Prefabricated Panels for House Construction

The prefabricated panels used in house construction are pre-manufactured concrete slabs in factories, which are then transported to the construction site for installation. They come in various types, specifications, and features.

Manufacturing Process

There are diverse manufacturing processes for prefabricated panels. One method involves using wooden planks to create a hollow mold. After placing steel bars in the hollow part of the mold, cement is poured to fill the hollow section. Once dry, the wooden planks are knocked off. Another approach employs steel plate barriers. First, a release agent is sprayed, followed by the installation of distribution bars and load-bearing bars (steel strands). The pre-tensioning or post-tensioning method is then used, and finally, the well-mixed concrete is poured. In the pre-tensioning method, steel bars are tensioned before pouring concrete, relying on the bond between the steel and concrete to transfer tension. In the post-tensioning method, concrete is poured first, and after reaching a certain strength, steel bars are tensioned on the component, and the tension is transferred to the concrete through anchors.

Types and Specifications

Prefabricated panels come in two main types: solid and hollow. The hollow structure achieves lightweighting by reducing the non-load-bearing concrete, maintaining load-bearing capacity while reducing self-weight. Their dimensions have clear specifications. In terms of span, the longest for residential use is 4.2 meters; widths are mostly 500mm and 600mm; and common thicknesses are 120mm and 150mm. Additionally, prefabricated panels have different grades of live load capacity, and the appropriate specification can be selected according to the actual needs of the building.

Characteristics of Prefabricated Panel Houses

Prefabricated panel houses are constructed using prefabricated panels as the main components. These components are prefabricated in factories and assembled on-site. This construction method can significantly shorten the construction period and achieve rapid construction. Through standardized factory production, costs can be effectively controlled, and quality stability can be ensured. At the same time, it reduces construction waste generated on-site, offering environmental protection and energy-saving advantages. However, existing prefabricated panel houses also have some issues. They generally have weak earthquake resistance, and the house structure is prone to damage during natural disasters such as earthquakes. Their sound insulation and thermal insulation performance are poor, affecting living comfort. Their service life is about 30 - 50 years, which is relatively short compared to some traditional buildings.