Xishan Prefabricated Panel Houses
Most of the prefabricated panel houses in Xishan were built in the last century, and some have exceeded their service life, posing safety hazards. Under the old-community renovation policy, some of them need to be completely demolished.
Construction Background and Structural Characteristics: Prefabricated panel houses mainly emerged in the 1970s and 1980s of the last century, built by state-owned enterprises or government institutions to house their employees. Taking the Qianchuxian Community in Xishan as an example, this community was built in 1983 and consists of 14 brick-and-concrete prefabricated panel buildings with 517 households. The property owner is the Xishan Coal Electricity Ximing Mine. These houses use prefabricated panels as floor slabs, enabling fast construction and meeting the housing needs of a large number of employees in a short time.
Service Life and Current Situation: The designed service life of prefabricated panel houses is usually relatively short, generally 30 - 40 years. Nowadays, most of these houses have exceeded their designed service life. Over time, various problems have gradually emerged in these houses, such as wall cracks, leakage, and peeling wall surfaces. These issues not only affect the appearance and living comfort of the houses but, more importantly, pose serious safety hazards, threatening the lives and property of residents.
Old-Community Renovation Policy and Handling Methods: Under the current old-community renovation policy, there is a clear direction for handling old houses. Among them, 20% of the old houses are to be completely demolished, and some of the prefabricated panel houses with serious safety hazards are included in this category. Through complete demolition, potential safety risks can be eliminated, creating a safer and more comfortable living environment for residents. Of course, for some prefabricated panel houses with relatively good structures that can still be used, they will also be renovated and repaired according to the actual situation to extend their service life and improve the living quality.
