What Are the Hazards of Prefabricated Panel Houses

The hazards of prefabricated panel houses are mainly reflected in poor earthquake resistance, short service life, wall cracks and water leakage, poor thermal insulation, fragile connection points, material issues, and difficulties in internal structural adjustments.

1. Poor Earthquake Resistance: Prefabricated panel houses have poor integrity and low structural strength. They are assembled from prefabricated panels, lacking firmness and toughness. During an earthquake, the floor slabs and walls are prone to instant separation or even collapse, without crack warnings or deformation buffers, leaving few escape opportunities. Even minor vibrations over time can cause an increase in the number and size of cracks in the house, which may eventually collapse suddenly.
2. Short Service Life: The designed service life of prefabricated panel houses is generally about 30 to 50 years, but the actual lifespan may be even shorter. As time passes, issues such as wall cracks and ceiling water leakage frequently occur, and the structure becomes precarious. Many older prefabricated panel houses are identified as 'dangerous buildings', with high repair difficulty and cost.
3. Wall Cracks and Water Leakage: Walls of prefabricated panel houses are prone to cracks, with ceiling water leakage, floor deformation, window water leakage, and poor sound insulation. Residents on the top floor are particularly affected during rainy days, needing to use basins to catch water, which seriously affects the living experience.
4. Poor Thermal Insulation: Prefabricated panel houses have poor thermal insulation performance, being hot in summer and cold in winter. During extreme weather, cold or hot air can easily seep in through wall cracks and around doors and windows, making it difficult to regulate indoor temperature and increasing energy consumption.
5. Fragile Connection Points: There is only simple overlapping between the prefabricated panels and walls, and simple filling between the panels themselves, without ring beams or structural columns, resulting in a house without a rigid framework. Slight settlement of the foundation or cracking of the walls can cause the panels to shift and loosen. Over time, the connection points gradually weather, and the steel bars rust, reducing strength.
6. Material Issues: There is often shoddy workmanship and material substitution in prefabricated panel houses, with high brittleness and susceptibility to fracture. The steel bars in regular prefabricated panels are thin, and small workshops may use thin steel wires instead of steel bars, with concrete grades not meeting standards and insufficient thickness. Once the prefabricated panels exceed their load-bearing capacity, they can instantly break without any warning.
7. Difficulties in Internal Structural Adjustments: Unlike modern commercial houses, prefabricated panel houses almost do not allow for large-scale modifications. Every wall may be related to the overall structure, making it difficult for residents to customize their living space according to personal needs.