Shipping containers offer a convenient, affordable, and secure construction storage option ready for delivery to your site. In this article, we will explain how to choose the right shipping container for your construction worksite to make the most of this site organization tool.
What is a shipping container for construction storage?
Shipping containers used for construction storage are the same units used for storage in the global intermodal freight system. Also known as “sea cans,” they are sturdy steel containers designed for easy mobility, ready to stack and transport via sea, rail, or road.
They adhere to ISO standards to work hand in hand with other intermodal containers within the system. Their steel box design can withstand all climates, making them sturdy, reliable, and secure. They come in various standard sizes, making them an excellent option for construction site storage.
Consider Site Limitations for Construction Storage
There is no point in ordering shipping containers from a company lacking professional delivery capabilities. Many construction sites pose a challenge for large deliveries like shipping containers. Therefore, confirming that the company can deliver to your site is step number one!
Your rental company should provide seamless delivery and setup suited to your construction site. For example, we review the length requirements for the delivery and can show you how much clearing space is needed for our truck to enter your site and unload the container.
We use tilt and load flatbeds to ensure a precise drop-off in the area that helps maintain optimum site organization.
Consider Construction Storage Access
Next, the size of shipping containers for storage often relies on access. The doors require the right amount of space to swing open, which impacts the length, placement, and door orientation for your container.
As mentioned above, our team is involved in the setup of your construction storage to ensure everything goes to plan. We need to understand the required access points to the storage container area to tell us the correct door orientation when delivering your container.
In limited spaces, we determine whether you need a “doors to cab” or “doors to rear” orientation based on what is most convenient for your site function.
Another challenge is uneven ground. For instance, placing the storage container near a mound of dirt can lead to door jams. Our site inspectors can offer advice to ensure the area is level and properly prepared for your delivery.
Consider the Type of Construction Storage
The type of materials and items you plan to store impacts your shipping container choices. This not only relates to the size, but also to how you plan to organize your storage space. For example, if you plan to store sheets of drywall, you’ll want stable shelving or supports to allow the drywall to lean slightly to avoid bowing or sagging.
Moisture is a concern, too, so you’ll want a well-ventilated container that is also watertight. Not all storage containers are watertight due to tiny holes that allow water to seep in.
A good tip is to inspect the container on a sunny day so you can spot dots of light indicating the walls or roof are not sound!
Consider Site Organization Needs for Your Construction Storage
Mobility is a handy feature of shipping containers. It can help keep large, busy construction sites organized, allowing you to move the container as the project progresses.
Better yet, you can also arrange to have the shipping container moved from site to site as required, making purchasing a shipping container a wise investment for builders and contractors.
Consider Security for Your Construction Storage
With increasing costs in building materials and theft issues, security is a major concern. Materials such as copper, for instance, are popular targets for construction site theft due to increased copper scrap prices.
Items such as copper wire, cable, and pipes should be locked up in a secure storage container. Shipping containers are made of solid corrugated steel construction with locking mechanisms and secure lock boxes, posing a challenge for would-be thieves.
Understand Cubic Footage for Construction Storage
While length and width are important for the shipping container footprint at your construction site, you also have to calculate cubic footage to ensure you have sufficient storage space.
All shipping containers are 8 feet wide and 8.5 feet high, but come in assorted lengths, including 10, 20, 40, and 45 feet. The 40- and 45-foot containers also come in “High Cubes.” They offer an additional foot in height, which doesn’t sound like much on its own. However, when calculated into cubic feet, this extra space actually increases the overall cubic footage, depending on the length of the container.
Although you would rather have too much space than not enough, if you constantly have unused space, it costs you more in the long run. Our experts can help determine the right size to suit your needs based on what you plan to store.
Modification and Design for Construction Storage Containers
When purchasing shipping containers for site organization, you can also request modifications and custom designs to suit your needs. The existing structure provides a blank slate that is rugged, secure, and flexible enough to transform into a multipurpose space.
Our solid steel containers offer a highly flexible starting point ready for your requirements, whether it is specialty climate control and insulation, a “people” door designed for site workers and staff, or a reinforced floor to support heavy machinery.
However, many construction companies are investing in storage containers to provide multipurpose, mobile spaces. The modifications cost a fraction of the investment required for more conventional site buildings, such as trailers. Some examples of construction site modifications include:
- Storage and office combinations
- Storage with modified bathrooms
- Customized shelving and partition walls
- Climate-controlled storage
- Heated rooms
- Employee change rooms
- First aid areas
- Group meeting spaces
- Security stations
- Modified garage-style doors for easier access
- Lighting for safety and improved visibility
Contact the Professionals at Secure Container Solutions
In summary, storage containers offer a versatile alternative for on-site storage, making an excellent investment whether you plan to rent or purchase your container.
For more information about our storage containers, call Secure Container Solutions at 647-560-2745 or contact us here.
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