Building Structures Using High Quality Used Cargo Containers

Before they were used as modular building materials, freight containers spent their days being trucked, shipped, and railed from country to country, safely moving cargo. These containers can be used for shipping for about 10 to 15 years, but as modular building materials, their usefulness can be lengthened indefinitely. If you’re considering buying used shipping containers for your building project, you need to keep in mind a few quality considerations.

First of all, determine the age of the container. It will give you an idea of how much beating it has probably experienced. It’s quite easy to determine age. Containers each have unique serial numbers (called ISO reporting marks) to make them trackable while in transit, and to guarantee that they pass ISO standards. This number also reveals the age of the containers and their owners.

Next, look for any major dings and dents. Some dents are okay as long as long as they do not affect the structural integrity of the shipping container. You also want to check for presence of any toxic materials. Was the container used to transport hazardous waste? If yes, then it will need treatment to become safe and habitable.

Finally, you should also check for rust. Used shipping containers have typically been on long haul routes and are expected to have rust spots, but their non-corrosive steel construction means that the rust stays on the surface and does not impair the integrity of the unit. What you should be on the lookout for are deep areas of corrosion. Some suppliers will try to fool you into buying a low quality container by painting over deep rusts and hiding the problem. Don’t buy from those suppliers.

Like anything second hand or used cargo containerswon’t be shiny and spotless. Be prepared to find signs of wear and tear. The best way to get good value for your money is to inspect (preferably in person) the container you are looking to purchase.

Buy Shipping Containers Perfect for Your Industry

There is no such thing as an ‘ideal’ shipping container for all applications. The most suitable choice depends on the application and the industry. 

Office Containers

Do you wish to turn a shipping container into a semi-portable field office? Then you can use either new or used containers that can be modified based on your design. Work with a company that can add doors, windows, heating, electrics, and even a kitchen and toilet to the container. They can help you create mobile offices, home extensions, garden sheds, etc.

Refrigerated Containers

If you are in the food distribution or restaurant industry, then you may need cold storage and refrigerated containers. Your choices include walk-in coolers, refrigerated containers, and refrigerated trailers.    Coolers can maintain temperatures from 0°F to about 40°F, while refrigerated versions can go below 0°F and reach up to 75°F. These food-grade containers provide effective cold storage solutions for most kinds of perishable food items.

ISO Containers

An ISO seal tells you that a container is shipping- and transport-worthy. It is resilient and designed for repeated use, and is constructed following ISO-set dimensions and criteria. These standardised intermodal containers ensure the safety and security of its contents.  They come is a range of sizes. If you are engaged in importing and exporting as well as distribution, you need to use ISO containers.

Engineering, Construction, and Manufacturing

Do you need storage solutions? You will find used shipping containers very useful. These durable and secure containers can be used as stock / tool / machinery storage, workshops, filed offices, or even mess rooms. They are also ideal for storing chemicals and paints.

Agriculture and Farming

Shipping containers can be sued used as tack rooms, semi-mobile farm offices, and even as storage for animal feeds, grain, and general equipment and machinery. They require minimal set up and can provide wind and water-tight properties that makes them ideal for storage.

Can Refrigerated Containers Be Used For Transport?

Refrigerated containers are intermodal or shipping containers used in international or long haul freight transport. They have their own cooling systems, making them suitable for transporting temperature-sensitive goods. Apart from storage, they can be used for transport, too. There are solutions that ensure constant cooling within the container to keep the contents fresh and prevent them from spoiling.

Also known as 'reefers', refrigerated containers usually have an integral refrigeration unit, but they need external power to run. Electrical power points are installed in the container ship, the quay, or a land-based site.  During road transport, a diesel-powered generator may also be used.  Most refrigerated containers rely on an integral refrigeration unit to control the temperature within, arranged in a manner that the container's external dimensions meet the ISO standards. However, an integral refrigeration unit may take up space, causing a loss of internal payload and volume. Keep that in mind when choosing the size of the container that has an integral refrigeration unit.

There are refrigerated containers that use a water cooling system especially when they are stored below deck, where ventilation is limited. Generated heat can be removed, but water cooling systems tend to be expensive. As a solution, new-generation vessels utilise ventilation to eliminate heat from the cargo holds.

The most common sizes of refrigerated containers are 20 feet and 40 feet long, and eight feet high. If you are looking for refrigerated containers to transport temperature-sensitive products, you need to make sure that it is CSC-plated. CSC-plated shipping containers are suitable for international shipping. They need to be certified as water and wind-tight, too. There are companies providing refrigerated shipping containers for hire and for sale, and they are available in different sizes that match your needs, budget, and the size of your cargo.