Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development Releases the "Implementation Plan for Promoting Equipment Renewal in Buildings and Municipal Infrastructure"

To implement the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, and in accordance with the requirements of the "State Council Notice on Issuing the Action Plan for Promoting Large-Scale Equipment Renewal and Consumer Goods Replacement" (State Council Document No. 7 [2024]), this implementation plan is formulated to orderly advance equipment renewal in buildings and municipal infrastructure, with the approval of the State Council.

1. General Requirements

Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the plan thoroughly implements the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the arrangements of the Central Economic Work Conference and the Fourth Meeting of the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission. Adhering to the principles of market leadership with government guidance, encouraging advanced technology while phasing out outdated equipment, and standards-driven orderly upgrades, the plan focuses on key areas such as residential elevators, water supply, heating, gas supply, sewage treatment, sanitation, urban lifeline projects, and building energy efficiency retrofits. It aims to expand domestic demand, benefit people's livelihoods, ensure safety, and guarantee the safe, green, and intelligent operation of urban infrastructure, promoting high-quality urban development. By 2027, equipment that is technologically outdated, fails to meet relevant standards and regulations, or does not comply with energy-saving and environmental requirements will be systematically updated or retrofitted.

2. Key Tasks

（1）Renewal of Aging Residential Elevators

In accordance with safety technical standards such as "Safety Rules for the Construction and Installation of Lifts" (GB/T 7588) and "Safety Assessment Rules for In-Service Lifts" (GB/T 42615), residential elevators that have been in service for a long time, have low configuration levels, high failure rates, prominent safety hazards, or strong public demand for renewal will be updated, retrofitted, or overhauled based on hazard inspections or safety risk assessments. Renewed elevators must meet requirements for cost-effectiveness, safety, durability, smooth operation, environmental friendliness, and communication connectivity.

（2）Retrofitting Elevators in Existing Residential Buildings

Aligned with urban renewal and old residential community renovation efforts, and to meet the needs of an aging population, the plan promotes the retrofitting of elevators in existing residential buildings based on government guidance, resident willingness, local management, and safety standards. Factors such as resident preferences, structural conditions, functionality, safety, and cost-effectiveness will be considered. Construction must not compromise the original structural safety. Approval and inspection of newly added shafts and evacuation passages will be strengthened, and management and maintenance responsibilities must be clarified before installation. Elevator retrofits are encouraged to adopt level-access designs for barrier-free accessibility.

（3）Renewal of Water Supply Facilities and Equipment

Following standards such as "Code for Urban Water Supply Projects" (GB 55026), "Anti-Terrorism Requirements for Urban Water Supply Systems" (GA 1809), and "Hygienic Specifications for Secondary Water Supply Facilities" (GB 17051), water treatment plants and secondary water supply (pressurized storage) facilities in residential communities that affect water quality, are outdated, damaged, state-banned, energy-intensive, or inefficient will be updated. This includes pumps, electrical equipment, chemical dosing systems, monitoring and control devices, valves, and specialized machinery in water plants, as well as complete systems, water tanks, pumps, control systems, and security equipment in residential secondary water supply facilities.

（4）Renewal of Sewage Treatment Facilities and Equipment

In line with "Code for Urban and Rural Drainage Projects" (GB 55027) and "Discharge Standard of Pollutants for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants" (GB 18918), facilities and equipment that fail to meet standards, are state-banned, or do not comply with energy-saving and carbon reduction requirements will be updated. This includes pumps, blowers, sludge treatment equipment, chemical dosing systems, monitoring and control devices, deodorization systems, valves, and specialized machinery.

（5）Renewal of Heating Facilities and Equipment

Based on standards such as "Advanced, Energy-Saving, and Minimum Allowable Energy Efficiency Levels for Key Energy-Consuming Products and Equipment (2024 Edition)," "Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Technical Regulations for Boilers" (TSG 91), "Minimum Allowable Values of Energy Efficiency and Energy Efficiency Grades for Industrial Boilers" (GB 24500), and "Emission Standard of Air Pollutants for Boilers" (GB 13271), coal-fired boilers that exceed service life, fail to meet energy efficiency standards (below industrial boiler energy-saving level or Grade 2), or emit non-compliant pollutants will be updated or retrofitted. Priority will be given to phasing out coal-fired boilers with capacities of 35 tons/hour or below and replacing them with heat pump systems. Heat exchangers and pump motors that exceed service life or fail energy efficiency standards will also be updated, following standards such as "Technical Conditions for Heat Exchange Stations in Hot Water Heating Networks" (GB/T 38536), "Minimum Allowable Values of Energy Efficiency and Evaluating Values of Energy Conservation for Clean Water Centrifugal Pumps" (GB 19762), and "Heat Exchange Units for District Heating" (GB/T 28185). Heating metering retrofits will be actively promoted, including the installation of metering devices.

（6）Standardized Renewal and Construction of LPG Filling Stations

In accordance with "Code for Gas Engineering Projects" (GB 55009) and "Design Code for Liquefied Petroleum Gas Supply Engineering" (GB 51142), equipment that fails inspections, exceeds service life, has severely damaged or corroded components, or poses safety risks with no repair value will be updated. This includes storage tanks, loading arms, compressors, filling systems, LPG pumps, fire pumps, valves, fire safety and control equipment, as well as non-compliant LPG cylinders per "Liquefied Petroleum Gas Cylinders" (GB 5842). Intelligent upgrades are encouraged to enhance automation, informatization, and smart operations in the LPG sector.

（7）Urban Lifeline Projects

Urban lifeline projects will be fully implemented in prefecture-level and above cities, with IoT-enabled smart sensors installed or updated for underground pipelines, bridges, tunnels, and manhole covers, accompanied by monitoring networks. This shifts urban safety risk control from passive response to proactive prevention, integrating modern IT with lifeline projects. New urban infrastructure IoT devices will be designed, constructed, inspected, and delivered alongside main equipment. Retrofits of aging facilities and communication infrastructure can align with urban renewal, old community renovation, and gas pipeline upgrades.

（8）Renewal of Sanitation Facilities and Equipment

Following the "Catalog of High-Energy-Consuming Outdated Electromechanical Equipment (Products)" and standards such as "Technical Standard for Operation and Maintenance of Municipal Solid Waste Transfer Stations" (CJJ/T 109) and "Standard for Pollution Control on Municipal Solid Waste Incineration" (GB 18485), high-energy-consuming, outdated, frequently faulty, or hazardous equipment will be updated. This includes sanitation vehicles, transfer station compactors, waste incineration power generation systems, construction waste recycling (sorting, crushing, reprocessing) equipment, and recyclables sorting (sorting, compressing, baling) equipment. Renewal with new energy vehicles and smart, unmanned sanitation equipment is encouraged.

（9）Construction Equipment

Per "Technical Code for Inspection of Construction Machinery and Equipment on Site" (JGJ 160), construction machinery and equipment in use for over 10 years, with high pollution, energy consumption, severe wear, or outdated technology will be phased out. This includes excavators, cranes, loaders, concrete mixers, lifts, and bulldozers. Renewal with new energy, advanced technology machinery, smart lifts, and construction robots is encouraged.

（10）Building Energy Efficiency Retrofits

Based on the "Advanced, Energy-Saving, and Minimum Allowable Energy Efficiency Levels for Key Energy-Consuming Products and Equipment (2024 Edition)" and "General Code for Building Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Utilization" (GB 55015), equipment such as heat pumps, radiators, chillers, windows (curtain walls), wall (roof) insulation, and lighting systems that exceed service life, are energy-inefficient, or pose safety risks with no repair value will be updated.

3. Supporting Policies

（1）Fiscal and Tax Policies

Eligible equipment renewal projects will receive appropriate support through central budget investments and other funding channels. Central fiscal funds will subsidize the renewal of aging residential elevators and retrofitting elevators in existing buildings. Tax incentives for public infrastructure, accelerated depreciation of fixed assets, and resource utilization will be implemented.

（2）Financial Support

Relending policies will guide financial institutions to support equipment renewal and technological upgrades. Central fiscal funds will provide interest subsidies for eligible bank loans supporting building and municipal infrastructure equipment renewal. Housing maintenance funds will be better utilized for elevator renewal and retrofitting.

（3）Pricing Mechanisms

Local governments will establish dynamic adjustment mechanisms for water, heating, sewage, and waste treatment pricing. Natural gas price linkage mechanisms will be accelerated, with cautious adjustments to end-user prices.

（4）Standard Enhancement

Standards will lead the way, with sector-specific upgrades in buildings and municipal infrastructure. International benchmarks will guide the formulation or revision of standards for water supply, heating, gas, sewage, and waste treatment. Mandatory energy consumption, emission, and safety standards, along with equipment phase-out catalogs, will be strictly enforced to accelerate the retirement of non-compliant equipment.

（5）Resource Guarantees

Land and energy resources will be secured for enterprise technological upgrades. Projects without new land use, focusing on equipment renewal, will have streamlined approval processes. R&D for low-carbon, energy-saving equipment and processes will be promoted.

4.Safeguard Measures

（1）Strengthen Organizational Leadership

Local governments should leverage large-scale equipment renewal to address shortcomings, upgrade systems, and improve quality and efficiency in building and municipal infrastructure. Provincial governments will develop localized implementation plans, clarify targets, and introduce supportive policies. Housing and urban-rural development departments will collaborate with development, reform, and finance agencies to identify renewal needs, plan projects, and guide implementation.

（2）Enhance Coordination

Provincial and municipal governments will define task divisions and assign responsibilities. Housing and urban-rural development departments will coordinate with development, reform, finance, and market regulation agencies to ensure collaborative efforts.

（3）Ongoing Monitoring and Evaluation

Provincial and municipal housing and urban-rural development departments will track progress and report updates. Projects will be managed via lists, with annual evaluations to address issues and share best practices.