Are Prefabricated Panel Houses Dangerous?

Prefabricated panel houses do indeed pose certain dangers, mainly reflected in the following aspects:

Almost zero earthquake resistance: Prefabricated panel houses have poor integrity. Their structure is like that of building blocks, with various parts not connected into a tight whole. When an earthquake occurs, the floor slabs and walls are very likely to separate instantly, and entire prefabricated panels may fall directly, greatly reducing the chances of escape for occupants and exposing them to extremely high risks during earthquakes.

Extremely fragile connection points: The connection between prefabricated panels and walls is just simple overlapping, and the connection between panels is only simple filling of gaps, lacking rigid framework support. Once the foundation settles or the walls crack, the prefabricated panels will become misaligned and loose. Moreover, as time goes by, the connection points will gradually weather, the steel bars will rust, and the strength will continuously decrease, potentially triggering a chain of collapse accidents.

High incidence of material shoddy workmanship: Regular prefabricated panels use relatively thin steel bars, but some small workshops may use thin steel wires instead of steel bars to reduce costs. At the same time, cases where the concrete grade does not meet the standard and the thickness is insufficient are also relatively common, resulting in brittle and easily breakable materials. When the load on the house exceeds its design limit, the prefabricated panels may break instantly without any warning.

Poor sound insulation and thermal insulation: Prefabricated panel houses perform poorly in terms of heat insulation and sound insulation. In summer, it is difficult to effectively block indoor heat, making it feel hot; in winter, indoor heat is easily lost, making it feel cold. In addition, the voices of neighbors can be clearly heard, seriously affecting the quality of life of occupants.

Difficult to adjust the internal structure: Large-scale modifications are almost not allowed in prefabricated panel houses, as every wall may be related to the overall structural safety. It is difficult for residents to customize the living space according to their personal needs, limiting the flexibility and comfort of living.

Risk of water seepage: As time passes, cracks will appear in the cement components, and the gaps between components will also increase, increasing the risk of water seepage between floors. This not only affects the normal use of the house but may also cause property losses to the occupants.

Relatively short service life: The design service life of prefabricated panel houses is about 30 to 50 years. Many prefabricated panel houses built in the 1970s to 1990s are approaching or have exceeded their intended service life, showing signs of aging and further increasing safety hazards.