Archive for June, 2009

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Shipping Container Conversions – Part 2 of A Diary

Saturday, June 13th, 2009

Yesterday we discussed the process of ordering a shipping container conversion. Today I promised that we would go through some of the options that you might want to consider when converting your container.

If the container is going to be used as an office, site accommodation or a classroom, the first thing is to insulate and line it. The most common method of doing this is with a combination of rockwool and melamine faced board. This produces nice smoothwalls and ceilings- although you can choose to have wall paper or a painted finish if you require. Flooring is generally placed over the existing wooden shipping container floor. The most common is a hard wearing lino although carpet (and in particular carpet tiles) are another favourite.

10 ft office conversion

10 ft office conversion

The next thing to consider is the number of windows required. For a 20ft container the normal requirement is between 2 and 4 windows and for a 40ft 4 or 8 windows. The windows can be double glazed and are normally 3ftx3ft with lockable steel shutters for security. As far as access is concered it is quite common for the double shipping container doors to either be sealed off or replaced with a blank end and personnel door put into the container – usually on one of the long sides.

Shipping containers are then ideally suited to be fitted with electrics, lighting and heating. Specify the number of double or single sockets you require and, if possible, where they are to be located within the container.

shipping container conversion

shipping container conversion

Do remember too that it is perfectly possible to have containers joined together along the length to give additional width. Bespoke Container Conversionsare able to do this with up to 5 containers and then go up to 7 storeys high due to the strength of the corner posts of a genuine ISO shipping container.

These are just the basic alterations that you can have to a shipping container. Plumbing, glass frontage, internal bulkheads and air conditioning are also possibilities – in fact most things are possible so don’t be afraid to ask. And if you are looking for something temporary on a short term basis, don’t forget that standard offices and site accommodation are available on a hire basis as well.

Shipping Container Conversions – Offices

Friday, June 12th, 2009
Shipping Container Conversion - Box Office

Shipping Container Conversion - Box Office

A new shipping container conversion has begun in Providence, Rhode Island using32 shipping containers which are being recycled to form 12 offices/studios. The “Box Office” project is designed to be eco friendly and will use 25% less energy than a conventional building. The project was inspired by seeing shipping containers piled high at various ports round the United States and the desire to re-use them economically. These green principles are echoed in the way in which the project is being built. High performance doors and windows will provide extra insulation, energy recovery ventilators will provide fresh air and conserve energy. Heat pumps will be used to provide heating and cooling and low-energy light fixtures and daylight harvesting will reduce electrical usage further. Maybe best of all is the fact that there will be lease incentives to encourage tenants.

It is really great to see another project re-using what is essentially an industrial waste product. On average using shipping containers in building projects mean that a third less energy and time are used in the actual construction.Modern insulating techniques mean that the container is at least as energy efficient as a standard house, but projects like the Box Office which makes use of the energy saving options available really take energy efficiency to the next level.

Cargo City

Cargo City

Similar projects have already been completed in London. Cargo City is in the heart of the Docklands and offers accommodation and working space.The first phase was completed in 2001 and was so successful that a second phase was completed in 2002.

Whether using 20ft or 40ft shipping containers it is amazing what architects and designers can be used for!

Chemical Stores Hazardous Goods Storage

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009

There are many types of shipping container conversions, some of which we have detailed in previous posts. One of the most common, but maybe one of the most technical is for chemical or hazardous good storage.

Chemical stores are a specialist conversion that have to take into account what is actually going to be stored in them. At the very least they normally will have a bunded aluminium anti spark floor so that spillage is kept within the container and there is no danger of a spark from the metal floor igniting any flammable liquid.

chemical store with bund

chemical store with bund

This is fine for storing items that do not weigh very much but very difficult if the agricultural store is designed to store large barrels of liquid – such as diesel on a building site for example. For that a sump is fitted below the floor level with meshed guttering around the sides of the floor for any spilt liquid to drain through.

chemical store guttering

chemical store guttering

This obviously makes it much easier to move the barrels in and out of the container as there is no need to lift them over the raised bund – although it does make the chemical store more expensive as it is much more work to fit this sunken sump. Any liquid spills can be drained away through the use of a tap on the outside of the container so they can be safely disposed of.

Chemical or Dangerous Good Stores are, as I said, a particularly technical area of container conversion and in our next blog we will deal with some more of the elements that need to be considered when customising the chemical store for use.

Shipping Container Conversions

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

It is no good, I haven’t been able to get Susan away from thinking about the shipping container that housed the wave machine for surfers and swimmers that we featured in our last blog. All she has been going on about since then is getting the right sort of kit to wear whilst learning to surf. So before getting into more serious issues later this week, I thought that I would share with you a photo of a sports shop that is made from an adapted container – which could well be the answer to all of Susan’s shopping needs.

Shipping Container Conversion

This shipping container conversion would be ideal just about anywhere, and whilst here we see it converted into a retail outlet for sportswear, it could really be adapted to sell just about anything. Think how useful it would be at one of the many events we have going on in this country – ,be it a game fair or one of the county shows or even a food or music festival.

The fact that it is a steel container would make it very secure when locked at night and it is easily transportable so it could be put almost anywhere. Particularly if you placed it on its own plinth as featured here – quite a thought.

Shipping Container Conversions

Monday, June 8th, 2009

Shipping Containers can be used in so many ways that there is always a new conversion specification to produce.

Torque Container Outside

Torque Container Outside

Last month Prime Horizontal, a company based in USA, commissioned two 20ft high cube iso shipping containers to be converted to house a hoist and needed steel work and power to support it. Two further standard sized iso 20ft shipping container conversions were required to be fitted out with cupboards and shelves to house all the supporting equipment required. All were resprayed in the company colours. These iso containers are going to be shipped between Europe and the USA depending upon the company’s requirements.

Re-enforcing steel work on torque container

Re-enforcing steel work on torque container

This type of conversion is very different to the classrooms and offices that are more usually associated with shipping container conversions, but challenging in its own right. All four units took about 10 working days between them to complete before departing to the Netherlands and to Aberdeen.

Close up of steel work on torque container

Close up of steel work on torque container

Shipping Container Conversions – Plant Rooms

Monday, June 8th, 2009

Shipping Container Conversions are varied. We have got used to seeing Shipping Containers as houses, shops and even surfing tanks. We forget that often they are used for more straightforward and industrial uses. For example, we have just completed a container conversion cutting down a 40ft new high cube container into a 25ft plant room.

25ft shipping container conversion

25ft shipping container conversion

Extra set of doors added to Conversion

Extra set of doors added to Conversion

The high cube container needed an additional personnel door as well as another set of container doors at the front end of the container. It also had to have three apertures cut into the container to allow for the pipework. Steel C sections were added to take the spread the weight of the generator over the floor of the container. The container was then sprayed in the company colours before being delivered to the client for them to put in the plant.
This is only one type of plant room conversion. Other conversions have involved putting in extensive steel work to support plant for a torque conversion. Lighting and basic electrics were also required. Often soundproofing is needed so that the noise from the plant is container within the container.
30ft steel work for30ft steel work for torque container torque container
But why use shipping containers to house plant? The fact that shipping containers make plant easily transportable as well as being infinitely adaptable may provide the answer. These shipping container conversions may not be as glamorous as some others but all are as essential.

Shipping Container Cost

Sunday, June 7th, 2009

The cost of new /once used shipping containers has been rising.Even though cost wise shipping containers compare favourably to other means of secure storage, in the last month the cost of a 20ft new /once used shipping container hasincreased by nearly £200. The next batch of new containers exported in from China is likely to be more expensive again. Why should that be when the price of steel is dropping?

Shipping Container cost has always been dependant on both the condition of the container and its location (and therefore the transportation costs involved). The market price of its principal constituent, corten steel, has also been relevant. These are the factors that most people would consider to be the controlling influence on the cost of shipping containers. What is often not taken into consideration as far as shipping containers are concerned is the effect of the currency exchange rate.

Forshipping containers, the currency exchange rate has had a major effect on the cost. Anything to do with shipping uses the US Dollar as its currency. As we all know the Pound Sterling has been dropping significantly against the US Dollar andthishas meantthatthere are less shipping containers to the pound! However, this has resulted in two other knock oneffects onthecost of shipping containers.

Firstly, as far asnew shipping containers are concerned , the price increasehasmeant thatless new shipping containers are being ordered. As a direct result of this some of the factories in China (the main producer of new shipping containers) have closed – and as we all know less competition is never a good thing for competitive pricing!

Secondly, the shipping industry itself is suffering in this recession with less actual shipping happening on a world-wide basis. This hasmeant that the shipping lines are tightening their belts and are holding onto their existing shipping containers for longer. There are therefore less used shipping containers coming onto the market. At the moment the second hand market is holding steady price wise, but prices will no doubt rise as second hand containers become scarcer.

All is not doom and gloom however. In comparison to many other forms of storage, shipping containers are – and will be – priced favourably. After all manyother materials are also increasing in price due to the market conditions! Shipping container conversions such as offices, accommodation and classrooms are going to continue to be a more economic solution than conventional building methods. The modular construction of shipping containersand theirintegral strength mean that they are not only ideally suited for many projects but also that they are always going to be quicker to assemble and instal than bricks and mortar. The fact that the containers are designed to be easily transported by road, rail and sea mean thatdelivery of the containers onto site is not a problem. In short, despite the price increases, shipping containers stillhave a lot going for them!

How long this world-wide recession and the weakness of the Pound Sterling will continue is open to speculation. What will always be true is that shipping containers will continue to be a versatile and economic solution.

Shipping Containers in Education

Saturday, June 6th, 2009

We have been getting a lot of enquiries recently from schools asking about shipping containers for secure storage. Storage needs range from keeping bicycles safe, additional on-site storage for sports equipment to archiving school records. The requirements range from an 8ft container to a 40ft one.

What has been most marked recently though is the number of schools asking about shipping container conversions to provide classrooms either permanently or whilst a major redevelopment project is being undertaken. Obviously, whilst standard considerations apply to this sort of conversion such as insulation, windows, personnel doors, heating and lighting, special consideration has to be taken into account as the containers are going to be used by children. This affects lighting for example which has to be of a higher tamper proof variety than that installed in, say, a standard office conversion. Anti slip flooring is also important.

CS Shipping Containers also tries to arrange deliveries of either storage containers or the classroom shipping container conversion to fit in with the school time table. Often we deliver first thing in the morning before school starts in order to create as little inconvenience and to reduce any safety risks that may be incurred when children are around.

Shipping Containers – more cartoons

Friday, June 5th, 2009

You may remember last Friday we featured shipping container cartoons set in Wales, Scotland and Ireland and completely left out England altogether. Well, in order to redress the balance we are going to fly the flag for England in this post and apologise to all of you who thought we were showing an unreasonable Celtic bias! But first the Union Jack.

union jack box

Before we go onto Susan’s brillant cartoons, here is a 20ft container with a fantastic paint job! I just couldn’t resist it. Imagine having this at the Olympic games 2012 in a big wallfeaturing shipping containers with all the competing nations flags around one of the venues. It would certainly be pretty amazing and very colourful!

bus container

telephone container

Not to be outdone, Susan just dashed off a couple of very quick sketches of how she would see steel containers being used in London. What this girl can turn out in a few minutes using a couple of felt tips and a piece of paper puts Blue Peter to shame!!

Anyway, I do hope that this redresses the national balance for all of you who felt that we had neglected England in our shipping container gallery of cartoons. Next week we are going back to – by popular demand – featuring some interesting conversions that we have seen. Mind you next week is going to be pretty busy as we hopefully launch our new website so we may just get a bit distracted by that and do something else altogether. Hope you all have a good weekend!

Shipping Container Hire – Top 10 Things You Should Know

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009

There are many different reasons for hiring a shipping container rather than getting involved in shipping container hire. Mostly this is to do with the length of time you need the container for or using the container on a trial basis to see if it is the solution for you. If you are considering hiring a shipping container for over 9 months it may well be more economic to consider buying a shipping container. If you no longer require your container after this time you can either ask the company you bought it from to buy it back or sell it on ebay.

Whatever your decision here are some useful things to consider

  1. To hire a container you will be asked to pay the delivery and collection charges up front. Therefore you need to try and source your steel container from a depot near to you. You want the haulage charge to be as small as possible in order to reduce costs.
  2. The minimum hire length of a shipping container will normally be 28 days. Even if you want your shipping container hire to be for less time than this you will still probably be asked to pay for the full 28 days. This is normally paid per month in advance.
  3. Very few companies will hire containers if they are to be used for export shipping. This is because of the costs involved in reclaiming a container once it has left the country should you default on payment.
  4. It is important that you ask about the notice you need to give when you no longer require your shipping container. Most companies require a weeks notice. As you will have already paid for the collection up front no further fees should be payable.
  5. If you decide you want to buy the shipping container whilst you have it on hire, you should have the collection charge taken off the overall cost of the container. If you have hired the container for over a year, most companies will give you a discount on the final purchase price.
  6. The condition of the container is very important. If you want to hire a second hand container then you should ensure that it is guaranteed to be wind and watertight and structurally sound.
  7. If you wish to hire a new/once used container generally the minimum period of hire is for 2 years.
  8. Refrigerated containers are also available for hire as well as storage/shipping containers.
  9. Consider where you are going to place your container, as you really need a level surface in order to open the doors without difficulty.
  10. Finally, you need to consider the security of your shipping container. Ask for a lock cowl (lockbox) and a CISA heavy duty container padlock to prevent illegal access from bolt croppers and angle grinders.

Whatever you decide to do, don’t forget to discuss your needs with the company you intend hiring from. There are many different options available and they may be able to suggest different answers to your particular needs.

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