Old Prefabricated Panel Houses

Old prefabricated panel houses were built in the 1970s and 1980s to alleviate the housing shortage problem. Nowadays, they have numerous hidden dangers, and some have been banned from new construction, with existing houses gradually being demolished.

Construction Background and Method

At that time, China faced a severe housing shortage. Prefabricated panel houses, with their advantages of fast construction speed and low construction costs, became a key solution to alleviate housing pressure. Their construction method was similar to 'building with building blocks', where pre-fabricated cement panels were assembled and joined together.

Existing Hidden Dangers

• Poor thermal insulation and sound insulation: The interiors are cold in winter and hot in summer, with poor ventilation, resulting in low living comfort. The lack of sound insulation means there is no privacy in neighborhood life, which can easily lead to neighborhood disputes.
• Short design service life: Typically, they only have a service life of about 40 years. Nowadays, many houses have 'exceeded their service life', showing large-scale peeling of wall finishes and numerous cracks in the walls. In severe cases, they even become dilapidated buildings, threatening the safety of residents.
• Problems with house appearance and interior space: The appearance is monotonous and lacks aesthetics. The interior space is narrow and cramped, with户型 (floor plan) designs lacking humanized considerations. For example, some floor plans have kitchens and bathrooms without windows and small living rooms, affecting the quality of life of residents.
• Weak structure: The joints are not sturdy. The prefabricated panels are joined together with cement mortar. Over time, the mortar cracks and falls off, causing the panels to loosen. The floor will shake and is prone to leakage. Most prefabricated panels are hollow, with thin and few steel bars inside, distributed irregularly, resulting in poor earthquake resistance. During the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, the collapse rate of prefabricated panel houses was particularly high.

Relevant Policy Regulations

As the problems have become increasingly prominent, in 2023, relevant departments clearly stipulated that within the scope of urban construction land, the new construction, renovation, and expansion of buildings such as prefabricated panel houses that do not meet safety standards are prohibited. Existing prefabricated panel houses will gradually face demolition according to actual conditions.