Removal of Hollow Prefabricated Slabs in Houses

The removal of hollow prefabricated slabs in houses should be handled differently based on the results of the house safety appraisal, rather than simply removing all of them.

House safety appraisals classify houses into four grades: A, B, C, and D, with different disposal paths corresponding to each grade:

• Grade A or B houses: If a house is appraised as Grade A, it indicates that the structure is safe; if it is appraised as Grade B, individual components are dangerous but do not affect the main structure. For houses with no major issues in the main structure, the most practical solution is the renovation of old residential areas. For example, if there is a roof leakage problem, roof repairs are carried out; if the pipelines are aging, they are replaced; if the fire protection does not meet the standards, rectification is carried out; and if conditions permit, elevators can be installed in the residential areas. Through these renovation measures, the usability and living comfort of the houses are improved, and there is no need to remove the hollow prefabricated slabs.
• Grade C dilapidated houses: When a house is appraised as a Grade C dilapidated house but still has room for repair, the path of repair and reinforcement is taken. The reinforcement covers multiple aspects, including strengthening the walls, beams, columns, floor slabs, and foundations, while also improving the earthquake resistance of the house. For hollow prefabricated slabs, corresponding reinforcement measures may be taken according to the specific situation, such as adding support structures or attaching carbon fiber sheets, to enhance their load-bearing capacity and stability, rather than directly removing them.
• Expropriation and demolition situations: What truly determines whether a house is to be demolished is not its construction age but whether there are projects in the vicinity. For example, if land is needed for road construction, subway construction, or the construction of public facilities, or if the area is included in a clear demolition and reconstruction project, the expropriation procedure may be carried out in accordance with the law. In such cases, the hollow prefabricated slabs in the house will be removed along with the overall expropriation and demolition of the house.

In addition, according to the "15th Five-Year Plan for Urban Renewal" issued by the State Council, more than 500,000 sets (units) of non-complete housing, including Grade C and D dangerous housing and prefabricated slab houses in cities, will be renovated, and the governance, renovation, and earthquake resistance reinforcement of prefabricated slab houses in earthquake-prone areas will be steadily promoted. This also indicates that for prefabricated slab houses, there is a greater inclination towards governance and renovation rather than simple demolition.