New Houses Using Prefabricated Panels

New houses using prefabricated panels are characterized by low cost and fast construction speed, but they have deficiencies in waterproofing, earthquake resistance, thermal insulation, and overall integrity. They are suitable for specific scenarios and are gradually being replaced with the development of construction technology.

Advantages:

• Low cost: Prefabricated panels are relatively inexpensive, offering a significant advantage for self-built houses in rural areas. For example, for a 40-50 square meter auxiliary building, the total cost of using prefabricated panels is about 800 yuan, while the cost of formwork alone for a cast-in-place concrete roof exceeds 1,000 yuan, and the total cost, including materials and labor, exceeds 3,000 yuan.
• Fast construction speed: Prefabricated panels are factory-made components that can be installed on-site through hoisting. When used in rural self-built houses, hoisting can be completed in a day or half a day, significantly shortening the construction period, especially for projects with high time requirements.

Disadvantages:

• Prominent waterproofing issues: There are gaps at the joints of prefabricated panels, and even with waterproofing treatment, the probability of rain leakage remains high. About 80% of houses with prefabricated panel roofs in rural areas experience rain leakage, and the risk of seepage cannot be completely eliminated.
• Poor earthquake resistance: Prefabricated panels are assembled structures with weak overall integrity and a low seismic coefficient. In earthquake-prone areas, prefabricated panel houses are prone to collapse due to damage to connection nodes, making them unsuitable for high-intensity earthquake zones.
• Insufficient thermal insulation: The thickness of prefabricated panels is usually about 12 centimeters. Although they are hollow structures, their thermal insulation effect is poor. The indoor temperature is high in summer and low in winter, requiring secondary coverage with roofing materials (such as insulation boards) to improve performance.
• Weak overall integrity: Prefabricated panels are spliced together with gaps and are supported at both ends on walls. Even with the installation of ring beams and anchors, their overall integrity is still far inferior to that of cast-in-place floors, making them prone to cracks and leaks due to foundation settlement or temperature changes.

Applicable scenarios and current status:
Prefabricated panel houses originated in the early 20th century and were initially used for floor slabs and roof insulation layers. With the development of construction technology, cast-in-place concrete and prefabricated buildings have gradually replaced traditional prefabricated panel houses. Since 2022, China has implemented a policy of renovating old buildings, focusing on repairing and renovating prefabricated panel houses and only demolishing those that meet the criteria for dangerous buildings. The service life of existing prefabricated panel houses is about 30-50 years, and some regions have already started demolition work. They will gradually withdraw from the construction market in the future.