Prefabricated Building: Characteristics and Benefits

Prefabricated Building 

A prefabricated building is constructed using prefabricated components. This type of construction is relatively fast and cost-effective. With design improvements, prefabricated buildings also offer increased flexibility and variety, making them a modern and advanced construction method. Prefabricated buildings can be categorized into five types: block buildings, panel buildings, box buildings, frame panel buildings, and lift-slab buildings. 

Characteristics of Prefabricated Buildings:

1. Factory Production of Components: A large number of building parts are manufactured and processed in workshops. The main types of components include exterior wall panels, interior wall panels, composite panels, balconies, air conditioning panels, stairs, prefabricated beams, and prefabricated columns.

2. On-Site Assembly: There is a significant reduction in on-site casting work compared to traditional construction methods.

3. Integrated Design and Construction: The ideal scenario is for decoration to proceed simultaneously with the main construction, thanks to integrated design and construction processes.

4. Standardized Design and Information Management: The more standardized the components, the higher the production efficiency and the lower the cost of the components. Combined with digital factory management, the cost-effectiveness of prefabricated buildings will continue to increase.

5. Compliance with Green Building Requirements: Prefabricated buildings meet green building standards.

6. Energy Saving and Environmental Protection: Prefabricated buildings are energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.

Additional Characteristics: 

1. Functional Diversity: Prefabricated buildings significantly reduce on-site casting work, which can greatly improve labor productivity. Functionally, they offer excellent insulation, keeping homes warm in winter and cool in summer, reducing the need for air conditioning and thus minimizing air pollution. Additionally, they provide good sealing and sound insulation, and excellent fire and earthquake resistance. Prefabricated buildings are made from special materials that ensure a safe and comfortable living environment, resistant to spontaneous combustion in dry weather, and free from long-term issues like cracking or yellowing.

2. Assembly-Based Construction: Most components of prefabricated buildings are manufactured and processed in factories. Integrated design and construction of civil buildings and decoration can be completed in factories, ensuring high-quality decoration and accelerating overall project progress. Due to the lighter weight of prefabricated buildings compared to traditional buildings, construction can proceed quickly and efficiently on-site.

3. Diverse Design: Prefabricated buildings meet green building requirements and have higher degrees of standardized design and information management. With digital factory management, their cost-effectiveness continues to improve. Unlike traditional buildings with fixed room layouts, prefabricated buildings offer flexibility in size and layout to meet the needs of residents.

4. Prefabricated Building Construction Technology: Prefabricated buildings represent the main form, product, and carrier of industrialized construction, characterized by industrialization, assembly, standardization, and integrated decoration. Prefabricated concrete structures are currently the most common form of prefabricated buildings in China.

   ①. Precast Main Components: Many building parts and components are prefabricated in workshops, utilizing advanced computing to replace traditional three-dimensional crosswork with flat construction methods, resulting in high-precision components with millimeter-level accuracy. The strong compatibility of concrete materials allows for a wide variety of prefabricated products.

    ②. Integrated Manufacturing Process: Precast components often utilize integrated manufacturing processes that combine waterproofing, insulation, and structural integrity, reducing material waste and construction procedures. The casting, curing, and storage of precast components are all carried out in factories, minimizing weather impacts and facilitating winter construction. Harmful substances in building materials are released during factory production and storage, ensuring the finished prefabricated buildings are safe for occupants.

    ③. Mechanized Assembly: After the prefabricated structural and building components are completed, they are transported to the construction site for mechanized assembly. Parallel engineering can be employed, with design drawings and component production, storage, and transportation occurring simultaneously with on-site foundation and underground work, enhancing efficiency and reducing construction time.

    ④. High Precision Requirements: Accurate measurement of lines and reserved hole positions is crucial. Factory production ensures component dimensions are fixed, requiring precise on-site measurements to avoid installation issues. Accurate elevation control is necessary for shear walls and composite slabs to fit correctly, avoiding excessive gaps that require rework. Precision in reserved holes and embedded components is essential to prevent construction difficulties and ensure structural safety.