Panel housing construction is one of the methods of prefabricated construction. It is based on the use of prefabricated reinforced concrete slabs or factory-made panels. Such products are used for the construction of administrative and large residential buildings. Such construction in world practice has found its wide distribution, this was served by three basic premises, among them:
- the need for mass construction;
- availability of an appropriate raw material base;
- comprehensive preparation of sites for mass development.
Panel house building is impossible without the presence of road tracks, which should differ in impressive load-bearing capacity and width, since this uses special equipment to deliver assembly units. Powerful crane equipment is also used, because the weight of the panels can reach 9 tons, and the boom reach of 30 m. The positive qualities of such house building are quick-mounted structures, a high degree of readiness for finishing work, the quality of structures and prefabricated elements, the last of which are manufactured by industrial way.
Prospects
Panel housing construction is developing quite rapidly today. Like any other technology described, it develops new engineering, design and planning solutions. For example, today the construction of houses with seamless facades is practiced. Then, just recently, the possibility of using external insulation technologies, which provides for the use of single-layer reinforced concrete panels, became known. Such thermal insulation does not delay the delivery of the facility on time, since such work is being carried out in parallel with the installation of utilities and the implementation of interior decoration of buildings.
If we consider in more detail the silent technology of building the facade, then we can note that each circuit is assembled from single-layer panels, the thickness of which can vary from 120 to 160 mm. After that, from the outside, a heat-insulating layer of materials that are characterized by a low coefficient of thermal conductivity is strengthened. In addition to such protection, the insulation acts as the basis for applying the plaster layer. A reinforcing layer is worn over the adhesive, the thickness of which can vary from 2 to 4 mm. A fiberglass mesh is pressed into the adhesive, and then a primer is applied.
The final stage of exterior decoration is the use of polymer, mineral or decorative rough plaster. Such a perspective of panel housing allowed to give buildings a modern look, improve their thermal insulation characteristics and close interpanel joints, eliminating cold bridges. This eliminates leaks that could cause freezing of the outer walls.
The facades received an individual appearance, now they can have a rich color scheme and are well amenable to repair if necessary. The prospects for panel house building also include the use of a ventilated facade, in the process of which ceramic granite panels are used, which are strengthened by the method of seamless decoration. Such a rapid spread of such technology is also due to the fact that the panels are of higher quality compared to monolithic structures.
Main advantages
Considering the advantages of panel housing, it can be noted that such buildings are quite cheap. Housing in buildings of this type is more profitable, and if we compare the price of an apartment in a panel house with a living area in a brick building, the difference will be significant. A plus can also be called the speed of construction. For example, a team of specialists can build a 17-storey building in six months, while 2.5 years will be needed to build a monolithic building.
Ready-made reinforced concrete structures are delivered to the construction site, which reduces the time for work. The outer panels already have window blocks, and inside there are ready-made channels for laying electrical wiring. If you are interested in the advantages of panel housing, you can also pay attention to the evenness of internal systems. The panels are manufactured in the factory, so the owners will not have to suffer for a long time with the application of plaster. There is no need to bring surfaces to perfect smoothness.
Such buildings almost do not sit down, so the owners can immediately begin repairs after the construction is completed. And in the newly built house there will be no distortions and other shortcomings. Among other things, the construction of such buildings is constantly being improved and modernized. Already this year, it is planned to build according to new requirements, projects of new buildings will have a free layout, and facades - a variety of design.
Key Cons
The presence of seams, which to this day remain between the panels, if the construction is not based on innovative technology, can be considered a big shortcoming in panel house building. If small cracks are present at the joints, then moisture will enter the room, as a result of which the walls will damp, and mold will appear on their surface. The downside is the low ability to accumulate heat. In winter, the walls quickly cool down, while in the summer they quickly heat up.
The construction of prefabricated houses is still being carried out according to old technologies, so such buildings have some drawbacks, among them:
- poor layout;
- roof leakage;
- uniformity of houses;
- lack of the ability to redevelop.
The main types of panel buildings
If we classify the described buildings, then we can distinguish frame and frameless buildings. The first type includes frame-panel, while the second - large-panel houses. Frame-panel can be divided into two additional structural schemes: with a full and with an internal frame. If we are talking about a full frame, then the building is formed using external supports and ribbed panels in the form of ceilings. The racks are fixed panels and internal partitions. If the building is being constructed using the technology of a full frame, then the method of longitudinal and transverse arrangement of the frame can be used. In frame-panel houses, the span length can vary from 5.6 to 6 m. Columns are located along the building, the distance between which can vary from 3.2 to 3.6 m.
Features of frameless buildings
Large-panel housing construction can be attributed to frameless construction. Depending on the number of storeys and the purpose of the building, several structural schemes can be distinguished, namely: buildings with supporting internal and external longitudinal and transverse partitions, buildings with self-supporting external and bearing transverse partitions, as well as houses with supporting external and longitudinal internal walls.
If we are talking about buildings with transverse partitions, then the supporting elements in them are internal cross-sectional partitions on which the ceilings rest. The outer panels in this case are lightened and reinforced, they act as enclosing elements, since the load from the overlap is not perceived by them.
Technological process
Panel house building, the technology of which is described in the article, provides for the production of elements at specialized enterprises, which are called frame-panel and large-panel house-building plants. The formation of the elements of a large-panel building is carried out in one of three main ways, namely: vertical formation in cassettes, using the aggregate-flow or conveyor method, as well as the method of vibro-rolling. In the latter case, a rolling mill is used.
At the next stage, transportation of finished panels is carried out, for this purpose panel trucks are used, which are a semi-trailer or trailer. Their carrying capacity sometimes exceeds 24 tons. Modern panel housing construction usually involves the installation of elements in a communication system. The construction of buildings consists in the use of external and internal load-bearing panels and floor slabs, which are installed next to each other, so that after pouring concrete joints and seams it turns out as little as possible. As a result, it is possible to create a sustainable structure.
Additional advantages and disadvantages of panel housing
Components of a prefabricated house, which have the appearance of reinforced concrete slabs, are made in the conditions of house-building plants. In quality, such products will always advantageously differ from those designs that are being built directly at the construction site. Frame-panel housing construction resembles the assembly of a children's design kit. The built-up area is less than that used in the construction of a brick house. Such time-consuming and lengthy processes, such as installation of reinforcement or concreting, which are characteristic of monolithic housing construction, are excluded. In this, experts see the main advantage over other types of construction.
Frame-panel housing construction has its drawbacks, which are expressed in the impossibility of producing a wide range of such structures. This is especially true for a variety of shapes that are limited to typical formwork. In factories, only those designs are made that require mass application. The widespread introduction of precast technology leads to the appearance of a huge number of buildings of the same type, which leads to the degradation of the region’s architecture.
Features of private panel housing construction
Private panel housing construction may include the use of SIP-material, the quality of which should be checked before purchase. If low-quality polystyrene foam or glue was used in their production, this can reduce the life of the house. It is not necessary to purchase panels that were made by the method of manual gluing, although such products are cheaper, they are of poor quality.
Low-rise panel housing must be carried out after checking the documentation, which confirms the quality of the products. The strength of the panels is determined by the quality of the polystyrene foam. For the construction of such a house, it is recommended to form a columnar foundation using piles. Sometimes a shallow strip foundation is set up. Such a foundation becomes a reliable support even for multi-story buildings. If such a foundation is not suitable for the reason that the soil is heaving, it is best to opt for a deep foundation strip foundation, it should have an expanded lower part. When building a house where there will be a basement or basement, it is worth stopping on a slab foundation. It is suitable for almost any soil and has high performance.
Construction technology
Houses from panel slabs begin to build with the construction of the foundation. The technology of its installation will depend on the variety of the chosen base. Among the advantages of the foundation on screw piles, one can single out the speed of work, as well as their all seasonality. This comparison is relevant if you take into account the slab or strip base.
After completing the construction of the foundation, you can begin to waterproof it, which will protect the base of the house from moisture. If there are elements made of steel or wood, they should be treated with special compounds that increase the quality and durability. If screw piles were installed, then a strapping beam is laid on them, but before that you need to lay the roofing material in 2 layers. Installation of timber is carried out in relation to the project prepared in advance.
Methodology
The construction of prefabricated houses in the next step involves the installation of flooring. The lower part of SIP panels is treated with a waterproofing solution, which prevents the material from being exposed to moisture. To merge the panels together, you can use a tenon-groove connection with a bar. Each side is strengthened with a self-tapping screw.
Before starting the installation on the tenon-groove side of the panels you need to apply the mounting foam. After that, the panels are sheathed with wooden boards. At the next stage, you can begin to mount the first floor. Work is underway on the lower harness. The smallest deviations from the project are unacceptable, as this will affect the correct installation of subsequent floors. Walls at this stage need to be marked; corner panels should be installed to complete their assembly. Next, the panels are mounted in relation to the perimeter of each room.
Conclusion
Panel housing construction provides for the completion of the assembly of the first floor in the corner. To close the end section, elements in the form of racks are used. The next step will be the installation of ceilings, as well as the construction of the roof. There is no need to build a rafter system. For the installation of the roof, special SIP panels are usually used, and there is no need to lay a layer of heat and vapor barrier.