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With the uptick of violent hurricanes and raging wildfires leaving devastation in their tracks, people are increasingly rethinking their on-site storage solutions and taking advantage of the durability of retired shipping containers.
Anyone can tell by looking at them that they’re sturdy steel boxes, but have you considered why shipping containers are so durable long after their voyages across the ocean?
Shipping containers are strategically designed to withstand pounding rain and tumultuous winds, the glare of direct sunlight and even sudden snow–while being banged around on a ship and, without a doubt, carrying heavy loads and stacked on top of each other. Yet, they still maintain their structural integrity decades after for a variety of on-site storage purposes.
What are the key ingredients to their durability? Shipping containers are built with corrosion resistant Corten steel (i.e. weathering steel). While it sounds counterintuitive, the Corten steel of shipping containers forms an extra layer of defense in harsh environments, making them ideal for on-site storage virtually anywhere.
During manufacturing, sheets of Corten steel are cut to create the sidewalls, roof and floor panels of the shipping container and then welded together to create a strong steel frame. Before a healthy coat of tough marine-grade paint is applied, the edges of the container are then sealed to ensure a wind and watertight (WWT) condition.
We know shipping containers can be used for an array of on-site storage purposes, but how well can they survive a fire? Shipping containers are fire-resistant by design and are frequently converted into training facilities for firefighters.
The results of the last study on the fire performance of shipping containers mirrored previous findings that WWT containers can contain their own fire. This makes sense considering they’re stacked with thousands of other containers out at sea, and the last thing you want is an entire container ship going up in flames if one unit has an issue with fire.
You can’t talk about the durability of shipping containers without discussing the container floor. With an average load capacity of 55,000 lbs., the marine plywood floor of a 40’ standard container is designed to support heavy loads of various shapes and sizes bouncing around the ocean for up to 15 years.
Built by drilling thick pieces of marine plywood together, secured on top of the steel container frame, the floor of an on-site storage container is tough, to say the least, and designed to resist dents and damages caused by extreme weather.
Retired shipping containers, which are only about 10-15 years old, maintain their structural integrity for decades. When used for on-site storage, the shipping container requires little maintenance and can handle just about anything.
Or, for those who want a little more out of their on-site storage experience, a fresh coat of custom paint, roll-up doors, shelving and other modifications can be added to create something truly remarkable.
Looking for secure on-site storage? We know containers and the marketplace. Get connected to competitive shipping container pricing.
