Foreign Models of Prefabricated Housing

The foreign models of prefabricated housing are primarily reflected in the application of modular construction, featuring unique construction methods, a wide range of application scenarios, a favorable market situation, significant advantages, and policy support.

Construction Methods

Foreign prefabricated housing adopts modular construction methods, breaking down buildings into independent modules that are manufactured in factories and then transported to construction sites for assembly. For example, ceilings, walls, and waterproof layers in bathrooms are all produced in factories and then assembled on-site, akin to building with blocks, which enhances construction efficiency.

Application Scenarios

• Computing Infrastructure such as Data Centers: The rapid development of the digital economy in the ASEAN region has led to a sustained and stable demand for computing infrastructure like data centers. Modular buildings, with their short construction periods and controllable quality, enable clients to complete data center deployments and put them into operation within a short time.
• Residential Projects: For instance, in a public housing project in Shenzhen, Guangdong, five residential buildings nearly 100 meters high were assembled from 6,028 concrete modules. Compared to traditional construction methods, the completion and delivery time were significantly shortened, on-site labor was reduced by about 50%, and disturbances such as noise, dust, construction waste, and traffic congestion were greatly minimized.
• Other Diverse Categories: These include high-end office buildings, hotels, schools, modular data centers, staff dormitories, oil and gas camps, and senior living apartments.

Market Situation

The global market has seen breakthroughs at multiple points, with China's 'prefabricated houses' exports experiencing significant growth against the backdrop of steady global demand for digital infrastructure construction. Orders have surged notably; for example, in the first seven months of 2024, the Shatian Customs under the Huangpu Customs District supervised the export of 23 batches of modular houses, with a total value of 548 million yuan, a 7.3-fold increase year-on-year.

Advantages

• Addressing Labor Issues: The residential construction industry in Australia has been facing a persistent shortage of skilled workers in recent years. Transferring standardized tasks to factories in advance has become a way to improve construction efficiency.
• Cost-Effectiveness: In European and American countries, where construction labor costs are high, prefabricated houses offer relatively lower prices and higher cost-effectiveness. For example, in the United States, where construction labor costs are exorbitant, Chinese-made prefabricated houses have a significant price advantage.

Policy Support

In 2026, the Parliament of New South Wales, Australia, passed a new building reform bill, explicitly proposing to establish a clearer regulatory framework for prefabricated housing and modular construction, further clarifying responsibilities at each stage, with related supporting regulations to be continuously improved from 2026 to 2027.