Modified Shipping Container Your Next Interior Design Project Posted by Stephen Shang on Wed Apr 10 2013 08 00 AM

 


Highly recommended Container Builder-Austin, Texas

The use of a modified shipping container for your business’ operation has been decided.  The steel structure has the ideal exterior dimensions. The inherent strength of the corrugated steel combined with its overall stability and mobility has made it the perfect base structure for the extra space you need.
Now comes the interior layout and the placement of openings, personnel stations, electrical hook-up or bathroom facilities. Whatever the intended use of your conex box is, there are some Questions to consider to assist in the interior design of your 20 or 40 foot repurposed shipping container.
What Are You Using the Space for?

• Be aware of the dimensions of the interior space. While the exterior dimensions are standard, the addition of insulation, finished ceilings or ductwork reduces the maximum interior height and width.

• Consider the square footage of the interior space after the addition of modifications when determining the amount of items that can be contained inside a Falcon Utility Box.
• In the case of the Falcon Office Box, ideally 2 individuals to one 20-foot container and 4 to a 40-foot container is ideal if the space is used for a full 40-hour workweek.

• Are you in a client-facing business and is the office furniture you plan on using sized to accommodate this?
• Interior space planning through modeling is recommended for the placement of workstations and interior equipment.

How Often Will the Space Be Used?

• If the Utility or Office Box is used intermittently, consider the maintenance steps to insure ventilation is continuous and the interior space is cared for.
  • Using interior cooling and heating occasionally without continuous humidity control can create moisture build up.

How Much Heating and Cooling is Required?

• You have taken into consideration the use of the conex box and the amount of items or personnel that will be using it. It is important to consider the interior climate needs.

• If the interior space is broken up into rooms or workstations, it will be important to design airflow through duct work or wall placement to maintain uniform temperature.
• The Boxperts at Falcon Container will work with you to determine the correct amount of air conditioning combined with the insulation type to use to create a climate-controlled environment.
• Different HVAC units have different space requirements and energy source needs. Depending on your needs this will be taken into consideration.

What is the Climate Where the Conex Box Will Be Located?

• The exterior climate will be a factor when deciding on a few of the interior design elements of your repurposed shipping container.

• The exterior climate will help determine how much heating or cooling needs to be supplied to the interior structure.

• The elements of snow, wind and rain should be taken into consideration when considering floor insulation and interior ceiling finish outs.
• The use of a steel repurposed shipping container is ideal due to its exterior strength and water and wind resistant structure. The amount of snow, rain and ice will be factors in insulation, ceiling structure and opening protections.

Where Should We Position the Openings?

• The standard repurposed shipping container comes with cargo doors at one end. These doors swing open and hinge flat against the sidewalls.
  • These doors may or may not be used and can be disabled.
• Additional openings such as personnel doors and roll up doors should be positioned to accommodate the cargo doors if they are enabled for use.

• Personnel door placement will need to be reviewed.
• Door handles and exterior facades can add inches to the overall dimensions and should be taken into consideration.
• These structures are moved via forklift operation and additional dimensions can affect those supports.

There is a lot to consider when planning out the interior space for your conex box project. While we have touched on some key questions to consider at the onset of your next project, your business operation may have unique circumstances. You may not be aware of areas to consider in addition to the above questions when planning the interior space of your repurposed shipping container. The Boxperts here at Falcon Containers have a wealth of industry experience and have worked with a wide variety of businesses. Our staff is ready to assist you in your product selection and any additional interior design elements to create the ideal solution to simplify your business. Visit us at Falconcontainers.com  

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10 Things to Consider in Using Shipping Containers for Your Next Project

Sent to you by Jesse C Smith Jr via Google Reader:

10 Things to Consider in Using Shipping Containers for Your Next Project

via Green Building : Jetson Green by Preston Koerner

Modern day pioneer John Wells is doing some interesting work in Alpine, Texas.  On his desert swath in The Field Lab, which is also referred to as The Southwest Texas Alternative Energy and Sustainable Living Field Laboratory, Wells is living off the grid and maintaining an interesting (and humorous) journal in the process. 

A couple years ago, he built a tiny house, which is powered by 270 watts of solar and four 100-watt small wind turbines.  Now, Wells' current project is the construction of a live/work space made from four 20-foot shipping containers.  Wells hopes to finish his 1,600 square-foot space for less than $20,000 and has some helpful pointers for others looking to take on a container project. 

In mostly Wells' words, here are 10 things to consider if you're thinking about using shipping containers in your next project:

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1. Even with all the hype, containers are difficult to obtain and expensive to ship long distances. If you live close to a major port city and have a really big truck and trailer, it's much easier and far cheaper to get them.

2. Don't bother with those websites that have you fill out your info and up to four suppliers will contact you with competitive prices - THEY WON'T!

3. The price for a 20' shipping container (not including delivery) can range from $2500 to $4000. You can stick build a building with the same amount of square footage, that is just as water tight and structurally sound using traditional construction methods for less than the cost of a shipping container - it just won't weigh as much.

4. Containers provide an extremely secure storage structure which requires a blow torch or dynamite to break into, and they are too heavy to walk off with.

5. If possible, get delivery by tilt bed roll off truck. Otherwise you need a small crane or huge forklift to move and position them - or at least 50 really strong men.  Watch your fingers!  A 20' shipping container weighs almost 5000 lbs.

6. Rust is the only natural predator that can harm a shipping container, so don't scrimp on a good paint job.

7. These metal monsters become ovens or freezers depending on the outside temperature, really good insulation and ventilation is a MUST!

8. The real bonus to using a shipping container is the new green phrase "adaptive reuse." Our trade deficit with the rest of the world is causing these to pile up in our country.

9. If you are going to use one for a structure, stay true to the form. Don't cover the exterior with other building materials - show it for what it is.

10. While searching the web for how containers are being used: (A) most sites only show computer renderings, and (B) actual completed structures have been built at astronomical cost.

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