Which Houses Are Prefabricated Panel Houses

Prefabricated panel houses mainly include buildings constructed by assembling factory-prefabricated cement components, conforming to specific structural forms and construction characteristics. They can be classified into the following types:

1. Classification by Structural Form
The structural form of prefabricated panel houses directly affects their classification. Common types include:

• Steel-structured prefabricated panel houses: These use steel as the framework, paired with prefabricated cement panels for walls or floors. The steel provides structural support, while the cement panels are fixed to the steel frame with bolts or welding, forming an integrated building. Such houses are often used for temporary buildings or industrial plants, featuring fast construction speed and the ability to be disassembled and reused.
• Concrete prefabricated panel houses: The main structure is assembled on-site from prefabricated concrete components (such as floor slabs and wall panels). During factory prefabrication, these components are formed by nailing wooden molds, arranging steel bars, and pouring cement, coming in solid and hollow types. Hollow panels reduce weight through internal holes, while solid panels offer higher strength. These houses were the most common quick-production houses from the 1960s to the 1990s, widely used in residential housing, schools, and other settings.
• Wooden prefabricated panel houses: These use wood as the framework, paired with prefabricated cement panels or other lightweight materials for the enclosure. The wood provides basic support, while the cement panels are used for partitions or exterior walls, combining the flexibility of wooden structures with the durability of cement components. Such houses are commonly found in low-rise buildings or temporary housing, but require additional anti-corrosion treatment due to the susceptibility of wood to decay.

2. Classification by Construction Method
Prefabricated panel houses are a type of pre-cast housing (prefabricated assembled building), characterized by the industrial production of components and on-site assembly. Specific types include:

• Panel-assembled: This method primarily uses flat components such as prefabricated floor slabs and wall panels, assembled into an integrated building with connectors (such as bolts or welding). Concrete prefabricated panel houses often adopt this method, with highly standardized components and significantly higher construction efficiency compared to traditional cast-in-place buildings.
• Box-assembled: Entire rooms (such as bedrooms or kitchens) are prefabricated as 'box' units, transported to the site, and then stacked or joined to complete assembly. Such houses have a high degree of structural integrity but higher transportation costs, often used in modular buildings or temporary housing.
• Frame-assembled: These use prefabricated steel or concrete frames as support, paired with prefabricated floor slabs, wall panels, and other components. Steel-structured prefabricated panel houses often adopt this method, with the frame providing stability and flexible assembly of components, suitable for multi-story buildings or industrial settings.

3. Classification by History and Function
The rise of prefabricated panel houses is related to specific historical backgrounds, and their functional positioning also affects classification:

• Quick-production houses: From the 1960s to the 1990s, to rapidly address housing shortages, a large number of houses were built by assembling prefabricated panels. These houses, mainly using concrete prefabricated panels, had short construction periods and low costs but relatively weak seismic performance and durability. Some older houses have been gradually phased out or renovated.
• Temporary buildings: Such as construction site dormitories and post-disaster relief housing, often use steel-structured or wooden prefabricated panel houses, emphasizing disassemblability and reusability, with a typically short design life.
• Permanent residential housing: In modern prefabricated assembled buildings, some high-end projects use high-strength concrete or composite material prefabricated panels, combined with advanced connection technologies, achieving the same durability and safety as cast-in-place buildings, falling into the category of permanent housing.