Prefabricated Assembly-Style Housing

Prefabricated assembly-style housing is a construction method that involves the industrial production of building components, which are then assembled on-site. It offers advantages such as shortened construction periods and reduced pollution, representing a modern industrial production approach.

Types and Technologies

The main types of prefabricated assembly-style buildings include panel-based, box-based, and frame-based assemblies. Technologies encompass prefabricated concrete structures and steel structures, with components such as prefabricated beams, slabs, walls, and columns. Panel-based assembly uses prefabricated wall panels and floor slabs as core components, allowing for expanded usable area but with limited design flexibility. Box-based assembly combines prefabricated functional units, increasing construction speed by 50%-70%, but requiring higher transportation and lifting equipment. Modular construction represents a more integrated model.

Development History

China's prefabricated concrete technology began in the 1950s, initially applied in factory and residential construction. In the 1970s, driven by the policy of "industrialization, standardization, and mechanization" in construction, technical systems such as large-panel structures and box structures emerged. By the mid-1980s, the technology stagnated due to cost and quality issues but revived in the 21st century due to its production efficiency and environmental advantages. Companies like Vanke Group developed prefabricated shear-wall residential structural systems and applied prefabricated frame technologies in projects, such as the Nanjing Jindi Yufang project, which adopted a prestressed prefabricated concrete assembled integral frame structural system.

Policy Support

In 2016, the State Council issued the "Guidelines on Vigorously Developing Prefabricated Buildings," identifying it as a major transformation in construction methods and designating the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, Yangtze River Delta, and Pearl River Delta as key promotion areas. Hainan Province plans for prefabricated buildings to account for 80% of new construction starts by 2025. Guangzhou will require 100% implementation of prefabricated buildings for residential land from 2026 onwards, with "application wherever technically feasible" for commercial and industrial land.

Global Application

Prefabricated construction emerged in the early 20th century and achieved large-scale application in countries like the UK, France, and the Soviet Union by the 1960s. Early designs were rigid but later improved for flexibility. Mobile homes in the United States are a typical example, with each unit resembling a large trailer that can be quickly hoisted and connected to water and electricity systems. These homes are fully equipped internally and can be used independently or combined.

Environmental and Economic Benefits

Regions like Fujian Province have established industrial bases through policy support, achieving over 70% reduction in construction waste. Chinese-made prefabricated houses are selling well overseas, with Guangzhou Customs reporting RMB 1.4 billion in exports of mobile homes in the first four months of 2026, a year-on-year increase of 38.1%.