Damp-Proofing for Prefabricated Panel Houses

Damp-proofing for prefabricated panel houses is achieved by creating a cavity between the foundation and the ground floor to block the rise of underground moisture. The specific principles, methods, advantages, and disadvantages are as follows:

Principle: Damp-proofing for prefabricated panel houses adopts the approach of 'trading space for dryness'. A cavity of 30 - 50 centimeters is left between the foundation and the ground floor. When underground moisture rises to this cavity, it naturally dissipates and cannot continue to rise to the ground floor, thus preventing ground dampness.

Method: After the ground beam is poured, control the height of the backfill soil to be 30 - 50 centimeters from the ground level and compact it. Then, use prefabricated panels to lay the elevated floor. During the laying process, pay attention to adjusting the positions to prevent misalignment. After that, use concrete to fill the gaps between the prefabricated panels to ensure tightness.

Advantages:

• Increased floor height: It can effectively prevent the rise of ground moisture, reduce direct contact between moisture and the floor slab, lower the impact of moisture on the house, and protect the house structure.
• Easy ventilation design: The structural characteristics of prefabricated panels make it convenient to leave ventilation openings between the panels or install ventilation devices around the house. This promotes air circulation, reduces moisture accumulation, keeps indoor air dry, and improves living comfort.
• Cost-effective: Compared to cast-in-place floor slabs, prefabricated panels have lower costs. They can be mass-produced in factories and then transported to the construction site for installation, avoiding the complex procedures and high labor costs of on-site pouring and saving construction funds.
• Durable: Although slightly more expensive than earth backfilling, they have excellent moisture and pest resistance and offer a long-term solution, reducing the consumption of manpower and materials in the later stages. The elevation and leveling of the ground floor for later construction are also very convenient, and there will be no subsidence.

Limitations:

• Relatively poor integrity and tightness: There may be a risk of leakage. During installation, it is essential to ensure construction quality and tightly seal the joints between the panels to prevent moisture penetration.
• Limited load-bearing capacity: For situations with high load requirements, special design and reinforcement may be necessary to meet the usage requirements.