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Strengths and weaknesses of shipping containers as permanent structures
following from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shipping_container_architecture (retrieved 3 May 2010).
Shipping container architecture is a form of architecture using steel intermodal containers (shipping containers) as structural element, because of their inherent strength, wide availability and relatively low cost.
Strengths
- Strength and durability - Shipping containers are in many ways an ideal building material. They are designed to carry heavy loads and support heavy loads when they are stacked in high columns. They are also designed to resist harsh environments - they are transported globally on ocean going vessels or can be covered in road salt when transported on roads.
- Modular - All shipping containers are made to the same standard measurements and as such they provide modular elements that can be combined into larger structures. This simplifies design, planning and transport. As they are already designed to interlock for ease of mobility during transportation, structural construction is completed by simply emplacing them. Due to the containers' modular design additional construction is as easy as stacking more containers. They can be stacked up to 12 high when empty.
- Transport - Pre-fabricated modules can also be easily transported by ship, truck or rail, because they already conform to standard shipping sizes.
- Availability - Used shipping containers are available across the globe. In cases where a company or country receives more containers than it can use to ship in the return directions these containers have no real use, since it is not cost effective to return empty containers to their origin.
- Cost - Many used containers are available at a cost that is low compared to a finished structure built by other labor-intensive means such as bricks and mortar — which also require larger more expensive foundations. Construction involves very little labor and used shipping containers requiring only simple modification can be purchased from major transportation companies for as little as $1,200 USD each. Even when purchased brand new they seldom cost more than $6000 USD.
Weaknesses
- Temperature - Steel conducts heat very well; containers used for human occupancy in an environment with extreme temperature variations will normally have to be better insulated than most brick, block or wood structures.
- Labour - The welding and cutting of steel is considered to be specialized labour and can increase construction costs, yet overall the costs are still lower than conventional construction.
- Construction site - The containers will, in most cases, be delivered by truck and then must be emplaced by a crane or forklift. Traditional brick, block and lumber construction will also be delivered by truck. However, these materials often require a forklift to remove the pallets of materials, and might need a crane to lift them to upper stories.
- Building permits - The use of steel for construction, while prevalent in industrial construction, is currently not yet widely used for residential structures. Obtaining building permits may be troublesome in some regions due to municipalities not having seen this application before.
- Treatment of timber floors - To meet Australian Government quarantine requirements most container floors when manufactured are treated with insecticides containing Copper (23-25%) Chromium (38-45%) and Arsenic (30-37%) Before human habitation floors should be removed and safely disposed of. Bamboo plywood does not normally require quarantine treatment.
- Cargo Spillages - A container can carry pretty much anything during its working life. Particular care should be taken (especially with 20ft containers) that no spillages or contamination has occurred on the inside walls. Ideally all internal surfaces should be abrasive blasted to bare metal, and re-painted with a non toxic paint system.
- Solvents - Solvents released from paint and sealants used in manufacture might be harmful.
Read the full article at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shipping_container_architecture