Safety Hazards in Prefabricated House Construction

Safety hazards in prefabricated house construction mainly involve aspects such as foundation and substructure, structural integrity and components, unauthorized modifications and usage environments, construction processes, height and load, as well as thermal insulation and seismic performance. Details are as follows:

Foundation and Substructure Issues: Uneven settlement caused by improper foundation treatment is a significant hazard. If there are obvious settlement marks around the house, differences in elevation between indoor and outdoor floors, or diagonal cracks at the base of walls due to foundation settlement, it can lead to house tilting, cracking, and in severe cases, irreparable damage.

Structural Integrity and Component Conditions:

• Prefabricated Floor Slabs: Focus on checking for horizontal through-cracks at the bottom of the slabs or cracks at the joints, whether the middle of the slabs is sagging or deforming, and whether the concrete at the resting positions of both ends of the prefabricated slabs is loose, crumbling, or if the steel bars are exposed and rusted.
• Load-Bearing Walls: Pay attention to vertical and diagonal cracks, whether there are cracks and downward deformation at the lintels above door and window openings, and whether the bricks or masonry at the base of the ground floor walls are severely weathered, flaking, or crumbling.
• Node Connections: Be mindful of whether the support of the prefabricated slabs on the walls is secure, whether there are signs of looseness, and whether the corners and intersections of the walls are separated or cracked.

Unauthorized Modifications and Usage Environments:

• Removing Load-Bearing Walls: Unauthorized removal of load-bearing walls, creating door or window openings in them, or enlarging the opening sizes can disrupt the structural integrity and seriously affect the safety of the house.
• Unauthorized Additions (Increased Load): Adding floors or mezzanines on the roof without permission, or stacking heavy items on the floor slabs, can cause the floor slabs to be unable to bear the load, leading to structural damage.
• Change of Use: When a house originally designed as a residence is converted into a densely populated business establishment, the live load increases significantly, making it highly prone to safety accidents.

Construction Process Hazards: Improper handling during the transportation, storage, lifting, and installation of components can lead to component damage or loose connections, affecting the overall safety of the house. Additionally, if the joints of prefabricated assemblies are not properly treated, it can lead to water leakage issues, affecting the durability of the house.

Height and Load Issues: The higher the house, the greater the load borne by the prefabricated parts at the bottom. If the bottom is not reinforced, it can easily be crushed, triggering a progressive collapse.

Thermal Insulation and Seismic Performance: Prefabricated houses may have issues with insufficient thermal insulation and poor seismic performance, resulting in cold winters and hot summers, and being vulnerable to damage in earthquakes and other disasters.