The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development's Department of Building Energy Efficiency Releases 2017 Work Priorities: Comprehensively Advancing Prefabricated Construction

Recently, the Department of Building Energy Efficiency and Technology of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MOHURD) released its 2017 work priorities, which prominently feature four major measures to comprehensively advance prefabricated construction. These include: introducing the "Action Plan for Prefabricated Construction", improving standards and codes for prefabricated construction, promoting the development of the entire industrial chain of prefabricated construction, and cultivating enterprise groups with prefabricated construction capabilities. These measures deserve close attention.

I. Formulate Development Plans

Introduce the "Action Plan for Prefabricated Construction", clarifying action objectives and work tasks, and guiding key pilot regions, active promotion regions, and encouraged promotion regions to formulate provincial-level development plans, annual plans, and implementation schemes. Establish a statistical information system for prefabricated construction, strengthen supervision and assessment, and regularly report the progress of prefabricated construction in each province.

II. Improve Technical Standard Systems

Carry out evaluation and promotion activities for prefabricated construction technology systems and products, researching, sorting, and prioritizing the promotion of mature, advanced, and reliable technology systems. Develop relevant technical standards for prefabricated construction, prepare component and part standards as well as drawing collections, and improve the standards and codes for prefabricated construction.

III. Enhance the Supporting Capabilities of the Prefabricated Construction Industry

Conduct special investigations into prefabricated construction design, component and part production, prefabricated assembly construction, and full decoration, promoting the development of the entire industrial chain including design, production, construction, and decoration. Formulate management measures for demonstration cities and industrial bases for prefabricated construction, and establish a number of national-level demonstration cities for prefabricated construction, industrial bases, and engineering projects. Prepare a "Special Plan for the Development of Wood Structure Construction", and make progress in promoting pilot demonstrations of wood structure construction as well as the development of steel structure construction.

IV. Strengthen the Development of the Prefabricated Construction Workforce

Guide all regions to develop enterprise groups with prefabricated construction capabilities in conjunction with construction industry reforms and industrial structural adjustments. Increase training, publicity, and promotion efforts for prefabricated construction technology, and extensively carry out international exchanges and cooperation to promote talent development. Promote innovation in regulatory systems for design, production, construction, acceptance, and bidding that are compatible with prefabricated construction, and work together to advance general contracting for prefabricated construction projects as well as full decoration in prefabricated construction.

It can thus be seen that 2017 will be a year of comprehensive development for prefabricated construction, with breakthroughs expected in areas ranging from overall planning and standard specifications to industrial supporting capabilities and workforce development. For construction enterprises, keeping pace with the industry's development, entering the prefabricated construction market early, and enhancing management capabilities for prefabricated construction projects will be essential to meet market demand and achieve long-term growth.