Prefabricated Panel House

Prefabricated panel houses are buildings constructed primarily using prefabricated panels. Prefabricated assembled buildings represent a broader concept of prefabricated panel houses, while modular buildings are a more highly integrated model within the realm of prefabricated assembled buildings. Here is a detailed introduction:

Prefabricated Panel Houses: Prefabricated panels are cement components manufactured in factories. During production, wooden models are nailed together, steel bars are arranged, and cement is poured to form the panels. These panels come in two types: solid and hollow. The hollow structure achieves lightweighting by reducing the non-load-bearing concrete. This building form originated in the early 20th century and was mainly used for floor slabs and roof insulation layers. In China, many residential buildings constructed before 1985 adopted this structure. Prefabricated panel houses offer the advantage of fast construction. Many houses allocated to employees by units in the 1970s and 1980s were of this type. However, existing prefabricated panel houses generally suffer from issues such as weak earthquake resistance, poor sound and heat insulation, and a service life of approximately 30-50 years. Since 2022, China has implemented renovation policies, focusing on repairing and upgrading prefabricated panel houses and only demolishing those that meet the criteria for dangerous buildings.

Prefabricated Assembled Buildings: Also known as pre-cast houses, these represent a broader concept of prefabricated panel houses. They refer to a building form where building components are industrially produced and assembled on-site. The main types include panel-assembled, box-assembled, and frame-assembled buildings. The technology encompasses prefabricated concrete structures and steel structures, with components including prefabricated beams, panels, walls, and columns. These buildings offer advantages such as shortened construction periods and reduced pollution.

Modular Buildings: These are a more highly integrated model within the realm of prefabricated assembled buildings. They involve breaking down a building into individual independent modules, manufacturing them in factories, and then transporting them to the construction site for assembly. This construction model offers advantages such as short construction periods, controllable quality, energy efficiency, environmental protection, and ease of maintenance.

Chinese companies' comparative advantages in prefabricated housing lie primarily in steel structures and concrete. Steel structures are lightweight, suitable for ocean transportation and high-rise buildings, while concrete structures are closer to traditional living experiences and have high acceptance in the domestic market.