Archive for June, 2009

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Shipping Container Conversions – Stacking Containers

Monday, June 29th, 2009
A lot of shipping container conversions involve two containers being stacked on top of one another with a store area underneath and an office on top. This maximises the use of the available space and can provide a very effective solution to combining storage and office facilities on a small site.
The shipping containers are locked into place using twist locks which secure the iso block corners safely together. The strength of the structure of theisoblocks allow this to happen securely and safely. But then the problem that is left is how to access the top container? The most practical solution is to link the steel containers together at the side using a metal staircase. This has the advantage of allowing the double doors of the underneath shippin container to still be accessible – particularly useful when larger items are to be stored in there.
Side Stairs

Side StairsStairs linking two containers

Metal staircases are not, however, cheap. They are normally priced at over £1,ooo – the price being dependant on the number of treads required – which is often a substantial part of the overall cost of the container conversion. There are more economic portable staircases on the market, but these do not necessarily fill all the health and safety requirements if your containers are going to be a permanent feature so you need to be careful.
wood and metal container staircase

wood and metal container staircase

Sometimes, a staircase is made using a wooden structure with just the treads of the staircase being made of metal. This certainly used to be a cheaper option, although it is doubtful whether that is the case nowadays – although it may well be worth asking the question of your supplier!
Most hauliers or shipping container companies will be happy to quote for stacking the containers, providing the twistlocks andfor erecting the staircase so that this can done quickly and easily on site without any delay. Just make sure you ask about it at the time of bookingas the additional timeit takes will need to be allowed for.
Stacked shipping containers are ideal for optimising the space available on site and extremely practical to use. Certainly something worth thinking about!

Shipping Container Security

Monday, June 29th, 2009

Shipping containers are used for more than import/export of goods.They areused by the shipping industry,businesses and individuals as a way of keeping items safe.

Steelstorage containers are secure methods forstoring expensive tools and equipment. Made of durable, corten steel they have a weatherproof patina which is especially designed to enable the storage container to resist rust. The double doors are fitted with a high security locking system which can be further enhanced by the addition of a container lock box.

The container lockbox is a steel shroud, which protects the padlock and prevents access by bolt croppers, chisels or angle grinders. When used with hardened steel shackled padlocks unauthorisedentry to the shipping container becomes very difficult. Shipping container security is greatly enhanced as a result.

So when you need additional space to store your items securely, think about the advantages a shipping container can offer for them.

Armed Forces Day – 27th June 2009

Saturday, June 27th, 2009

Shipping Container Conversions and the Armed Forces may not seem an obvious combination. However, today is Armed Forces Dayand there are many events going on this weekend to celebrate the role of the Armed Forces in Britain. By way ofour own tribute therefore, we thought we would use this opportunity to note how shipping containers – and shipping container conversions – have their own part to play in helping the Armed Forces do their job.

In the news recently, has been the Afghan Village set up in Thetford to help provide the Army with a”realistic” training opportunity. The mock village is used to prepare soldiers for likely scenarios (such as suicide bombers) in an authentic setting.

Shipping Containers are ued in the Afghan Village in the MOD training area in Thetford

Shipping Containers are ued in the Afghan Village in the MOD training area in Thetford

Shipping Containers were converted by being battened on the outside, then overlaid with wire mesh before being sprayed with cement render to simulate a traditional Afghan village house. Finishing touches were provided in the form of live chickens and sheep with Gurkhas often playing the part of villagers.
Ammunition Store

Ammunition Store

The Armed Forces have long been open to the opportunties offered by shipping containers. Other conversions have included ammunition stores and armouries. The temperature controlled environment provided by refrigerated shipping containersis ideal for storing explosives and lengthen their shelf life as well as making sure that the explosives are more stable.
The British Army was among the first to exploit shipping containers as accommodation. Having bought a Coastel (a floating complex of shipping containers converted into living units) that was originally commissioned as an hotel on the Barrier Reef to serve as accommodation in the Falklands, it subsequently bought two further supplementary Coastels to more alongside in the Falkland Sound. Subsequently, the Army used Corimechs in the Balkans which are actually 20ft shipping containers converted into site accommodation and ablution blocks as well as site offices.
But let us not forget the traditional uses that these steel containers can be put to. The Armed Forces regularly use iso containers (as the military tend to call shipping containers) for storage and shipping.
ISO Shipping Containers Used by the Armed Forces

ISO Shipping Containers Used by the Armed Forces

Whilst we may not be able to physically give the Armed Forces a standing ovation such as they received on Wimbledon Centre Court today, we hope that this post goes a little way to celebrating all that they do and that this has given you a chance to think about some of the many roles they play and how this overlaps into so many different areas – not least of which is shipping containers.

Shipping Containers – Dimensions

Friday, June 26th, 2009

I am often being asked to give details of size and weight of shipping containers, so I thought it would be useful to attach a table giving the details.


CS Shipping Containers


External Dimensions


Internal Dimensions


Door Dimensions


Cubic


Capacity


Max


Gross


Weight


Container Weight

Length

Height

Width

Length

Height

Width

Width

Height

8ft

8ft

2.44m

7’6”

2.29m

7′

2.13m

7’6″

2.29m

6’6″

1.98m

6’6″

1.98m

6’6″

1.98m

7’6”

2.28m

348 Cu ft

9.28m3

12,243lbs 6,000kg

2,075lbs 940kg

10ft

10ft

3.14m

8’6”

2.59m

8′

2.43m

18’10”

5.75m

7’10”

2.38m

7’8”

2.35m

7’8”

2.35m

7’6”

2.28m

561 Cu ft 15.88m3

22,400lbs

10,160kg

3.310lbs

1,500kg

20ft

20′

6.096m

8’6”

2.59m

8′

2.43m

18’10”

5.75m

7’10”

2.38m

7’8”

2.35m

7’8”

2.35m

7’6”

2.28m

1,160 Cu ft 32.85m3

47,625lbs 21,600kg

5,290lbs 2,400kg

40ft

40ft

12.23m

8’6”

2.59m

8′

2.43m

18’10”

5.75m

7’10”

2.38m

7’8”

2.35m

7’8”

2.35m

7’6”

2.28m

2,386 Cu ft 67.52m3

57,950lbs

26,280kg

9,260lbs

4,200kg

20ft High Cube

20′

6.096m

9’6”

2.89m

8′

2.43m

18’10”

5.75m

8’10”

2.69m

7’8”

2.35m

7’8”

2.35m

8’6”

2.58m

1,310 Cu ft

37.09m3

47,625lbs 21,600kg

5,290lbs 2,400kg

40ft High Cube

40ft

12.23m

9’6”

2.89m

8′

2.43m

39’5”

12.01m

8’10”

2.69m

7’8”

2.35m

7’8”

2.35m

8’6”

2.58m

2,700 Cu ft

76.43m3

58,200lbs

26,400kg

9,000lbs

4,080kg

45ft High Cube

45′

13.72m

9’6”

2.89m

8′

2.43m

44’4”

13.56m

8’10”

2.69m

7’8”

2.35m

7’8”

2.35m

8’6”

2.58m

3,040 Cu ft

86.1m3

67,200lb

30,480kg

10.580lb

4,800kg

These are the most common sizes of used shipping containers although there are, other more specialist containers such as flat racks etc that might be of interest to some of you and which we will feature on another occasion.

20ft Shipping Containers

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

Recently there has been a change in the world of shipping containers. The scarcity of 20ft second hand containers has meant that we are beginnng to see the price of 20ft containers being the same as, or sometimes more than, 40ft containers. This will come as a surprise to many who think that the price of containers goes up the larger they are!

20ft used shipping container

20ft used shipping container

The reason for this is simple.Market demand. 20fts are a more popular size with the second hand shipping container user as it is easier to fit in to a variety of locations than the 40ft. But why has this never been a problem before? After all, 20fts have always been more popular?
The economic recession has really hit the shipping industry. As a result the shipping lines are holding on to their shipping containers rather than replacing them with new ones. Less shipping containers are therefore being released onto the second hand market and, as a result, once the 20ft size is sold there are no more coming up to replace them.
Shipping containers will always provide versatile, secure storage – whatever their size. Perhaps though, if you are looking to buy a 20ft second hand container, buying one sooner rather than later maybe a good idea before the numbers available drop even further.

Refrigerated Containers – FAQ Part 2

Monday, June 22nd, 2009

So, carrying on from the questions we answered yesterday on refrigerated containers, we have the more technical aspect here. A big thanks to Kev for getting these through to us in a way that we had a chance of understanding.

What power does a refrigerated container require?
Most marine units run on 3 phase electricity. The actual requirements depend on the type of machine i.e. Carrier, Thermoking, Daikin, Misubishi, Zanotti etc., the ambient temperature, set point of the machine and the product placed inside. But to give an idea based on a Carrier machine set to chill in this country it would require 40/60 amps per phase on start up and on running will pull between 10/15 amps.
I don’t have a 3 phase electricity supply; can I still run my refrigerated container?
Some refrigerated shipping containers have been adapted to run from the single phase domestic electricity supply. These are normally more expensive than the 3 phase models due to the additional work involved in converting them. Alternatively, all refrigerated containers can be run off diesel powered gen-sets which clip onto the front of the machine.

What length is a cable on a refrigerated container?
On average the length of cable is 18 metres but this varies depending on the type of machine.

How often should I service my refrigerated container?

Every 6 months is recommended although this does depend on where the refrigerated shipping container is sited. In a very dirty or dusty environment if not cleaned out regularly it will affect the operation of the unit and so a much more frequent servicing programme is recommended.

Hope you now know everything you need to know about refrigerated units – and I suspect many of you will know much more than you ever thought possible – so that tomorrow we can return to less technical stuff!

Shipping Containers and Cars

Sunday, June 21st, 2009

If you don’t have enough garage space, or are looking for a secure, easily transportable solution for storing your car maybe shipping containers could provide the answer.

The roads at the weekends at the moment, are filled with vintage cars driving to various rallies and shows. They look immaculate and well cared for but what happens to them during the winter months when safe, dry storage must surely be paramount.Years ago, you would have found them stored in old barns and lock ups, perhaps even under converted railway arches and taking pride of place in people’s garages. However, these days, many of these spaces will have other uses. Barns have been converted into houses. Most railway arches seem to be businesses of one kind or another.Garages, are often converted into additional space or granny flats as people can not afford to move.

Vintage cars have so much historical, and often financal, value these days. They are, after all, irreplacable. As such the security aspect of storage is of paramount importance. A steel shipping container, fitted with locking rods and lock cowls provides inexpensive and secure storage containers. A car will fit into the container and kept in weatherproof conditions until it is required. If the car is extremely valuable, additional security can be provided in the form of monitors that will transmit to a mobile phone – or computer or similar device – when the container is moved (and use satellite trackers so you know exactly where the container is!) or even inform the owner when the container doors are opened.

Condensation can be controlled by using moisture traps so that there is no possibilty of mould to the leather and rubber in the car.

TVR Griffith

TVR Griffith

TVR Griffith being loaded into shipping container

TVR Griffith being loaded into shipping container

If there are concerns about adding additional mileage to the car, don’t forget that the vintage car can even be transported to the location within the shipping container itself. After all shipping containers are often used to ship cars abroad – or even into this country. Chocks are placed under the wheels and the car is secured to the lashing rings in the container to provide stability.

But vintage cars are not the only vehicle that can make use of shipping containers. Refrigerated containers can be used to test prototypes of cars at various temperatures. Range Rover recently tested their latest model at a temperature of -20C using a refrigerated shipping container to provide a controlled environment.

Self Storage Depots have seen a rise in the number of cars that are stored in their containers. Often 20ft containers are used to store the owner’s car at a reasonable cost whilst their driving ban is in force. With 24 hour security they provide an ideal solution.

Whatever the reason for needing to store your car, shipping containers could provide an economic, secure and practical solution to your problem.

Shipping Containers – Walls and Conversions

Saturday, June 20th, 2009
Shipping Containers are, as we know, extremely versatile. There are all sorts of shipping container conversions limited only by the imagination. What we often forget though is possibly the most basic “conversion” of all – the shipping container wall.

These are made of numbers of shipping containers, either 20ft or 40ft, often piled up 5 or 6 high and used as either windbreaks, enclosures or even as giant advertising hoardings.

Basic shipping container conversion - the wall

Recently, the film Gulliver’s Travels, which is being made at Pinewood Studios, used over 80 second hand shipping containers – both 20ft and 40ft – to form a backdrop. Covered with green cloth, the shipping containers were cheaper to use, and quicker to assemble , than the more conventional scaffolding.

The world of drama often uses shipping containers, indeed the second series of the highly popular drama “The Wire” as based around the freight port in Baltimore. Closer to home “Dr Who” has used shipping containers.

We have also got used to seeing walls of containers used as advertising hoardings. Companies all across the UK are using the walls to promote their profile – often using additional container doors set into the back of the wall of containers so that they can be used for traditional storage as well.

Today is the European Team Championships for the world of athletics.The stadium in Leira,Portugal, although traditionallyconstructed, is brightly coloured and made me think of shipping containers. With the approach of the 2012 olympics maybe we should consider using shipping containers to quickly form stadiums for our athletes to practice in. Obviously this could be taken up to the ultimate level with shipping containers converted into actual stands of seating, but at their simplest they would provide the ideal windbreak.

Shipping Container Walls maybe the most basic of “conversions” but they certainly have their uses!

Shipping Container Conversions – High View Primary Learning Centre

Friday, June 19th, 2009

Shipping Containers provided the answer to much needed storage for PE kit for High View Primary Learning Centre in Barnsley.

20ft shipping container conversion

20ft shipping container conversion

The school needed a storage containernearer to the school playing fields so that equipment was easily accessed. In order to make sure that the children had no problems opening the doors, a personnel door was put in th centre of one of the sides and the double container doors sealed off for added security. Inside the container was shelved so that there was plenty of storage space.

shipping container conversion close up

shipping container conversion close up

CS Shipping Containers is particularly keen to work with schools and can arrange for delivery before the school day starts if this makes it easier. Do feel that if you have any specific requirements for your shipping container conversion that you can talk it through with us so that you can get exactly what you need.

“I’d recommend CS Shipping Containers to any school without hesitation. All the staff, from sales through to delivery, provided a first rate service and ensured that the container met our exact specifications.”

Tim Marsh, Business Manager, High View Primary Learning Centre

Shipping Containers – A Surfer’s Dream!

Tuesday, June 16th, 2009

With the weekend a few hours away, we wanted to think of something fun to do with Shipping Containers and leisure. Our eyes nearly popped out of our head when we saw this shipping container transformed into transportable surfers/swimmers dream.

Surfing in Shipping Container

The mechanism that produces the endless waves are housed in the specially converted steel containers and are able to produce waves for all abilities – smooth or steep or even breaking wave faces. The depth of the container allows or there to be a natural cushion of water underneath in case of a fall which makes the whole thing as safe as possible. The fact that the whole thing is housed in shipping containers means that it is easily transportable!

Unfortunately, Susan and I are unable to rush off and test our surfing abilities at the moment as theseconverted shipping containersseem to only be available in the USA – particularly in the California area – but we are ever hopeful that we will be given the chance one day!

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