Elimination of Prefabricated Panel Houses

The elimination of prefabricated panel houses is primarily due to their fatal flaws, and targeted governance measures will be implemented based on the safety rating of the houses starting from 2026.

Core Reasons for Eliminating Prefabricated Panel Houses

Prefabricated panel houses pose significant safety hazards due to structural defects and material issues, as manifested in the following ways:

1. Weak Node Connections: Prefabricated panels are typically connected to load-bearing walls through simple overlaps or a small number of steel bars, lacking a rigid framework. During earthquakes, the floor slabs are prone to falling as a whole, unable to effectively resist horizontal seismic forces, resulting in a high risk of continuous building collapse.
2. Connection Point Failures: The connections between panels and walls, as well as between panels themselves, are merely filled with sealant. When the foundation settles or the walls crack, the panels will shift and loosen. Over prolonged use, the strength of the connections continues to decrease, further exacerbating structural instability.
3. Substandard Material Quality: Regular prefabricated panels use relatively thin steel bars, while small workshops often substitute fine steel wires for steel bars, with concrete grades that do not meet standards and insufficient thickness. Such materials are brittle and can break suddenly without warning when overloaded, seriously threatening residential safety.

Governance Paths and Measures After 2026

The governance of prefabricated panel houses has been included in the scope of urban renewal and the renovation of dilapidated housing. The handling methods are implemented in a graded manner based on housing safety appraisal reports, rather than uniform demolition:

1. Safety Inspection and Appraisal: Conduct comprehensive safety assessments of prefabricated panel houses and issue appraisal reports classifying them as Grade C (local load-bearing structures do not meet safety requirements, with local hazards) or Grade D (load-bearing structures do not meet safety requirements, with hazards to the entire building).
2. Priority Demolition of Grade D Houses: Grade D dangerous houses, due to their overall structural failure, require accelerated demolition and renovation to eliminate major safety hazards.
3. Flexible Handling of Grade C Houses: Grade C houses can be reinforced and repaired or rebuilt according to actual conditions. For example, structural stability can be enhanced by adding structural columns and ring beams, or they can be included in original-site reconstruction plans.
4. Diversified Resettlement Options: In conjunction with expropriation and resettlement policies, residents are provided with options such as monetary compensation, property exchange, or relocation to ensure a humane governance process.

By implementing graded governance, risks associated with highly dangerous houses can be precisely eliminated, resources can be reasonably utilized, and the safety of residents' lives and property, as well as the efficiency of urban renewal, can be ensured.