Shipping Containers Blog

Archive for the ‘Shipping Container Conversions’ Category

How on earth can a shipping container be of use at any of the many festivals going on in the UK this Summer?  Perhaps unsurprisingly, it is the fact that shipping containers are so easily transportable and adaptable, which has meant that they have been used in a variety of different ways from Glastonbury to the Game Fair.

Perhaps the most obvious way in which they are used is in the form of refrigerated shipping containers.   The fact that goods, such as drinks or food can be kept in the temperature controlled environment of a refrigerated container which can be run either from a generator or connected to an electricity supply means that they are in great demand.   They are available for hire or for purchase.

Shipping Container Conversions such as those use to house cashpoints are also extremely popular.  As well as containers converted into stands or bars.  The coffee shop here is taken round the various festivals in Italy, although there are plans to build some in the UK.

Shipping container coffee shop closed

But of course, the most common use is as storage containers.   Keeping stock secure yet easily accessible  is vital both when travelling or when the stand at the festival is set up when the container becomes a store room.

These are just some of the ways in which you might see a shipping container used should you visit a Festival this year.   Let us know if you see any more - and send us a photograph!

Many Shipping Container Conversions are based around finding additional space for sport.   Be it for storing equipment, for clubhouses or for changing rooms the versatile nature of the shipping container and the fact that it can be easily transported - and quickly assembled - on site means that it is ideal for a variety of problems that may face either the individual, team, club or school.

The most simple of conversions is that of sports storage.   Often this involves nothing more than fitting out the container with shelves or racks to hold the equipment for the particular sport involved.   This make take the form of bicycle racks, canoe/boat racks or shelves for PE kit with cupboards underneath for balls, nets etc.   Containers have also been fitted with ramps so that they can be used to store specialist wheelchairs.  The real advantage that having the storage within a container is the fact that it can be placed easily on sleepers - or a concrete pad - on the side of the sports fields, by the river/lake and still provide secure, self sufficient storage.  Of course these storage container conversions can also be tailored  further to include lighting and heating, and often include a side personnel door for ease of access. 

Shipping Container Used as Sports Storage

But storage is only the beginning of what a shipping container can be used for in the sporting world.   Changing rooms and clubhouses are also very popular conversions.   A number of shipping containers - 20ft or 40ft containers - can be joined together in various formations to allow for multiple changing rooms -with shower/toilet facilities - as well as kitchens, rooms for referees and match officials and even meeting rooms.   The advantage of using shipping containers in this particular application over the more traditonal construction methods is the speed of which they can be assembled on site.   Even allowing for insulation, lighting, heating, plumbing and the assembly of the containers, these conversions can often be assembled in one day, and at a third of the cost.

What is important if you are thinking of a major conversion such as a clubhouse is that you carefully consider the layout of the containers.   Most shipping container companies should be able to advise you - and even produce CAD drawings - for you to consider. 

Mind you, while we are on the topic of shipping containers, I did mention in a previous article the use of shipping container walls as an easy way of producing a windbreak, or as quickly assembled stands in the formation of a sporting stadium.   We have even featured a shipping container converted into a self container pool and used for swimming or surfing against a mechanically induced current.

Next time you see a shipping container on a road, a train or even a ship, don’t just think of them as a means of taking goods cheaply from  A to B, but think of them as a possibility in helping sportsmen and women train and maybe as a helping hand in Britain’s preparation for the 2012 Olympics.

The Travelodge hotel in Uxbridge opened for business on August 15th. It was put together in record time and cost only 75% of a traditional construction.

The difference? It was put together from purpose made modular shipping containers which were shipped over from Shenzen in China to England, and then fitted together in a framework to form the hotel.

Shipping Containers are ideal for conversion into living space and the fact that they are easily transportable means that they create the minimum of disturbance to the existing infrastructure. But do we have to have containers especially made and shipped over from China when there are tens of thousands of good quality used shipping containers already in England just waiting to be converted?

Modern methods of insulation, ventilation and finishes mean that many options are now available to make the most out of the existing cargo containers we have in Britain. Surely this something we could be capitalising on in preparation for the Olympics where we will need additional accommodation quickly and cheaply?

But why wait until then? What about the nurses, doctors, firemen, policemen and teachers who all need affordable accommodation that is close to where they work? Wouldn’t accommodation made from shipping containers provide an affordable solution?

Shipping Container Conversions and the Armed Forces may not seem an obvious combination.   However, today is Armed Forces Day and there are many events going on this weekend to celebrate the role of the Armed Forces in Britain.  By way of our 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

Ammunition Store

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.

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.

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

20ft shipping container conversion

The school needed a storage container nearer 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

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

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.

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 these converted shipping containers seem 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!

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 smooth walls 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

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

Do remember too that it is perfectly possible to have containers joined together along the length to give additional width.   Bespoke Container Conversions are 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.