MOHURD | Strict Implementation of Pre-Inspection and Use Control for Building Materials Across Regions

To effectively improve housing project quality, continuously meet the public's growing expectations for high-quality housing, and recently, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development issued a notice on launching a key rectification campaign targeting quality issues in urban residential construction.

Requirements: Strictly enforce material inspections upon entry to the site; resolutely prevent substandard 'engineering windows' and leaks from entering construction sites. All regions must strictly implement pre-inspection and use control for building materials, strengthen supervision and inspection efforts, promote testing institutions to conduct on-site sampling at construction sites, ensure sample randomness and representativeness, and strictly prohibit falsified or substituted sampling. Guide participating units to appropriately increase inspection ratios for critical materials such as doors and windows, waterproof membranes, and insulation materials. If non-compliant materials are found, expand testing scope accordingly. Exterior wall testing should focus on corner joint sealant, main structural wall thickness, glass thickness, air tightness, water tightness, and wind pressure resistance performance. For ground floor waterproofing, test material quality, water retention depth, and sealing structure. Non-compliant items must be cleared from construction sites according to regulations.

Details as follows:

Notice from the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development on Launching a Key Rectification Campaign for Quality Issues in Urban Residential Construction

Provincial and autonomous regional housing and urban-rural development departments, municipal housing and urban-rural development (management) commissions, and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps housing and urban-rural development bureaus:

To thoroughly implement central and State Council policy decisions, effectively improve housing project quality, and continuously meet the public’s rising demand for high-quality housing, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development will focus on addressing quality issues such as sound insulation, noise reduction, and leakage in urban residential projects, and launch a key rectification campaign. The following matters are hereby notified.

First, strictly enforce standard requirements—new residential projects must comply with updated standards.

All regions must urge construction units to strictly follow mandatory engineering construction standards. Design units must not lower design standards under the guise of 'optimized design.' Construction units are strictly prohibited from violating technical standards during construction. Starting from the implementation date of GB 55038-2025, 'Code for Quality Management of Residential Projects,' all new residential projects must strictly follow the new standards. Regions must fully implement sound insulation, noise reduction, and waterproofing standards, combining them with specific technical requirements for detailed measures.

Second, strictly review construction drawings and designs, treating sound insulation, noise reduction, and waterproofing as key review points.

All regions must urge construction units to submit residential project construction drawings and design documents to relevant review agencies for examination. Review agencies must prioritize sound insulation, noise reduction, and waterproofing in their assessments. For sound insulation, pay attention to both active and passive soundproofing design measures. For noise reduction, ensure detailed design for locations such as floor drains, sewage pipes, and water traps. For waterproofing, adhere to the principle of 'combining prevention and drainage, prioritizing drainage.' Verify whether drainage and waterproofing measures are complete. Strengthen oversight—construction units must not unilaterally modify approved construction drawings. Any necessary modifications must be resubmitted to the original reviewing agency for re-review.

Third, strictly inspect materials upon entry to the site, firmly preventing substandard 'engineering windows' and leaks from entering construction sites.

All regions must strictly implement pre-inspection and use control for building materials, strengthen supervision and inspection efforts, promote testing institutions to conduct on-site sampling at construction sites, ensure sample randomness and representativeness, and strictly prohibit falsified or substituted sampling. Guide participating units to appropriately increase inspection ratios for critical materials such as doors and windows, waterproof membranes, and insulation materials. If non-compliant materials are found, expand testing scope accordingly. Exterior wall testing should focus on corner joint sealant, main structural wall thickness, glass thickness, air tightness, water tightness, and wind pressure resistance performance. For ground floor waterproofing, test material quality, water retention depth, and sealing structure. Non-compliant items must be cleared from construction sites according to regulations.

Fourth, conduct real-performance testing and incorporate results into the housing quality assurance document.

All regions must organize sound insulation, noise reduction, and waterproofing performance tests before final acceptance of residential projects. For sound insulation, focus on airborne noise from doors and partitions, and impact noise from floors. After installation of drainage systems, perform tests on air tightness, ventilation airflow, and roof wind resistance. For waterproofing, both waterproofing and drainage performance must be tested. Urge construction units to include test results in the 'Housing Quality Assurance Document'.

Fifth, organize full-chain supervision and inspection, legally impose severe penalties on dishonest enterprises.

All regions must organize full-chain supervision and inspection covering design, materials, construction, and acceptance of new residential projects. Report any issues promptly. Strengthen credit management and market coordination. Enterprises involved in quality incidents or serious quality problems must be ordered to halt work immediately, and responsible entities and individuals must be severely punished by law. Enhance qualification screening, industry access restrictions, and other punitive measures. Strengthen credit penalties and enforce market exclusion measures in accordance with laws and regulations.

All regions must strengthen organizational leadership, enforce local responsibilities, and advance the key rectification campaign in a timely manner through regular coordination and effective implementation. Enhance technical support by assembling expert teams to deeply analyze local causes of housing quality issues. Based on practical application, address technical bottlenecks, guide industry practices, and promote widespread adoption. Establish the principle of 'delivery upon compliance,' actively publicize successful experiences and good practices during the rectification process, and genuinely provide the public with high-quality housing to create a positive social environment.

Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development General Office
April 9, 2025