Prefabricated Housing in Building Construction
Prefabricated housing in building construction mainly refers to the building form where building components are industrially produced and assembled on-site, known as prefabricated assembled buildings or modular buildings.
Main Types and Technologies of Prefabricated Assembled Buildings
Prefabricated assembled buildings cover a variety of types and technological systems. The main types include panel-assembled, box-assembled, and frame-assembled buildings, while the technological aspects involve two major directions: prefabricated concrete structures and steel structures. Their core components include prefabricated products such as beams, slabs, walls, and columns. These components are standardized and produced in factories and then transported to the construction site for assembly. Among them, modular buildings represent a more highly integrated model within prefabricated assembled buildings. They divide the building into independent modules, complete the entire process of structural, decoration, and equipment installation in the factory, and then form a complete building through transportation and assembly.
Core Advantages of Prefabricated Houses
Prefabricated houses significantly improve construction efficiency and environmental performance through industrial production models. One of the main advantages is the shortened construction period: Compared with traditional buildings, the construction period of modular buildings can be reduced by more than 60%. For example, in a public housing project in Shenzhen, Guangdong, 5 high-rise residential buildings of nearly 100 meters were assembled using 6028 concrete modules. The completion and delivery time was shortened from 2.5 - 3 years to 1 year, and the on-site labor force was reduced by about 50%. The environmental benefits are also remarkable: Factory production reduces on-site wet operations, lowering dust, noise, and construction waste pollution, which aligns with the trend of green building development.
Development History and Current Situation of Prefabricated Buildings in China
China's prefabricated concrete technology began in the 1950s and was initially applied to factory and residential construction. It then fell into obscurity due to technological limitations. In the 21st century, with the improvement of production efficiency and the growth of environmental protection demands, prefabricated technology has revived. Companies like Vanke Group have developed prefabricated shear-wall residential structural systems and promoted the application of prefabricated frame technology, driving industry technological upgrades. Currently, China's prefabricated houses have formed a large-scale export pattern: In the first four months of 2026, the Guangzhou Customs area exported movable houses worth 1.4 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 38.1%; enterprises across the country exported 1.68 billion yuan worth of products through the Shenzhen port, a year-on-year increase of 19.6%, with products covering more than 150 countries and regions. According to market research institution predictions, by 2030, the global market size of modular buildings will exceed 142.8 billion US dollars, and the technological exports and production capacity advantages of Chinese enterprises will continue to drive industry growth.
