Coal Mine Prefabricated Panel Houses

Coal mine prefabricated panel houses mainly refer to the prefabricated panel staff buildings constructed in the 1970s and 1980s. They are built using factory-prefabricated cement components (solid or hollow) and face issues such as roof leakage and living discomfort. There are approximately 18.5 million sets of such houses nationwide, classified into four danger levels (A-D) with different handling methods based on the level.

House Characteristics and Typical Problems

Coal mine prefabricated panel houses use prefabricated panels as the main components. These components are prefabricated in factories and then transported to the site for assembly, offering high construction efficiency but having structural defects. Roof leakage is a common problem: The lifespan of the original sealing materials (such as asphalt hemp fibers) is only 5-8 years, while most houses have been in use for nearly 50 years, resulting in complete failure of the sealing layer. The lateral water migration characteristic of hollow prefabricated panels causes rainwater to spread within the floor slab cavities, with the leakage points being misaligned with the indoor water stains. In areas with large temperature differences like Wu'an, the climate accelerates the aging of the waterproof layer, and the simple waterproofing measures self-repaired by homeowners have poor weather resistance and are difficult to withstand severe weather. In terms of living discomfort, roof leakage is particularly severe during the flood season. Water stains appear on the ceiling, requiring the placement of basins to collect water. The walls become damp, turn black, peel, and develop mold, and the house is filled with a strong damp odor, seriously affecting living comfort.

National Status and Danger Level Classification

In early 2026, the housing and urban-rural development department completed the inventory and filing of prefabricated panel residential buildings nationwide, with approximately 18.5 million sets still in existence, involving nearly 52 million people. According to the "Standards for the Appraisal of Dangerous Buildings," these houses are classified into four levels:

• Level A: The structural bearing capacity fully meets the standards, with no dangerous points. Only old renovation work (such as replacing aging water pipes, adding exterior wall insulation layers, and elevators) is required, and the houses can be normally inhabited.
• Level B: Individual components have defects, but the overall structure is safe, in a "sub-healthy" state. They can be restored to use through repairs (such as reinforcing components and replacing sealing materials) without the need for relocation. For example, after the renovation of Cuiyuan No.1 District in Hangzhou, the residents' quality of life improved, and property prices rose.
• Level C: Some load-bearing structures do not meet the standards, and there are local dangers. Reinforcement is the priority treatment method; only when the reinforcement cost exceeds 70% of the reconstruction cost is demolition considered. Approximately 48,000 households nationwide fall into this category.
• Level D: The load-bearing structures have failed and may collapse at any time. Approximately 72,000 households nationwide (accounting for less than 4%) fall into this category, and the policy clearly states that they "should be demolished as much as possible."

Handling Principles and Suggestions

For houses of different levels, the principle of "graded disposal" should be followed: Level A and Level B houses should mainly be repaired and reinforced, Level C houses should be reinforced as a priority, and Level D houses must be demolished. Homeowners should pay attention to the house appraisal results and cooperate with the government's renovation plans. For houses not included in the renovation plans, they can regularly inspect the roof sealing layer and load-bearing structures, promptly replace aging materials, and avoid blind self-repair that may worsen the problems.