Prefabricated Concrete Modular Housing

Prefabricated concrete modular housing is a building form where the main structure and enclosure components are prefabricated in a factory and then transported to the site for assembly. It features standardization, efficiency, and environmental friendliness as its core characteristics.

I. Construction Process and Core Techniques

1. Factory Prefabrication Stage

   • Workers assemble metal molds using bolt connectors, apply mold release agents, and then cross-tie steel bars into a mesh framework, incorporating connectors as lifting points.
   • After concrete filling, vibrators are used to eliminate air bubbles. The surface is smoothed, covered with plastic sheds, and heated to promote cement hydration, enhancing the strength and durability of the components.
   • Prefabricated components include walls, floor slabs, beams, and columns, which can be produced in a standardized manner. For example, the main components of a two-story raw house can be completed in just two weeks.

2. On-site Assembly Stage

   • Foundation preparation is required in advance: digging pits about 1 meter deep, laying moisture-proof PE film at the bottom, pouring "discarded concrete" as the base, and installing guide steel plates to position prefabricated concrete piles after solidification.
   • Large prefabricated floor slabs are lifted onto the guide steel plates by cranes, and the components are connected by bolts or welding to form an integrated structure, reducing the construction period by about 50% compared to traditional methods.

II. Technical Advantages and Application Scenarios

1. Advantages

   • Efficiency and Energy Conservation: Modular production reduces on-site wet work, decreases construction waste by about 80%, and halves the construction period.
   • Earthquake Resistance and Environmental Protection: The integrated structure is tightly connected, offering superior earthquake resistance to traditional buildings; factory production reduces dust and noise pollution.
   • Quality Control: Standardized molds and heated curing processes ensure component precision, avoiding human construction errors.

2. Application Scenarios

   • Widely used in low-rise and multi-story buildings such as residences, schools, and hospitals, with recent expansion into high-rise fields. For example, the "Huazhang Xinzhu" completed in Shenzhen in 2023 is the first concrete modular high-rise building in China; the Zhangzhou Nuclear Power Unit 4 in 2026 adopted 454-ton prefabricated modules for construction.

III. Historical Development and Standard Setting

1. International Origins: The concept can be traced back to Thomas Edison's experiments in 1899, and Moshe Safdie's "Habitat" project in 1967 achieved large-scale application of modular housing.
2. Progress in China: The ban on clay bricks in Beijing in 2001 promoted research and development. Shenzhen released technical regulations in 2023, Guangdong set provincial standards in 2025, and the completion of the first concrete modular affordable housing project in Haidian District, Beijing, in 2026 marked the technology's penetration into the livelihood sector.