Prefabricated Panel Buildings

Prefabricated panel buildings are a type of housing constructed primarily using prefabricated panels, featuring unique construction methods, types, advantages, disadvantages, and disposal principles.

Construction Methods and Types

The construction of prefabricated panel buildings is akin to assembling Lego blocks. Workers prefabricate cement panels in factories and then transport them to the construction site for direct installation. These prefabricated panels are cement components made in factories, where wooden molds are nailed together, steel bars are arranged, and cement is poured. There are two types: solid and hollow. Solid prefabricated panels are sturdy, while hollow ones are lightweight and material-efficient, achieving lightness by reducing non-load-bearing concrete.

Origin and Development

This architectural form originated in the early 20th century, initially used for floor slabs and roof insulation layers. In China, most residential buildings constructed before 1985 adopted this structure. From the 1970s to the 1980s, the rapid construction method using prefabricated panels was widely adopted to meet the rapidly growing housing demand. With advancements in construction technology, cast-in-place concrete and prefabricated buildings gradually replaced traditional prefabricated panel houses. In 2023, Chinese authorities prohibited the construction, renovation, and expansion of prefabricated panel houses and other buildings that do not comply with current standards within urban construction land.

Advantages

Fast construction speed: while cast-in-place floors require up to half a month for the cement to dry, prefabricated panel buildings can assemble one floor in just three days; low cost; more resilient under specific conditions, such as during the Tangshan earthquake, where many prefabricated panel buildings remained intact.

Disadvantages

Insufficient seismic resistance: their overall seismic capacity cannot match that of modern buildings; poor sound insulation and thermal insulation: they are hot in summer and cold in winter, and neighbors' voices can be clearly heard; difficult internal structural adjustments: residents find it hard to customize their living spaces according to personal needs; high risk of water leakage: over time, cement components develop cracks, and gaps between components widen; short service life: with a designed lifespan of approximately 30 to 50 years, many have approached or exceeded their intended service life and show signs of aging.

Disposal Principles

Currently, the principle of "adapting measures to local conditions and implementing differentiated strategies" is followed, rather than a blanket demolition approach. Since 2022, renovation policies have been promoted, focusing on repairs and upgrades, with only buildings meeting hazardous standards being demolished. Priority for demolition is given to prefabricated panel houses with structural damage, inability to withstand natural disasters, impact on municipal planning, or located in prime urban areas. Demolition compensation and resettlement follow the "Regulations on the Expropriation and Compensation of Houses on State-Owned Land," with resettlement methods including monetary compensation, physical resettlement, housing vouchers, and in-situ reconstruction.