Prefabricated House

Prefabricated houses are a form of construction where building components are industrially produced and assembled on-site. They offer advantages such as shortened construction periods and reduced pollution. The main types include panel-assembled, box-assembled, and frame-assembled structures, with modular construction representing a more integrated model.

I. Definition and Types of Prefabricated Houses Prefabricated houses, also known as prefabricated assembled buildings, involve breaking down a building into components such as beams, slabs, walls, and columns, which are then produced in a factory to standardized specifications and transported to the site for assembly. Based on the method of component combination, there are three main types:

1. Panel-Assembled: Using prefabricated wall panels and floor slabs as the core components, these are joined together to form the main structure of the building. The advantage lies in expanding the usable indoor area, but design flexibility is limited, making them suitable for standardized residential or factory buildings.
2. Box-Assembled: Functional units such as bathrooms and kitchens are prefabricated into independent 'boxes' and then hoisted and combined to form the building. Construction speed is increased by 50%-70% compared to traditional methods, but higher demands are placed on transportation and hoisting equipment, making them more commonly used for temporary buildings or low-rise residences.
3. Frame-Assembled: Supported by prefabricated concrete or steel structural frames, these are paired with prefabricated wall panels, floor slabs, and other components. For example, the Nanjing Jindi Yufang project adopted a prestressed prefabricated concrete assembled integral frame structural system, balancing structural strength with construction efficiency.

II. Modular Construction: An Upgraded Model of Prefabricated Houses Modular construction represents the highest level of integration among prefabricated assembled buildings. It involves breaking down a building into independent modules (such as rooms and corridors), completing all internal finishes including ceilings, floors, and utilities in the factory, and requiring only assembly on-site. Taking the Guangdong Shenzhen affordable housing project as an example, five residential buildings nearly 100 meters high were assembled from 6,028 concrete modules, reducing the construction period from 2.5-3 years to 1 year, cutting on-site labor by about 50%, and significantly reducing noise and dust pollution.

III. Technological Development and Application Status China's prefabricated concrete technology began in the 1950s, initially applied to factory and residential construction. In the 21st century, due to demands for production efficiency and environmental protection, companies like Vanke Group developed assembled shear wall residential structural systems and promoted prefabricated frame technology. Currently, prefabricated houses have expanded from the domestic market to overseas. In the first four months of 2026, exports of movable houses from the Guangzhou Customs area reached 1.4 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 38.1%, indicating international market recognition of Chinese prefabricated houses.

IV. Advantages and Challenges The advantages of prefabricated houses include short construction periods, controllable quality, energy efficiency, environmental protection, and ease of maintenance. However, modular construction places extremely high demands on industrial infrastructure, requiring a complete technological system, production system, and industrial cluster support. For example, factories need high-precision molds, automated production lines, and other equipment, while on-site operations require professional hoisting teams. These conditions limit its large-scale promotion.