Houses Made of Prefabricated Panels
Houses made of prefabricated panels, also known as prefabricated panel houses, are structures built primarily using prefabricated panels and possess specific characteristics, a development history, existing issues, and replacement trends.
Components and Types of Prefabricated Panel Houses
Prefabricated panels are cement components manufactured in factories. During production, a wooden model is first nailed together, followed by the placement of steel bars and the pouring of cement to form the panels. These panels come in two types: solid and hollow. The hollow structure achieves lightweighting by reducing the amount of concrete in non-load-bearing parts, thereby lowering material usage and the building's self-weight while maintaining structural strength.
Development History of Prefabricated Panel Houses
Prefabricated panel houses originated in the early 20th century and were initially used mainly for floor slabs and roof insulation layers. In China, residential buildings constructed before 1985 often employed this type of structure, reflecting the architectural technology and material supply conditions of the time. As architectural technology advanced, their application scenarios gradually expanded, and construction methods became more diverse. For example, some wooden houses use prefabricated panels to build the basic framework. After reserving the position for the main door, the roof structure (such as a circular tray) is simply assembled, and square timbers are connected to the walls. The floor and installation processes are completed by different teams, and finally, details such as top sealing and wall sealing are handled. The entire construction process may take only five days.
Existing Issues and Safety Hazards
Existing prefabricated panel houses generally suffer from weak earthquake resistance, poor sound and thermal insulation, and have a service life of approximately 30 to 50 years. From a safety perspective, their fatal flaws include: poor integrity resulting in almost zero earthquake resistance, with floor slabs and walls prone to instant separation and collapse during earthquakes; fragile connection points, where the connections between prefabricated panels and walls, as well as between panels themselves, are not secure, making them susceptible to misalignment and loosening due to foundation settlement or wall cracking; and frequent instances of shoddy workmanship in the materials themselves, which are brittle and prone to fracture, breaking instantly without warning when overloaded.
Replacement Trends and Policy Orientation
With the advancement of architectural technology, cast-in-place concrete and prefabricated buildings are gradually replacing traditional prefabricated panel houses. Prefabricated buildings use modular factory-prefabricated components. For example, CMC (Composite Modular Construction) buildings enhance earthquake resistance through integrated steel-concrete pouring, reducing construction time by 30% compared to traditional methods. Since 2022, China has implemented a policy of renovating old buildings, focusing on repairing and upgrading prefabricated panel houses and only demolishing those that meet the criteria for dangerous buildings. Some regions have already initiated demolition work. Meanwhile, pre-cast houses (prefabricated assembled buildings) encompass both prefabricated concrete and steel structures, with components including prefabricated beams, panels, walls, and columns. These buildings offer advantages such as shortened construction periods and reduced pollution. China's prefabricated concrete technology is well-developed, and Chinese-made prefabricated houses are now popular overseas.
