Xiangfen County Investigates Prefabricated Panel Houses

The investigation of prefabricated panel houses in Xiangfen County primarily stems from safety risk assessments and lessons learned from accidents, focusing on the rectification of buildings with structural defects and unauthorized modifications.

1. Investigation Background: Warning from the Juxian Restaurant Collapse

On August 29, 2020, the Juxian Restaurant in Xiangfen County collapsed, resulting in 29 fatalities and 28 injuries. The accident investigation revealed issues such as illegal land occupation for construction, construction without professional design or qualified personnel, and multiple blind expansions and renovations, leading to poor structural integrity, severe overloading of load-bearing brick columns and roofs, and ultimately the collapse. Although the direct cause of the accident was not explicitly linked to prefabricated panels, defects such as poor structural integrity and weak seismic performance in low-rise residential buildings with prefabricated panel structures were identified as potential risk factors, becoming a key focus of subsequent rectification efforts.

2. Policy Basis: Comprehensive Deployment of Special Rectification Actions

On July 28, 2022, the Office of the Xiangfen County People's Government issued the "Implementation Plan for the Special Rectification of Self-built Housing Safety in Xiangfen County," explicitly requiring:

1. Comprehensive Hidden Danger Inspections: Conduct a thorough inspection of self-built housing in urban and rural areas, focusing on buildings with additions, renovations, expansions, and densely populated commercial self-built housing.
2. Classified Rectification: Implement a "100-Day Action" for rapid inspection and rectification of buildings posing a threat to public safety, aiming to complete hidden danger rectification within three years and establish a long-term management mechanism.
3. Inclusion of Structural Defects: Although not directly mentioning "prefabricated panel houses," the plan explicitly lists buildings with poor structural integrity and insufficient seismic performance as targets for rectification, with prefabricated panel houses being included in key inspections due to their inherent characteristics.

3. Strengthened Supervision: Substantive Measures to Prevent Accidents

While the state has not explicitly banned the use of prefabricated panels, some regions have restricted their application (e.g., Chengdu banned the use of prefabricated panels in new residential buildings within the outer ring road starting in 2005). Through special rectification actions, Xiangfen County has substantially strengthened supervision of prefabricated panel houses:

• Priority Rectification of Commercial Self-built Housing: Require immediate cessation of use and rectification for prefabricated panel houses used for dining, accommodation, and other densely populated venues.
• Zero Tolerance for Unauthorized Modifications: Legally order the demolition or reinforcement of buildings with unauthorized additions or changes in structural use to eliminate overloading risks.
• Establishment of Long-term Mechanisms: Promote systems such as housing safety appraisals and dynamic monitoring to reduce the risk of collapse in prefabricated panel houses due to aging or external forces.

4. Scientific Understanding: Risks and Responses to Prefabricated Panel Houses

Prefabricated panel houses are not inherently "high-risk buildings," but their risks are concentrated in early design defects, non-standard construction, and later unauthorized modifications. The rectification actions in Xiangfen County aim to enhance the structural safety of buildings through systematic inspections and rectifications, rather than a complete phase-out of prefabricated panels. The public should view this rationally:

• Compliant Houses Can Continue to Be Used: Prefabricated panel houses that meet design standards and have not been unlawfully modified can continue to be used after safety appraisals.
• Houses with Hidden Dangers Require Immediate Rectification: Buildings with cracks, deformations, or overloading must be entrusted to professional institutions for reinforcement or reconstruction.