Structural Issues of Shipping Container Buildings

The shipping container was not fabricated to be a home.
They were perfectly designed to withstand hurricane and earthquake caliber loads all at the same time while stacked on a ship.
If you alter their original intent and change the structural properties, you will need to know all the structural part of the shipping container and what to look out for when buy them for your house.
This video covers all that and more.
If you want to learn more, here are some links to things discussed in this video:
Picking the best foundation for your shipping container building, go to the article at:
liveinacontainer.com/what-is-...
and the video at:
• Which Type of Foundati...
Why the sides of the shipping container is corrugated can be found at:
liveinacontainer.com/why-are-...
All construction projects are unique and have their own design issues that must be reviewed by a professional that is knowledgeable of your project needs, the materials and quality of builders available, and the applicable codes that need to be followed. Seek a professional to review your particular needs. This video and the article it refers to is only for information only and not for construction or for project costs or schedule estimates of your particular project.

[@thedon__754]

Come back to life! The internet needs more of these videos

[@liveinacontainer6602]

Thanks for the comments. I will be posting more very soon. What topics would you like to see?

[@kumark214]

Just a note - generally CORTEN steel is used for the entire container. Side panels are 1.6mm for 40’ and 2mm for 20’. And all from panels and roof are 2 mm.

[@liveinacontainer6602]

Yes. Thank you.

[@perpetualmotion8090]

I would love to have a shipping container home and found your video to be very informative.

[@liveinacontainer6602]

Thank you for saying so. Are you mainly interested in home design ideas or more technical "how to" build a shipping container home? There is more information about using shipping containers for homes and other types of buildings at my blog; liveinacontainer.com/

[@williamfigueroa9923]

Great videos!

[@liveinacontainer6602]

Thank you. If there are any topics you would like me to cover, please let me know.

[@levmanou9874]

Cool!

[@liveinacontainer6602]

Thank you, Lev. Let me know if there are other topics you would like me to cover.

[@64kgb]

Greetings......, and thanks for the great videos!! Could you recommend any good manufacturers(or converters of containers to homes) in Europe and the US?

[@liveinacontainer6602]

Thank you for the complement. I am researching that myself and will list what I find in my blog, www.liveinacontainer.com. In the meantime, check out a resource that I use at a facebook group. Many of the members have built their own homes out of shipping containers. Also, many are from South Africa along with some parts of Europe and USA. That's a topic that is talked about in that group a lot. Here is the link: facebook.com/groups/532495623978581. Here is another good facebook group to look into: facebook.com/groups/shippingcontainerhome. Let me know what you find out and leave me a note here or at my email at [e-mail].

[@gary24752]

You should do a video about putting two containers together and how the joint is handled and sealed against water intrusion and thermal forces on the container. People do not understand the the roof of a container is a convex shape which means water is directed towards the seam that so many people seem to be welding solid. I am wondering if this joint needs to be a construction joint to allow for movement as well as waterproofing the joint.

[@liveinacontainer6602]

Great suggestion. Thank you.

[@strawberrychailatolentino]

would like to see this one as well

[@mrkmdm]

Is the corrugation consistent from one to another? Asking because if one was to make a form for cement pour could one pattern be made to be used with different containers or are some corrugations different than others?

[@liveinacontainer6602]

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has standardized the dimensions of most shipping containers. While I cannot claim to know that all containers share the same corrugation dimensions, it is very likely that most will share the same dimensional properties. To be safe, you might should pour the concrete based upon each shipping container profile you work with though. I am not fully understanding why you want to make a form for cement pour. What would the end result be used for?

[@williamfigueroa9923]

Where can I find shop drawings for ISO containers?

[@liveinacontainer6602]

Just google for them. Here is a link I found today...www.conexdepot.com/shipping-container-drawings/

[@frankbaran5698]

Structural integrity is just one important issue concerning the conversion of shipping containers to homes. What about the off-gassing of volatile organic compounds from interior insulation? The risk to human health depends on how much VOCs seep into the air and how long they remain, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. Spray-on insulation may produce formaldehyde, benzene, xylene and other harmful chemicals. Use of VOCs have been shown to aggravate asthma, nausea, vomiting or headaches. Over the long term, VOCs can lead to cancer, kidney damage and central nervous system disorders. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency warns that paint-sliver’s worth of VOC that dissipates fairly quickly-can be hazardous for some people. Imagine spraying a 3-inch-thick layer of insulating foam in a steel-capsulated shipping container! Buyer beware.

[@liveinacontainer6602]

There are certainly concerns about using closed cell spray on insulation. This is especially true for people who are highly sensitive to smells and/or have other challenges such as asthma or other lung-related issues. The risks can be greatly reduced by hiring professionals who know the proper way to mix and apply it. The spray is mixed at the site. This mix needs to be of the correct measure that trained and experienced professionals are supposed to know. To mitigate the risks of being exposed to harmful VOC's, we need to be conscience of two important things: 1. Make sure low VOC products are being used. 2. Know what the safe re-occupancy time is for the product used. Also, spray foam insulation is not to be exposed to the occupied spaces. This is mainly for fire and smoke protection per code. This gives an additional benefit by encapsulating the spray foam away from the air that we breath. Thank you for your comments. I really appreciate it.

[@kumark214]

Interior insulation with spray should be avoided in my view. Exterior is better, even there, preferably something fire retarding.

[@lyudmilatarusova]

Hi. Are you an engineer? Can you stamp drawings? Are you licensed?

[@liveinacontainer6602]

I am an architect, licensed to stamp my own drawings in the states of NY and NJ. But the information found in the KZbin series and blog (liveinacontainer.com) is for information only - not for the construction of your project. You will need to find an architect and/or engineer who is familiar with your project.