Prefabricated Concrete Building

Prefabricated concrete buildings, also known as prefabricated concrete structures, primarily use factory-produced reinforced concrete prefabricated components, which are assembled on-site according to design and construction requirements to form concrete structural housing.

Classification:

• Fully prefabricated buildings: These are mostly low-rise or multi-story buildings with lower seismic fortification requirements, where components are fully prefabricated and then assembled on-site.
• Partially prefabricated buildings: The main components are prefabricated and connected through cast-in-place concrete to form an integral structure, balancing prefabrication and integrity.

Characteristics:

• Efficient construction: The combination of factory prefabrication and on-site assembly significantly shortens the construction period, especially beneficial for winter construction.
• Controllable quality: Standardized production reduces human errors, resulting in superior product quality compared to traditional cast-in-place methods.
• Green and environmentally friendly: It reduces material waste and construction debris, promoting green construction throughout the lifecycle and replacing traditional wet construction methods.
• Technological integration: The main structure relies on node and joint connections, which must meet requirements for load-bearing capacity, stability, rigidity, and ductility.

Technical system:

• Connection methods: Reinforcement connections use grouted sleeves, lap joints, or welding to ensure structural integrity.
• Supporting technologies: These include integrated installation of doors and windows and one-time completion of decoration, enhancing construction efficiency and building performance.

Design principles:

• Generalization: Adhere to principles of reasonable force distribution, reliable connections, and convenient construction, reducing component specifications to enable multiple combinations.
• Modularization: Standardize building structure design to adapt to different regional and housing type requirements, lowering production costs.

Development history:

• Initial stage: Applied in factory and residential construction in the 1950s, with the technical system initially taking shape.
• Recovery stage: After the 21st century, driven by production efficiency and environmental protection needs, companies like Vanke developed prefabricated shear wall residential systems and applied prefabricated frame technology in projects such as Nanjing Jindi Yufang.
• Internationalization stage: China's exports of prefabricated houses have grown significantly. For example, in the first four months of 2026, the Guangzhou Customs District exported movable houses worth 1.4 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 38.1%, indicating increased international market recognition.

Current application status: China's prefabricated concrete structures are in a transitional phase, with design, construction, and production gradually shifting from cast-in-place to prefabricated assembly, forming various structural systems and promoting the industrialization of construction.