How to Remove Walls in Prefabricated Houses

When removing walls in prefabricated houses, appropriate methods should be selected based on the wall type, and strict adherence to safety regulations and structural protection principles is essential. The specific operations are as follows:

I. Methods for Removing Prefabricated Walls

1. Tool Cutting
   For prefabricated panel walls, prioritize the use of gas cutters or electric cutting machines for precise cutting. Before cutting, confirm the wall material (such as concrete, gypsum board, etc.) and select the appropriate cutting tool and blade type. For example, concrete walls require diamond saw blades. Maintain a uniform cutting speed to avoid local overheating that could cause structural damage. The cutting line should follow the wall joint seams or preset removal lines to minimize disturbance to surrounding structures.

2. Small-Block Disassembly
   After cutting, adopt the principle of "top-down, layer-by-layer removal." Divide the wall into blocks no larger than 50cm in length and width, and strip them away one by one using crowbars or small hydraulic equipment. Control the force during disassembly to prevent sudden wall fractures or collapses. If the wall is tightly connected to the floor slab, first drill holes at the connection points using an impact drill to weaken the bond before removal.

3. Structural Protection
   When removing interior walls, focus on protecting structural columns, beams, and load-bearing nodes. Use laser levels to mark key structural positions and avoid direct tool impacts on column and beam surfaces during removal. If the wall is connected to structural columns with steel bars, use angle grinders to cut the bars. Vigorous pulling that could cause structural damage is strictly prohibited. After removal, promptly clean up any remaining steel bars to prevent injury to personnel or equipment during subsequent construction.

II. Safety Measures and Regulations

1. Personal Protection
   Construction personnel must wear safety helmets, dust masks, cut-resistant gloves, and non-slip safety shoes. For work at heights (exceeding 2m), double-hook safety harnesses must be worn, and lifelines should be set up as secondary protection. Warning lines should be placed below the removal area to prohibit non-workers from entering.

2. Environmental Safety
   Before construction, shut off water and power lines around the wall to prevent cutting sparks from igniting pipelines or causing electric shocks. If the wall contains flammable materials such as glass or insulation, apply flame retardants in advance. Use industrial vacuums during removal to collect dust in real-time and prevent dust pollution.

3. Structural Verification
   For brick-concrete structural walls (such as 24-wall or balcony counterweight walls), strictly adhere to the principle of "prohibiting the alteration of load-bearing structures." Before removal, verify the wall type by checking the house layout plan. For uncertain walls, commission a professional institution to conduct load testing and structural safety assessments. Construction may only proceed after obtaining written approval from the design unit.

III. Handling Special Cases

If the wall is embedded with equipment pipelines (such as central air conditioning ducts or fire sprinkler systems), first contact the equipment supplier for pipeline relocation or protection. After removal, promptly inspect the structural columns and beams for cracks or deformations. If any are found, immediately halt construction and commission a structural engineer for reinforcement design.