Tips on how to position a second hand shipping container

How you position a second hand shipping container on site is quite important for stress-free, prolonged use, and certainly, maximum service life. This article explains the ideal way to position a container on site. Read on for more insight.

Ground preparation

You need to prepare the site on which you plan to position your used container. The site should be at least spacious to accommodate the shipping container. Also, the site shouldn't be very soft or else the container might sink after being put into place. Concrete, asphalt or gravel surfaces are ideal for placing your container.

Furthermore, the site should be kept level. If a container is placed on an uneven surface, you are likely to encounter a situation where the doors become somewhat inflexible. Shipping containers are configured to flex a little bit while on transit in the sea, meaning if you position a shipping container on a ground that's not level the container will bend to one side, however the doors still remain square shape and thus will not fit nicely into the frame. Although this might sound like a small issue, it is a problem experienced by sites not levelled out appropriately.

Slight lift off the ground

It's important to have the container slightly raised off the ground to make sure it's not resting on any soggy puddles or sludge, and to create an air flow beneath the container so that the underside of the container can quickly dry out between rainy spells. In effect, the container floor will remain rust-free.

To raise the shipping container slightly off the ground, you will need a set of supports at the respective four foot corners of the container. Both new and second hand shipping containers come with a corner moulding on each of its four foot corners which often protrude a couple of millimetres from the rest of the structure.

Shipping containers are configured to be hoisted from the aforementioned four corner mouldings when packed with tonnes of cargo. This means you don't have to worry about extra supports along the foot of the container but only in the four corners. Some of the ideal supports to use include a pair of concrete bricks, railway sleepers or paving slabs. Ideally, the support should be larger compared to the corner mouldings. Avoid using supports that crumble away when subjected to few loads of pressure.

In conclusion, placing your used shipping container on a flat surface and supported by sturdy supports at each of the four corners will help you get the most out of your container.