Are Prefabricated Panel Houses Dangerous?

Prefabricated panel houses have many dangerous factors and generally have low overall safety, requiring careful consideration.

1. Extremely Weak Earthquake Resistance
   Prefabricated panel houses have poor integrity. The connections between the prefabricated panels and the walls, as well as between the panels themselves, are not firm enough and lack rigid framework support. During an earthquake, the floor slabs and walls can separate instantly, and entire prefabricated panels may fall directly, leaving very little time for escape. Historical earthquake cases show that prefabricated panel houses suffer the most severe collapses and have the highest casualty rates, with their earthquake resistance being almost zero.

2. Vulnerable Connection Points
   The connection between the prefabricated panels and the walls is only through simple overlapping. The gaps between the panels are not filled firmly, and there is generally a lack of reinforcing structures such as ring beams and constructional columns. When the foundation settles or the walls crack, the prefabricated panels are prone to misalignment and loosening. After long-term use, the connection points weather and the steel bars rust, significantly reducing their strength. In old prefabricated panel houses that have been lived in for two or three decades, the floor slabs may be on the verge of collapse, and even slight external forces (such as stacking heavy objects or knocking on walls during renovation) can trigger a collapse.

3. High Risk of Substandard Materials
   Some prefabricated panel production involves cutting corners: the diameter of the steel bars is too thin (some even use steel wires instead), the concrete grade does not meet the standards, and the thickness of the panels is insufficient, resulting in high brittleness and easy fracture. When exceeding the designed load-bearing capacity, the prefabricated panels may suddenly break without any warning. Daily activities such as stacking heavy objects, renovation construction, or long-term aging can all trigger collapse accidents.

4. Insufficient Structural Strength and Durability
   Prefabricated panel houses rely on a spliced structure and lack the toughness of cast-in-place reinforced concrete. They often adopt a hollow design, and the steel bar density is much lower than that of cast-in-place structures. Their earthquake resistance is poor, and they are prone to collapse or develop serious cracks under strong winds or earthquakes. Micro-earthquakes or frequent small earthquakes can cause structural fatigue, with micro-cracks gradually expanding and eventually making the structure extremely fragile. In addition, the designed service life of prefabricated panel houses is usually 30 - 50 years, and most of the houses built in the 1970s - 1990s have approached or exceeded their service lives, with aging being a common phenomenon.

5. Frequent Crack and Leakage Problems
   Wall cracks can weaken the overall strength and increase the risk of collapse. Long-term leakage leads to a damp environment, which is prone to breeding mold and bacteria, posing a threat to the health of the occupants.

6. Poor Thermal Insulation and Sound Insulation Performance
   Prefabricated panel houses are stuffy in summer and cold in winter, with high energy consumption for air conditioning or heating. Moreover, their sound insulation effect is extremely poor, seriously affecting the living comfort and health of the occupants.