A Question Asked Numerous Times. What is a Container House?
A container house is a residence that uses a container made for construction and is recognized as a legal building in accordance with the Building Standards Act.
As a generally guide ISO shipping container dwellings or houses have spread as a practical and immediate solution to housing shortages. They are inexpensive, portable, and can be stacked freely. They have been actively adopted in most locations overseas for suitable accommodation purposes.
For this reason most of the container houses that we generally imagine are those that are purchased second-hand. Containers that are used for ISO ocean transportation are installed in the garden or on new land as modified dwellings. It should be the future of affordable living. Yet we still tend to adopt traditional buildings with an expensive mortgage for life. Lets take another look at ISO shipping containers and change another mind.
Why not read more of our articles here on Container Living
ISO Containers
In most countries a shipping container can be used as a dwelling. However, in Japan, ISO ocean shipping containers, which were sometimes used for container houses, are now almost impossible to use as a residence due to their Building Standard Law.
ISO ocean shipping container vs building container Japan
When building using containers in Japan, it is necessary to build a container that complies with the Japanese Building Standard Law. Therefore, all containers used in construction are called “construction containers” or simply container.
ISO maritime shipping containers do not meet the Japanese building standards, so they cannot be structurally used in construction. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism also considers containers installed on the ground to be buildings.
The main reasons that an ISO container can not be used is in reference to structure. If openings such as windows and doors are made, the strength will be ‘extremely’ reduced. The structure modifications are not made of JIS steel materials required by the Building Standards Law.
JIS G3131
JIS G3131 is a Japanese standard for hot roll steel. This Standard specifies the technical requirements of the hot-rolled mild steel plates, sheets, and strips.
That JIS ruling applies to Japan only as far as I am aware. As stated the majority of locations around the world do have building standards but also allow shipping container modifications in the pursuit of alternative housing.
My understanding is that any structural changes made to an ISO container will cause stress in an earthquake situation unless of course appropriate strengthening has been undertaken. The JIS structural additions will in effect maintain structural integrity of the container in times of an earthquake. Japan experiences more earthquakes than just about anywhere else in the world today – around 1,500 per year.
Container House Size
The ISO shipping container and the Japanese ‘construction containers’ can be broadly classified into 20FT (feet) and 40FT (feet) size containers.
Since the size is the same as the international standard for ISO ocean shipping containers, it is possible to use a global standard container transportation network, which makes it possible to significantly reduce transportation costs.
| Measurement | 20ft container | 40ft container |
|---|---|---|
| length | About 6m (605.8cm) | About 12m (1219.2cm) |
| width | About 2.3m (234.8cm) | About 2.5m (251.9cm) |
| height | About 2.6m (259.1cm) | About 2.5m (251.9cm) |
| area | 14.2㎡ | 29.7㎡ |
| Ping | 4.29 ping | 8.9 ping |
| tatami | 7.7 tatami mats | 16.2 tatami mats |
This table was copied from a Japanese container info site. What I find engaging is that they also measure the size of a container by the number of tatami mats or by ping.
- A tatami (畳) is a type of mat used as a flooring material in traditional Japanese-style rooms.
- Ping is a Japanese way of measurement. One ping is about the size of a “double bed”.
The comfort of living in a container house
Containers made of corten steel sheets have the image of being “hot in the summer and cold in the winter. And just like a traditional house, temperature and humidity can be controlled.
In addition, since they are designed with consideration for plumbing, it can be equipped with a kitchen, bathroom, toilet, etc. Just like your typical traditional house.
There is not much difference between facility construction and general housing construction. When it comes to plumbing and electric the requirements are pretty much the same for traditional vs container.
Container House Interior and Exterior
The container house, which is in effect a lump of iron, has an industrial atmosphere. That of a cold image, and a design with a sense of corrugated metal walls and box like presence. In addition, the corrugated outer wall has a solemn appearance, and can give an impression that stands out from normal ordinary buildings.
Embracing the characteristics of architectural containers, letting your imagination roam, a design with a sense of openness can be created by providing large openings and installing glass walls. The interior can be a playful wooden and corrugated hybrid design. It can be designed with an industrial taste. By intentionally bringing the “container wall” to the inner wall we can achieve an interior design with an edge.
What I find missing from the container home is the roof structure. I am not into flat roof structure be it traditional or shipping. I prefer the overhanging roof with verandah surrounding the home. Not only does it provide shade but also improves internal living standards.
Insulation Concerns
There is an misunderstanding that you can not insulate, or it is difficult to insulate a container home. This could no be further from the truth. As with any structure that can be sealed, as in a traditional home or even a container home, insulation can be entertained.
Some people say that the insulation performance of a container house is less because the container is made of corten steel. The truth is the insulation performance of a container house is no different from that of a typical house. If anything it is probably more efficient within a container home.
The beauty of a container home is that it can be located in any type of climate situation, and with appropriate insulation, be entirely livable. Container dwellings are in use from the south pole to the north pole and all locations between. Not just because they are easily transported to a location but container dwellings are structurally strong, and because they are made to be as a sealed ocean going container. Not only are they waterproof, air tight, but in fact they can float in the ocean. Not something a traditional house will successfully do.
Conclusion
Most of the container houses that we generally imagine are those that are purchased second-hand. These being shipping containers that are used for ISO ocean transportation and installed in the garden or on new land. They are an inexpensive means of establishing a dwelling that are also portable, and can be stacked to create two and three story homes. They have been actively adopted overseas as suitable accommodation purposes for apartment complexes, emergency accommodations and the humble home.
In Japan an ISO maritime shipping container does not meet the Japanese building standards. This is more to do with earthquake concerns. As such ISO containers cannot be used for dwellings or building in Japan. The Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism also considers containers installed on the ground to be buildings.
When we look at a shipping container we see a metal box. Some of us see a means of creating a dwelling of interest. While others have trouble seeing past a metal box! It can be problematic in many cities around the world when trying to obtain building approval. For those that persist will eventually create a dwelling of structural beauty, a home to be admired. A structure equal to any traditional home in appearance and formation. Are you ready to undertake the shipping container home of the future?
Recent Posts
In the year 2019, I embarked on a unique and ambitious project that would forever change the way I interacted with my prized possession, the 2000 E240 Mercedes W210. Inspired by my passion for both...
Nestled on the upper slope of a picturesque farm, amid the swaying coconut trees on Ticao Island in the Philippines, three identical self-contained dwellings stood as a testament to innovation and...