Concrete Prefabricated Panel House

A concrete prefabricated panel house is a type of building constructed primarily using prefabricated panels, which are factory-made concrete components that have certain issues and are gradually being replaced.

Origin and Usage

Concrete prefabricated panel houses originated in the early 20th century and were mainly used for floor slabs and roof insulation layers. In China, residential buildings constructed before 1985 often adopted this type of structure. In rural areas, they became popular due to their low cost and simple construction process. They are commonly used for the roofs of the first floor, partitions between floors, or as floor slabs and roof panels, serving as load-bearing panels. When used reasonably in buildings with regular structures and a limited number of floors, they can ensure basic safety performance.

Existing Issues

• Safety hazards: Even a minor earthquake can cause the house to collapse. The quality of prefabricated concrete panels on the market varies greatly, with a majority being of inferior quality and having an extremely short service life. They may trigger house collapse accidents without people even noticing, resulting in casualties.
• Poor sound insulation: Prefabricated panels are usually about 10 centimeters thick and have long circular holes in the middle. The insufficient thickness and the structure itself, which is prone to sound transmission, result in strong sound penetration. Noise from neighboring rooms can be amplified as it passes through the holes.
• Water leakage problems: As they are assembled from independent panels, there are tiny gaps between the panels. During the rainy season, rainwater can easily seep through these gaps into the interior, corroding the steel reinforcement.
• Other issues: Weak earthquake resistance and a service life of approximately 30 - 50 years, among others.

Development Trends

With the advancement of construction technology, cast-in-place concrete and prefabricated buildings are gradually replacing traditional prefabricated panel houses. Prefabricated buildings use modular factory-made components. For example, CMC (Composite Modular Construction) buildings enhance earthquake resistance through integrated steel-concrete pouring, and the construction period is 30% shorter than traditional methods. Since 2022, China has implemented a policy of renovating old residential areas, focusing on repairing and renovating prefabricated panel houses and only demolishing those that meet the criteria for dangerous buildings. Some regions have already started the demolition work.