Possible problems:

• Noise
• Echo
• Heat
Research other possible problems you may encounter and provide
solutions in your design. NO BUDGET REQUIREMENT.
Climate- since the country is prone to typhoons, a question arises on whether the structural
stability of this type of unit can sustain typical wind speeds during the typhoons and whether
the frequent rains will not corrode the material.
Heat solutions:

Shade

 One of the most effective ways to do this is to keep the majority of your house in the
shade. This stops sunlight shining directly onto your containers which would increase
the temperature inside your home. Keep your containers in the shade, plant trees or
bushes if you have the space.

 If you are going to use trees as sun shades, it’s also important to consider the
orientation of your building. Plant most of your shading plants in such a way as to block
the afternoon sun in your location.

Solar Reflectance

 If the sunlight gets through your

shade-blocking plants, the next best
thing you can do is make sure your
roof is reflecting and not absorbing
heat.
 An easy step is painting your roof
white if it is currently a darker color.
White does a better job at reflecting
light and heat energy away from your
shipping containers.

Spray Foam Insulation

One of the easiest and quickest ways to insulate a
container home is with spray foam insulation. This
insulation material can be sprayed directly onto both the
interior and exterior walls of a shipping container. Many
shipping containers are coated with highly toxic paints to
 withstand life at sea. Spray foam insulation can trap the VOCs that could off-gas into your
home.

Noise and Echo solutions:

Shipping containers are not soundproof. It is made
of a very thin layer of light corrugated sheet metal
which has very little mass for blocking noise and will
resonate (vibrate) allowing sound to pass through
very easily. If you stand inside a cargo container
when it rains it is very loud as when the rain hits
the container it causes the metal to vibrate and
resonate. This sound then bounces around the
inside of the container and amplifies. By installing
Acoustic panels absorbers and diffusers in a space,
the level of undesirable noise, in the form of echo and reverberation, is reduced. Noise is a
relative term and can range from low levels of intrusive sound in a quiet environment to loud
sounds in an already noisy environment. 

Corrosion Solution:
The metal used for container vans has a type of weathering steel called Cor-Ten. Cor-ten steel has a high
level of corrosion resistance, but only slows corrosion. It doesn’t eliminate corrosion completely. Cor-ten
steel has an enhanced corrosion resistance due to the development of a protective oxide film on the
metal’s surface which slows down further corrosion. To prevent corrosions you could plant trees or
other large vegetation around your container home to block much of the rain and weather from hitting
the containers. Another option would be to clad the exposed sides of your shipping containers to
prevent the Cor-ten steel from being exposed. One of the best, but most expensive choices, is to
sandblast the rust away and then seal and paint the container. 

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE PROBLEMS YOU MAY ENCOUNTER

USING
CONTAINER VAN AS A BUILDING SPACE?
 Shipping containers are not always eco-friendly. Many proponents tout container
living as a great way to recycle old containers, but some home buyers prefer to
convert new containers into housing. Used shipping containers are more eco-friendly,
depending on the history of use. Used containers can incur damage while
transporting goods, or have a history of transporting dangerous chemicals. These
factors make repurposed shipping containers a less ideal option for some potential
container home buyers.
  Modern appliances can be difficult. Unless you plan to live off-grid, you’ll need to
find a reliable licensed electrician who is familiar with shipping container architecture
to design and install custom electrical setups for your house. You’ll also need to hire a
plumber to install the necessary plumbing work. If your location doesn’t have access
to electricity, you may need to hire a contractor to install solar panels onto the roof.
 They often need reinforcements. While storage containers are built out of durable
steel, you can compromise their structural integrity with certain modifications—for
instance, cutting holes for a door or large windows. While shipping containers can
withstand certain weather conditions, the weight from heavy snow can cause the roof
to bow if the corner castings aren’t strong enough. You will need to hire a contractor
to reinforce load-bearing walls or install a sloped rooftop.
 Climate- since the country is prone to typhoons, a question arises on whether the
structural stability of this type of unit can sustain typical wind speeds during the
typhoons and whether the frequent rains will not corrode the material.

The composition of the shipping container:

Any shipping container is composed of 6 planes, floor, top, and four sides, made of steel, in regular
corrugations that help in making these sides strong enough to tolerate loads, or pressures that may
occur during the transportation process, in addition to steel posts and enforcements whether in the
corners, or intersections of these planes(sides), or below the floor, or above the top. Accordingly, as a
structure, its designed to resist forces as mentioned that exceeds the forces being developed in many
architectural spaces like residences, offices, dorms, etc.

The metal used for container vans has a type of weathering steel called Cor-Ten. This steel compound
has a slow corrosion rate, which is perfect for metals being transported by sea. The containers are also
made up of corrugated stiffened panels along the sides, providing strong walls and allowing it to be
stacked on top of each other.
Floor plan example: