Types of Containers

The strength, shape and design of a container mean it can be used to create stylish, chic offices, accommodation and cafés

Containers were originally built to hold goods for handling large volumes of cargo, usually for shipping by sea, which involves long voyages across salt water. Ships can also carry large numbers of containers stacked more than 10 high, so containers have to be designed to be strong, durable and resistant to sun and sea spray.

Most containers we see today have the following features:

• Front made of Corten Steel, a weathering steel sheet (corrosion-resistant steel)
• Roof of MGSS (Muffler Grade Stainless Steel) sandwiched with HGSS heat-resistant material (high-grade stainless steel), with an aluminium plate attached to the inside of the ceiling

This gives containers properties that allow them to be used as accommodation, homes or workrooms, and today we increasingly see knock-down container units being made into such rooms. But do you know how many types of containers there are in Thailand, and which type can best be turned into rooms for various activities?

The types of containers in use today are:

1. Dry container (Dry Container)
   A container used to ship general goods that do not need temperature control, such as dry food, household items, clothing, electrical appliances, car parts and general tools and equipment. Dry containers generally come in 20 ft, 40 ft and 40 ft High Cube sizes. We often see this type of container used as a temporary office on construction sites, converted into a guard box, or even made into a small restaurant or café.
2. Temperature-controlled container (Reefer Container)
   This type of container has Polyurethane Foam heat insulation as part of a refrigeration unit, allowing humidity to be set and temperature to be controlled, generally from as low as -25 degrees Celsius to +25 degrees Celsius. This type of container is therefore used to ship consumable goods such as plants, vegetables, fruit, fresh food, frozen food, fresh flowers and certain chemicals that require temperature control. It is also well suited as a cold room for keeping fresh ingredients before cooking in ordinary restaurants, because it can control temperature.
3. Open-top container (Open Top Container)
   A container without a ceiling, suitable for shipping items taller than a container. A typical container is 2.7 metres high. This type of container can have a roof structure added; we often see an extra Glass Roof that makes it look more interesting, turning an ordinary room into a Glass Room or Glass House.
4. Flat container (Flat Rack Container)
   A container with a flat floor, open at the top and sides, generally used to handle goods or items that do not fit in an enclosed container. The advantage of this type of container is that when it is used as a home or made into a stand-alone office or café, the walls can be decorated however you like, for example by fitting glass on both sides so the interior atmosphere can be seen and the room is brighter.
5. Container for liquids (ISO Tank Container)
   A container consisting only of a rectangular steel frame, generally with a closed section at the floor. This type of container is used to transport tanks of liquids, chemicals or hazardous materials, but it is not often used to make office units, accommodation or homes, because the cost of the extra conversion work is quite high.
6. Ventilated container (Ventilated Container)
   A container similar to an ordinary one but with ventilation openings all around the container, suitable for handling goods that need ventilation, mostly agricultural products such as coffee beans, cocoa beans, certain fruits and spices. This type of container is therefore well suited to living rooms, resorts or worker accommodation, because air circulates well.

These are the 6 types of containers that we commonly see and use. Today, containers are widely used as living rooms, mobile offices and temporary offices, or decorated as restaurants and cafés, thanks to their strength and durability, resistance to sun and rain, convenient size and lower price than conventional construction. They are easy to move, and creativity can be applied to decorate, paint and extend them to create a distinctive look that attracts attention, which is why containers are so widely used today.