and Curing: Concrete is poured into the molds, and vibrators are used to eliminate air bubbles, improving the density of the components. After pouring, plastic sheds are covered, and heating devices are installed inside to promote cement hydration reactions and enhance component quality.

2. On-Site Construction

   • Foundation Treatment: A pit approximately 1 meter deep is excavated on the building site. A moisture-proof PE film is laid at the bottom, and over 10 cm of waste concrete is poured as a base. After solidification, guide steel plates are installed to position prefabricated concrete piles, and finally, a large prefabricated concrete floor slab is installed.
   • Component Assembly: Prefabricated concrete components (such as walls and floor slabs) manufactured in the factory are transported to the construction site and connected like building blocks using bolts or welding to form a rough house structure.

Characteristics of Modular Construction

Modular construction involves breaking down a building into independent modules (such as rooms and corridors), completing all prefabrication of ceilings, floors, and utility pipelines in the factory, and then assembling them on-site. Its advantages include:

• Short Construction Period: Factory prefabrication and on-site construction proceed simultaneously, shortening the overall construction period.
• Controllable Quality: Standardized production reduces human errors, ensuring more stable quality.
• Energy Efficiency and Environmental Protection: Reduces on-site wet operations, lowering dust and noise pollution.
• Easy Maintenance: Modular design facilitates later repairs or replacements.

However, modular construction places extremely high demands on industrial infrastructure, requiring a complete technical system, production system, and industrial cluster support. Its current application scope is relatively limited.