Problems with Prefabricated Panel Houses

Prefabricated panel houses mainly face two major problems: difficulties in demolition and poor performance of the houses themselves, as detailed below:

Demolition-Related Issues

• Difficulty in Coordinating Residents' Thoughts and Interests: Most residents of prefabricated panel houses in old residential areas are elderly people who have deep feelings for their living environment and are reluctant to move easily. At the same time, it is difficult to determine demolition compensation standards, and disputes are likely to arise during the distribution process. In addition, the current sluggish real estate market has further increased the difficulty of demolition.
• Complex House Structures: Prefabricated panel houses built from the 1990s to the early 21st century have diverse structures. Structures consisting solely of brick walls or columns combined with prefabricated panels have poor quality, and the risks associated with demolition and reconstruction are high. Structures with cast-in-place beams and columns combined with prefabricated panels and brick walls have relatively better quality but are complex, resulting in high costs for demolition and reconstruction. Moreover, during demolition, full consideration must be given to the impact on surrounding buildings to avoid unnecessary losses.
• Troublesome Handling of Housing-Reform Houses: Most prefabricated panel buildings are housing-reform houses, and issues such as property rights ownership and compensation standards are complex and require coordination by government departments. Furthermore, these houses are mostly located in old urban areas, and the demolition work involves a wide range of aspects and is highly difficult.

Performance Issues of the Houses Themselves

• Insufficient Seismic Resistance: Prefabricated panel houses mainly rely on cement for construction, with an insufficient proportion of steel bars. Their overall seismic resistance is far inferior to that of modern buildings. When facing natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods, their safety precautions are clearly inadequate, posing significant safety risks.
• Poor Sound Insulation and Thermal Insulation: These houses perform poorly in terms of thermal and sound insulation. They are hot in summer and cold in winter, and residents can clearly hear their neighbors' voices, seriously affecting their quality of life.
• Difficulty in Adjusting the Internal Structure: Unlike modern commercial houses, prefabricated panel houses almost do not allow large-scale modifications. Every wall may be related to the overall structure, making it difficult for residents to customize their living space according to their personal needs.
• Risk of Water Seepage: Over time, cement components are prone to cracks, and the gaps between components also increase, thereby increasing the risk of water seepage between floors.
• Short Service Life: The designed service life of prefabricated panel houses is about 30 to 50 years. Most of them were built in the 1970s to 1990s, and many are approaching or have exceeded their intended service lives, showing signs of aging.