Deadline for the Update of Prefabricated Panel Housing

Not all prefabricated panel houses are subject to a deadline for updates; instead, they are classified and handled based on safety assessment grades. D-grade dilapidated houses are to be demolished within a deadline, C-grade dilapidated houses require renovation, and A- and B-grade houses are primarily repaired. The specific policies are as follows:

I. Safety Assessment and Classification Criteria All old prefabricated panel buildings must first undergo professional safety assessments and be classified into four grades (A, B, C, and D) based on structural safety:

• Grade A Safe Houses: These houses have intact structures, stable foundations, no cracks in beams, columns, or prefabricated panels, and meet seismic standards. Such houses do not require demolition or reinforcement; they only need maintenance such as pipeline, waterproofing, and exterior wall renovations, and can continue to be safely used for three to four decades.
• Grade B Basically Safe Houses: These houses exhibit slight aging or minor cracks that do not affect structural safety and basically meet seismic standards. Such houses will not be demolished or reinforced but will be included in the scope of old residential area renovations, including pipeline replacement, waterproofing repairs, exterior wall painting, elevator installation, and other improvement projects.
• Grade C Partially Dilapidated Houses: These houses have moderate cracking in floor slabs or main beams, slight foundation settlement, and do not meet seismic standards. Such houses cannot be directly demolished or left unattended for habitation; they require in-situ seismic reinforcement measures. If the owner approval rate meets the standard, an application can be made for demolition and reconstruction on the original site (i.e., demolition followed by reconstruction according to the original plan). The central government provides subsidies for C-grade renovation projects of dilapidated housing on state-owned land, with the subsidy standard not exceeding 70% of the total approved investment for the project.
• Grade D Whole-Building Dilapidated Houses: These houses have failed load-bearing structures, foundation collapses, main beam fractures, loose and falling prefabricated panels, and pose a risk of collapse at any time. Such houses are the only category subject to a deadline for demolition. Various regions need to formulate clearance plans and prioritize the resettlement of residents through physical resettlement (such as nearby resettlement housing, public rental housing, shared ownership housing, with a one-for-one replacement and no reduction in area) or monetary compensation (assessed based on surrounding market prices). If it complies with planning and the owner approval rate meets the standard, demolition and reconstruction on the original site can also be carried out. The central government's subsidy standard for Grade D projects also does not exceed 70% of the total approved investment.

II. Policy Objectives and Financial Support According to the '15th Five-Year Plan for Urban Renewal', by 2030, more than 500,000 sets (units) of C- and D-grade dilapidated housing and prefabricated panel houses need to be renovated, basically eliminating the safety hazards of D-grade dilapidated houses and promoting seismic reinforcement of houses in earthquake-prone areas. Financial sources include central government subsidies and local government special bonds, with a focus on supporting C- and D-grade housing renovation projects to ensure the precise elimination of risks.