On-site Prefabrication of Houses

On-site prefabrication of houses typically refers to the use of prefabricated modular construction methods, where components are industrially produced and then assembled on-site, rather than directly fabricating components on-site. Modern prefabricated modular construction has replaced traditional on-site prefabrication methods, with its core processes and advantages as follows:

1. Core Processes of Modern Prefabricated Modular Construction
The modern approach, represented by modular buildings, offers higher integration. The specific processes are as follows:

• Factory Prefabrication: Buildings are disassembled into independent modules (such as rooms, corridors, etc.), and standardized production is completed in factories. Each module includes ceilings, floors, walls, and plumbing and electrical systems, with interior finishes (such as doors, windows, and bathroom fixtures) also completed simultaneously.
• Transportation and Assembly: Prefabricated modules are transported to the construction site using specialized vehicles and assembled mechanically using cranes and other equipment to form a complete building.
  For example, a public housing project in Shenzhen used 6,028 concrete modules for assembly, reducing the construction period from 2.5-3 years under traditional methods to just 1 year.

2. Limitations of Traditional On-site Prefabricated Components
In the early days, the production of prefabricated panels for prefabricated houses had to be carried out near the construction site or in temporary facilities:

• Production Process: Hollow molds were made using wooden boards, reinforced with steel bars, and then filled with cement. After drying, the wooden boards were knocked off to form prefabricated panels.
• Defects: This method suffered from weak earthquake resistance, poor sound insulation and thermal insulation, as well as low production efficiency and inconsistent quality, and has now been phased out.

3. Advantages of Modern Prefabricated Modular Construction

• Efficiency Improvement: Standardized factory production can shorten the construction period by more than 60%, reducing on-site work time.
• Environmental Protection: Mechanized assembly reduces noise and dust pollution, meeting the requirements of green construction.
• Quality Control: The stable factory environment ensures high precision of components, avoiding on-site construction errors.
• Economic Efficiency: Mass production reduces material waste, making the overall cost more competitive.

4. Market Applications and Development
Chinese prefabricated houses have seen sustained growth in export volume due to their efficiency and environmental advantages. In the first four months of 2026, the export volume in the Guangzhou Customs area reached 1.4 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 38.1%, primarily targeting Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and other regions. This trend reflects the increasing global demand for sustainable construction methods.

In summary, on-site prefabrication of houses has evolved into a modular construction method centered around factory prefabrication, with its characteristics of high efficiency, environmental protection, and quality control becoming the mainstream direction in the modern construction industry.