Prefabricated Panel House

Prefabricated panel houses are structures built primarily using prefabricated panels. The following provides an introduction from the perspectives of definition, development history, characteristics, modern development and applications, and renovation situations:

Definition and Components

Prefabricated panel houses are centered around factory-made cement components—prefabricated panels. These panels are formed by nailing wooden models, arranging steel bars, and pouring cement. They come in two types: solid and hollow. The hollow structure achieves lightweighting by reducing the non-load-bearing concrete, and was initially used mainly for floor slabs and roof insulation layers.

Development History

Originating in the early 20th century, most residential buildings constructed in China before 1985 adopted this structure. Influenced by the Soviet Union in the 1950s, prefabricated concrete technology was widely applied in industrial plants and residential buildings. From the late 1950s to the mid-1980s, single-story industrial plants and multi-story residential buildings extensively used technologies such as assembled large-panel structures. After the mid-1980s, due to issues like cost control and poor integrity, the proportion of assembled structures declined rapidly. In the 21st century, prefabricated components have regained attention for their high production efficiency and environmental friendliness. Since 2022, renovation policies have focused on repairing and upgrading prefabricated panel houses, with only dangerous buildings being demolished.

Characteristics

Advantages: The construction speed is fast, significantly improving efficiency compared to traditional house-building methods. Disadvantages: Existing prefabricated panel houses generally suffer from weak earthquake resistance, poor sound and heat insulation, and have a service life of about 30-50 years.

Modern Development and Applications

Technological Development: Cast-in-place concrete and prefabricated buildings are gradually replacing traditional prefabricated panel houses. Prefabricated buildings use modular factory-made components. For example, CMC (Composite Modular Construction) buildings enhance earthquake resistance through integrated steel-concrete pouring, reducing construction time by 30%. Modular buildings, with higher integration levels, can shorten construction time by more than 60%. Market Situation: Chinese-made prefabricated houses are selling well overseas. In the first four months of 2026, enterprises in the Guangzhou Customs area exported movable houses worth 1.4 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 38.1%. The Shenzhen port exported 1.68 billion yuan worth, a year-on-year increase of 19.6%.

Renovation Situation

The country is promoting the renovation of old prefabricated panel houses. For example, a community in Fengtai, Beijing, demolished old houses and rebuilt them into new ones with an earthquake resistance of magnitude 8, complete with elevators. Residents bear 30% of the costs, while the government subsidizes 70%. It is expected that by the end of next year, such renovations will be completed in old residential communities built before 2000 across the country.