Archive for February, 2010

Shipping Container Conversions – 10 points on how to choose your shipping container

Sunday, February 28th, 2010

stac of second hand shipping containers

Shipping Containers can be used for so many different purposes that it is easy to forget that you need to start with a good condition container before you start anything. Obviously if you are using a new/once used container this is easy as they should come with a full guarantee. If however, you like the eco-friendly approach or are budget conscious obviously a second hand shipping container is going to be your choice and therefore you need tomake sure you get a good quality one.

  • The normallength of a shipping container is either 20ft or 40ft but basically containers can be made any length up to 40ft.The standard width is 8ft. Cabins are available in various sizes the most standard being 32ft long by 10ft wide.
  • All shipping containers should be guaranteed as being wind and watertight. If you can go and visit the depot to select the container yourself or ask for photographs of the actual unit.
  • When you receive delivery of your container take a good look round it.Pull the door to and see if their are anypinpricks of light shining through indicating that there are small holes. Don’t forget to look up at the ceiling !! Dont shut the door completely as could be difficult to get out!
  • Just as people forget to look at the roof many fail to take a good look at the floor. Check to see whether there are any “soft” areas or patches in the floor.
  • Containers can often smell of the goods it has been transporting – make sure yours isn’t too overpowering
  • Look for how badly the sides are dented from handling. 20fts are often more sound in this respect than 40fts which have less support per foot down the side due to the extra length. Every second hand container will have a few dents but where these are actually sited can be really important for a shipping container conversion.
  • Check how well the locking mechanism on the door works
  • Open and shut the doors and see whether the rubber seals are in good condition
  • Make sure the container is sited on level ground so that it doesn’t “rack” and cause problems later on.

Bear these points in mind when you choose your container and hopefully you will be able to ensure that you always have a container that you can use, trouble free, for years to come.

Shipping Container Conversions – Computers 4 Africa

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

SHIPPING CONTAINERS ARE USED AS CLASSROOMS IN AFRICA
CS Shipping Containers are supplying Computers 4 Africa with shipping containers that can be converted into classrooms equipped with computers to give IT skills to people in Africa. Sharon Roberts from Computers 4 Africa said “We are delighted to have this opportunity to be working with CS Shipping Containers”.

CLASSROOM IN A CONTAINER
A major fund-raising campaign has seen over 18 shipping containers being delivered in the last fortnight to the Computers 4 Africa bases in Sheffield and Scotland where they will be converted into classrooms. The second hand shipping containers are a mixture of 20ft and 40ft sizes and will have desks fitted with donated computers, laptops and IT equipment. The corten steel construction of a shipping container means that they are ideal for classrooms as they are strong and secure as well as weatherproof – and, of course, shipping containers can be cheaply shipped and easily transported on by road.

Shippng Containers Housing Computers 4 Africa

Shippng Containers Housing Computers 4 Africa

Europe has one of the highest ratio of computers to people in the world and over 93% of UK businesses and nearly all households use pc’s or laptops – as opposed to places such as Tanzania where only 6% of the population have access to computers. With the need for constant updating many computers become redundant each year. Computers 4 Africa recycle and send out computers that are no longer needed in Europe and use them to teach IT skills enabling them to get jobs at several times more than the local average pay.
As the fund-raising drive continues Computers 4 Africa will fit out more shipping containers as classrooms in the various regional centres and send them over where they are needed in Africa.
COMPUTERS 4 AFRICA
If you can help by either donation an unwanted PC or IT equipment, Computers 4 Africa will data-wipe and clean them up and send them to Africa where they will transform lives! They ask that the computers are working and less than 5 years old as they need to have a useful service life once they reach their destination. Check out the website for more information – including details of sponsorship packages – and in particular ‘Classroom in a Container’ www.computers4africa.org.uk or call them on 0845 200 8510 if you think you can help.

Container Conversions – Contained Space Container

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

Shipping Container Conversions are extremely varied and in this case unusual as a 20ft shipping container was converted to train people how to deal with crawling through dark and confined spaces. Catalis are runninga course to train individuals working for institutions such as the Water Board to deal with the conditions that they would experience in say, entering the sewage system or large water pipes in cases of emergency or maintenance.

Contained Space Container

Contained Space Container

The converted container made from a new/once used container is sited at Wandsworth near to the railway where Catalis holds itstraining sessions. As the course progresses, the trainees are lowered, via a winch, from the roof into the tunnel system within the container. The dark and confined space gives realistic training and can accommodate the use of additional aids such as breathing apparatus.

Winch to lower down trainees into the 20ft container

Winch to lower down trainees into the 20ft container

Shipping Containers with their strong corten steel construction lend themselves to many different – and often bespoke – conversions. Contained, or as they are sometimes known, Confined Space Containers have multiple applications and are often utilised by the fire brigade, oil companies, submariners and even bomb disposal teams aspart of their training regime. The system of tunnels within the container can replicate or be designed individually for the customer’s needs.

Shipping Containers for Schools – The 8 Most Popular Uses

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

Schools often have a tight budget and shipping containers can prove to be an economic solution. The fact that shipping containers are made from strong, weather resistant corten steel make them ideal for a number of purposes. Add to this that they are by their very construction extremely strong and secure, as well as easily transportable they are ideally suited for the school environment.

The eight most popular uses for shipping containers in Schools are:-

  1. Providing additional storage foritems such as chairs, sports equipment etc in all sizes from 10ft to 40ft
  2. Shipping Container Conversions can make great classrooms at about a third of the cost of traditional buiding methods
  3. Changing rooms can be made from 20ft containers and sited next to the sports field
  4. Cycle stores made from used containers
  5. Insulated shipping containers are often used to house musical instruments and additional computer equipment
  6. Recycling/rubbish collection areas
  7. After school clubs/common rooms can be madeas ashipping container conversionand are frequently sited in the school car parking area
  8. Chemical stores made from 10ft shipping containers

There are, of course, special considerations to be taken into account when buying and siting a shipping container in school grounds. Not least of these is the need for health and safety which is why it is often worth asking the supplier of the container to deliver it at a time to suit the school timetable. Most will be able to offer time slots early in the morning before the students arrive or whilst lessons are going on.

20ft shipping container conversion

20ft shipping container conversion

CS Shipping Containers, Battisford, Nr. Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 2HQ | Tel: 0800 043 6311 | Fax: 01449 723189 | Email:

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