Prefabricated Panels for Rural Houses
The use of prefabricated panels in rural houses is quite common, but they have many drawbacks and are gradually being replaced. Existing houses are mainly being repaired and renovated.
Usage
In self-built rural houses, the use of prefabricated panels as roofs was very common before 20 years ago, with prefabricated cement panels being the primary roofing material. Prefabricated panel houses originated in the early 20th century and were mainly used for floor slabs and roof insulation layers. Prefabricated panels come in two types: solid and hollow. The hollow structure achieves lightweighting by reducing the non-load-bearing concrete.
Advantages
- Low cost and fast construction: Prefabricated panels are very inexpensive and can be installed quickly. In rural self-built houses, they can be hoisted and installed in just one day or half a day, which is a significant advantage for rural areas seeking to build houses quickly and with limited budgets.
- Diverse types: There are two types available: solid and hollow. The hollow structure ensures a certain load-bearing capacity while achieving lightweighting, reducing material usage and the overall weight of the house.
Disadvantages
- Waterproofing issues: There is a high probability of water leakage when waterproofing is applied. Out of ten houses, eight may experience water leakage, and even with waterproofing, 100% leak-proofing cannot be guaranteed, causing significant inconvenience to residents.
- Poor earthquake resistance: The earthquake resistance coefficient is too low, making them unsuitable for earthquake-prone areas. They are prone to collapse, posing a serious threat to the safety of residents' lives and property.
- Poor thermal insulation: Thermal insulation is very poor, with high indoor temperatures in summer and low indoor temperatures in winter. Secondary roofing materials generally need to be applied on the floor slabs to compensate, increasing living costs.
- Poor sound insulation: Sound insulation is not good, affecting the comfort of living.
- Potential safety hazards: There are safety issues, as they may fall with slight shaking, posing a potential threat to the safety of residents.
Current Situation
With the development of construction technology, cast-in-place concrete and prefabricated buildings are gradually replacing traditional prefabricated panel houses. Since 2022, China has implemented a policy of renovating old buildings, focusing on repairing and renovating prefabricated panel houses and only demolishing those that meet the criteria for dangerous buildings. Existing prefabricated panel houses generally have issues such as weak earthquake resistance, poor sound and thermal insulation, and a service life of about 30-50 years. Some regions have already initiated demolition work.
