Renovation of Prefabricated Structure Houses
When renovating prefabricated structure houses, it is essential to strictly adhere to their structural characteristics and focus on taking safety measures in two main aspects: water and electricity renovation and structural renovation. Specific considerations are as follows:
Water and electricity renovation should avoid structural damage risks
The load-bearing system of prefabricated structure houses, especially older ones combining prefabricated panels with brick-concrete construction, relies on the integrity of prefabricated components. During water and electricity renovation, it is crucial to avoid damaging their structural stability. It is prohibited to cut horizontal grooves in prefabricated panels because these panels are horizontal load-bearing components. Cutting horizontal grooves can sever internal steel bars or weaken the concrete cross-section, leading to a decrease in load-bearing capacity and potentially causing serious safety issues such as floor panel fractures or collapses. If wiring is needed, priority should be given to cutting vertical grooves along the base of walls or routing wires from the floor: vertical grooves are cut longitudinally along the wall, avoiding the load-bearing direction of the prefabricated panels; routing wires from the floor involves cutting grooves in the floor or laying conduit, reducing direct damage to the floor panels. Additionally, after laying water and electricity pipelines, they should be backfilled tightly with cement mortar to prevent hollow spaces that could cause uneven load distribution on the floor panels.
Structural renovation should strengthen safety reinforcement
If structural renovations such as wall removal or door opening are involved, it is essential to clarify the nature of the walls. Load-bearing walls, especially those connected to prefabricated components, are strictly prohibited from being removed. Non-load-bearing walls, after removal, also need to be reinforced according to the house's structure. For example, after removing a lightweight partition wall, if the original position was a support point for the prefabricated panels, steel beams or concrete beams should be added beneath the floor panels to distribute the load to the surrounding load-bearing structures. If part of a brick-concrete structure wall is removed, the remaining wall should be reinforced with reinforced concrete or structural steel to prevent local stress concentration from causing cracks. Reinforcement plans should be designed by professional structural engineers and approved by property management or relevant authorities before implementation to ensure that the renovated house meets seismic performance and overall stability requirements.
Other considerations
During the renovation process, it is also important to note: avoid large-area chiseling or drilling on the surface of prefabricated panels to prevent damage to internal steel bars; if heavy equipment (such as wall-mounted cabinets or water heaters) needs to be installed, it should be fixed to load-bearing walls or beams using expansion bolts rather than directly to the floor panels; before construction, check for cracks, deformations, or other hidden dangers in the prefabricated panels, and repair them before proceeding with the renovation. By scientifically planning the construction plan and strictly adhering to safety regulations, the safety and durability of the renovation of prefabricated structure houses can be maximally ensured.
