Joining Shipping Containers
When a standard width shipping container doesn’t offer sufficient space to meet your needs, you may like to consider joining a number of shipping containers that you can then link when the containers are delivered.
Of course, if you don’t feel confident enough to undertake the final linking, you’ll need to secure the services of a local contractor.
Using this approach, you can link 2 or more shipping containers that will be delivered and linked together on-site. This flexible approach enables us to deliver units to site in a very short space of time.
What we do
We will select containers from the same manufacturer (when available), remove the side(s) and reinforce the open side(s) for transport purposes. You will need to ensure your site can accept an artic vehicle of 65ft in length (we can deliver units one at a time if space is limited) and you’ll need to ensure the container sits on pad stones (one per corner) and that these supports are solid (i.e. won’t sink when the container is dropped) and level with one another otherwise you won’t be able to link them together.
Why choosing the right containers is important
When using shipping containers to create a larger space, consideration of the type of container has to be factored in. Meaning that you cannot randomly pick 2 containers and link them together. Whilst shipping containers are made to specific ISO standards, internal variances in floor and ceiling height can occur. So, you cannot take a container from one manufacturer and hope it will be to the same specification of a similar sized container from another manufacturer.
Modular buildings can be used for additional office space, extra classroom space, changing rooms and more.
Fitting out modular buildings
Prior to delivery to site, we can install electrics, windows, doors and insulate and line the interior. Depending on the depot that the units are produced in, you may get additional support rails welded into position above the cut-out or a central support pillar in the centre of each cut-out.
We can insulate and line out the containers with ply or wipe clean melamine. We can also install electrics with a male/female connector on each container so you can link the electrics from the feed of the main distribution board that we fit in one of the units.
If you want flooring fitted, we can install carpet tiles or linoleum, however, please note that the final joint in the floor will need to be sealed and overlaid with a metal or wooden strip that’s wide enough to meet up with the edges of the floor covering.
Linking containers
A great example is the Cladded Triple 20ft Container Conversion we did with our London conversion yard. The container sides were removed, top and bottom rail supports reinforced to prevent roof sagging and they were cladded. We then delivered the containers to the site and the conversion yard mobile team joined them together.
We recommend you secure the services of a local fabrications company who can then link the units together. If you can do the work yourself, below is an example of how to undertake this task.
First, you weld ‘L’ section to the top rail of each container. Placing the L section back-to-back on each container and then insert a neoprene gasket between the 2 before tightening the two L sections with nuts and bolts. Once completed, we suggest you apply bitumen to the joint to give additional protection against water ingress. You’ll then need to add additional internal bracing to the joint to prevent sagging.
You should use 50 x 50 x 5 mild-steel angle BSEN 10025 S275 JR for the L sections and use good quality sealing washers on the bolts and nuts.
An alternate solution to using shipping containers is to use the range of modular buildings and mobile space solutions from the Containex range. Budget Shipping Containers are authorized suppliers of the Containex range and can assist you in creating the additional space you need. Please call us to discuss your project, we are here to help and hope to offer the best advice so you can complete your project to specification. You can browse our Containex modular range here.
Budgetshippingcontainers.co.uk offer the UK’s largest online range of shipping containers for sale with a nationwide network of storage and conversion yards and crane equipped delivery vehicles.
If you need a shipping container feel free to browse our online range of shipping containers for sale. You can also call us on freephone 0808 1234 215 any time 9am – 5pm weekdays and our team will be happy to discuss your requirements. Alternatively, you can use our online shipping container quote form or request a telephone callback. In both cases we aim to get back to you within 1-2 working hours (may take longer for more detailed quotes).