Construction of Prefabricated Houses

The construction of prefabricated houses involves the industrial production of building components and their assembly on-site. The main types include panel assembly, box assembly, and frame assembly, with the construction process encompassing several key steps.

Construction Process Taking rural prefabricated houses in South Korea as an example, the construction process is divided into four steps:

1. Foundation Treatment: Level the foundation and pour a cushion layer. After clearing weeds, excavate foundation pits to ensure the depth and ground height meet design requirements. After excavating approximately 60 centimeters, lay white plastic sheeting for moisture prevention, and then pour the foundation using a concrete pump truck (no steel reinforcement required).
2. Foundation Pile and Beam Installation: After the concrete sets, install the foundation plates, drill holes using a drill, and secure them with expansion screws. Lift the prefabricated foundation piles, weighing about 5 tons, into place using a crane, leaving lifting holes at the four corners. After installing the beams, perform horizontal measurement and adjustment, secure them with nuts, fill the gaps with expanding foam, and seal the nuts with cement.
3. Backfilling and Structural Assembly: After completing the foundation frame, backfill with soil. Then, use mortise-and-tenon joints to quickly connect the beams, lift and install the stairs, lay a 5-centimeter-thick floor slab, and finally perform grouting on all component gaps.

Characteristics of Modular Buildings Modular buildings represent an integrated model of prefabricated construction, where buildings are divided into independent modules manufactured in factories and then assembled on-site. For example, 63 modules of a modular elderly care apartment purchased by British merchants from China were shipped from the factory and assembled in just two weeks upon arrival; 84 modules in Papua New Guinea were transported for over a month and assembled into a hotel. During factory production, ceilings, floors, plumbing, and even bathroom waterproofing are completed on an assembly line, reducing the construction period by more than 60% compared to traditional buildings, with error control measured in millimeters.

Technological Development and Application Prefabricated concrete technology in China began in the 1950s, with the formation of technical systems such as large-panel structures in the 1970s. It has seen a resurgence in the 21st century due to environmental advantages. Companies like Vanke Group have developed prefabricated shear wall residential structural systems, while the Nanjing Jindi Yufang project adopted a prestressed prefabricated concrete frame structure. Panel assembly expands usable area but limits design flexibility; box assembly increases construction speed by 50%-70% but requires high transportation and lifting equipment. Fujian Province has established industrial bases with policy support, reducing construction waste by more than 70%. In the first four months of 2026, the Guangzhou Customs District exported movable houses worth 1.4 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 38.1%; nationwide, enterprises exported 1.68 billion yuan worth through the Shenzhen port, a year-on-year increase of 19.6%, with products selling well in over 150 countries and regions. Market research institutions predict that the global modular building market will exceed $142.8 billion by 2030.