The idea of using shipping containers as the foundation for homes and cabins is one that the majority of us are extremely familiar with. Containers containere de locuit are sturdy, long-lasting, and simple to modify. Because of their rigid dimensions and ability to function as building pieces, containers are ideal for modular construction. As more and more converted shipping containers are employed as temporary field offices at events, on building sites as portable offices, or as seasonal retail establishments like bicycle rentals at the beach, this adaptability has also made its way into the business world.
The simplest method of converting shipping containers into mobile offices entails starting with a single unit, finishing the interior by framing and insulating the walls and ceiling, adding lights and electrical duplexes (plugs), and finishing the exterior with some windows. Gypsum pre-textured or ceiling tiles are used for the ceiling, vinyl-covered gypsum is used for the walls, and commercial-grade tile is used for the floor. The container doors are sealed and welded shut, and some electric baseboard heating and cooling units are added. You now possess a highly sturdy and transportable office.
Containers containere de locuit are also employed as the foundation for commercial modular office complexes, taking this idea one step further. The 40 foot by 8 foot or 20 foot by 8 foot architecture gives the designer virtually unlimited permutations using many boxes. A lovely 24′ x 40′, 960 square foot modular building that can be modified in a plant, shipped, and set up in a couple of days can be created by placing three 40′ containers side by side.
Similar to conventional commercial modular buildings, foundations for shipping container-based buildings can range from compacted stone to concrete pads, piers, or a full perimeter basement foundation. The decisions made in this case will be determined, among other things, by the application’s temporary or permanent nature, the structure’s intended use, the soil beneath it’s load-bearing capacity, and, most crucially, the decisions made by the local building authority.
The buyer and the container modification contractor collaborate to determine the building’s floor layout and intended appearance throughout the entire shipping container modular building process. The contractor will finish the engineering and design work once a final contract has been agreed upon. The contractor will then submit the design documents to the necessary building authorities for inspection and approval. An essential remark regarding local and state building officials is that it is crucial to involve them in the process from the start. Don’t just show up at their office with a full set of designs and engineering for a container building and expect them to approve it. The building department does not frequently work on projects involving container buildings, so you and the contractor will need to familiarize them with the procedure and educate them. They have bosses too, so don’t be afraid to ask them questions and follow their instructions. Never attempt to “get something past them” since you will regret it if you get caught. Instead, meet with them early and explain what you are trying to do and why.
Upon receipt of all necessary clearances, the contractor starts building the plant while concurrently having the installation personnel it has hired lay the foundation. Following delivery to the site, the building modules are placed on the foundation using the proper machinery, such as a crane or a fork truck. The roof seams and side walls, or “mate lines,” are now finished so the inside can be dried in. The modules are leveled using shims and fastened together. The building has now been connected to the utilities. All that has to be done is a few “crossovers” and the supply to be connected to one location because the majority of the piping and wiring was finished in the plant. The final field trim is fitted, the flooring is finished over the mate lines, and the building is finished.
The contractor will have crews build any access points, such as porches and stoops, are ADA ramps, install any necessary landscaping, and perform any touch-up work while all the interior work is being done. The big moving day has finally arrived, much quicker, for less money, and in a little more environmentally responsible manner than with conventional site-built construction!