How About Using Prefabricated Panels for Houses?

There are numerous issues with using prefabricated panels for houses, and it is not recommended. The specific reasons are as follows:

1. Almost zero earthquake resistance
Prefabricated panel houses have poor integrity, with a lack of firm steel bar connections between the floor slabs and walls, resembling a house built with building blocks. During an earthquake, horizontal forces can cause the floor slabs and walls to separate instantly, leading to the direct collapse of entire panels without any crack warnings or deformation buffers, greatly reducing escape opportunities. In historical earthquakes, the severe collapse and high casualty rates of prefabricated panel houses have been repeatedly verified.

2. Fragile connection points
Prefabricated panels are simply connected to walls, and the joint filling between panels lacks rigid frameworks (such as ring beams and structural columns). When the foundation settles or walls crack, the panels are prone to misalignment and loosening. Over long-term use, the connection points weather and the steel bars rust, further reducing strength. Some old houses have floor slabs that are on the verge of collapse after two or three decades of use, and even slight additional weight or wall demolition can trigger a chain collapse.

3. Frequent use of substandard materials
Although the steel bars in standard prefabricated panels are already thin, small workshops often substitute them with thin steel wires. The concrete grades are substandard, and the thickness is insufficient, resulting in significant material shortages. These panels have obvious brittle failure characteristics, unlike cast-in-place floor slabs which have toughness. Once overloaded, they can break instantly without any warning. Daily stacking of heavy objects, renovation work that involves hitting the floor, or aging over time can all lead to sudden collapses.

4. Poor sound insulation and thermal insulation
Prefabricated panel houses perform poorly in terms of thermal and sound insulation, being hot in summer and cold in winter, and allowing clear sounds from neighbors to be heard, seriously affecting living comfort.

5. Difficult to adjust the internal structure
Unlike modern commercial houses, prefabricated panel houses almost do not allow for large-scale modifications. Every wall may involve the overall structural safety, making it difficult for residents to customize their living spaces according to their needs.

6. High risk of water seepage
Over time, cement components are prone to cracks, and the gaps between panels increase, leading to frequent water seepage problems between floors. The repair costs are high and it is difficult to completely solve the issue.

7. Short service life
Prefabricated panel houses are designed with a service life of about 30-50 years. Most were built in the 1970s-1990s, and many have approached or exceeded their service lives. Aging is widespread, posing safety hazards.