Prefabricated New-Type Assembled Housing

Prefabricated new-type assembled housing is a construction form that involves industrial production of building components and on-site assembly. It offers advantages such as short construction periods, controllable quality, and energy efficiency and environmental protection, but it requires a well-developed industrial base.

Main Types and Technical Systems

The core types of prefabricated new-type assembled housing include panel-based assembly, box-based assembly, and frame-based assembly. Panel-based assembly primarily uses prefabricated wall panels, floor slabs, and other components, which are assembled on-site to form the building's main structure. Box-based assembly involves prefabricating complete functional units (such as bathrooms and kitchens) in factories and then combining them, which can increase construction speed by 50%-70%. Frame-based assembly uses prefabricated beams and columns as the skeleton, combined with other components for assembly. The technical systems encompass prefabricated concrete structures and steel structures. The former mainly uses reinforced concrete components, while the latter employs lightweight steel materials, suitable for high-rise or large-span buildings. Component production covers standardized products such as beams, slabs, walls, and columns. Some modular buildings even prefabricate ceilings, floors, and plumbing and electrical systems entirely in factories, requiring only on-site assembly.

Core Advantages and Case Support

Compared to traditional construction methods, prefabricated new-type assembled housing significantly shortens construction periods. For example, a public housing project in Shenzhen, Guangdong, used modular technology to reduce the completion and delivery time from 2.5-3 years to 1 year, while reducing on-site labor by about 50%. It also substantially reduced noise, dust, construction waste, and traffic congestion, which are nuisances to residents. Box-based assembly increases construction efficiency by 50%-70% through prefabricated functional units. Modular buildings can shorten construction periods by over 60% due to parallel factory operations and the application of intelligent production lines. Additionally, industrial production ensures component precision, reduces human errors, and enhances building quality. Standardized design facilitates later maintenance and renovation, extending the building's service life.

Development History and Industry Status

China's prefabricated concrete technology began in the 1950s, initially applied in factory and residential construction. It experienced a resurgence in the 21st century due to production efficiency and environmental protection demands. Companies like Vanke Group have developed prefabricated shear wall residential structural systems and promoted prefabricated frame technology, driving industry standardization. In recent years, China's export scale of prefabricated housing has expanded. In the first four months of 2026, the export value of movable houses from the Guangzhou Customs area reached 1.4 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 38.1%, indicating growing international market recognition. However, this model relies on a well-developed industrial base, requiring coordinated support from technical systems, production systems, and industrial clusters. Currently, it still faces challenges such as uneven regional development and the need to improve standardization levels.