About containers and prefabricated buildings
Containers are prefabricated buildings , parallelepiped-shaped, with variable dimensions. They are made using a metal frame and walls made of sandwich panels with an insulating role.
The role of prefabricated constructions is to be easy to transport and install wherever there is car access, but also to realize the construction with minimal impact on the environment.
Containers stand out for their modern design with straight lines and smooth surfaces, as well as their short construction time. Last but not least, choosing such a construction brings with it lower costs than if we were to build in the classical way, while presenting fewer risks of damage during prefabrication.
Container buildings
Container construction has gained considerable momentum worldwide. Although the concept has existed for approximately 200 years, the most favorable period for development seems to be the present. The decade 2020-2030 will define, to a large extent, the directions of sustainable development for the next 100 years , and companies, the population and decision-makers are increasingly aware of the importance of sustainability.
Sustainable development, classically defined in the Brundtland Report as "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" , remains fundamental for the adoption of prefabricated construction.
Prefabricated buildings represent a modern method of construction, adapted to present needs and oriented towards the protection of resources for future generations. Initially emerging as a solution to the high demand for housing after World War II, metal-framed containers with sandwich panel walls have reduced construction time, costs and footprint compared to classic methods.
Main categories of containers
For correct classification, containers are mainly divided into two categories:
- Monobloc containers – used for single-level constructions.
- Modular containers – used for multi-level constructions.
Monobloc containers
Monoblock containers are intended for construction on a single level and can have widths of approximately 2,4 m and 3 m, and lengths from 3 m to 12 m. They offer numerous assembly and use possibilities, both for residential, commercial or institutional purposes.
- Container houses – multiple design possibilities, transportable and easily assembled modules.
- Annexes and extensions to households – each container can be equipped with bathroom and kitchen plumbing.
- Useful spaces for gardens and storage.
- Economic activities: storage of materials and equipment, 3m or 6m mobile display cases for offices and representative offices, mobile restaurants or cafes.
- Public spaces: offices, security booths, public toilets, insulated or non-insulated storage spaces.
- Construction site organizations: accommodation spaces for workers, dining areas, sanitary and storage areas.
Modular containers
Modular containers are designed for ground and first floor buildings and can form structures up to 4 floors high. Being factory-produced, they are quick to assemble at the final location, which significantly reduces the overall project time.
Modular containers have proven useful in emergency situations (e.g. temporary medical or quarantine units), as well as in the organization of construction sites, reducing staff accommodation costs and increasing operational efficiency.
Common applications and types of container construction
Container houses
Container houses are made in modules to facilitate transportation and assembly. Production inside the factory ensures quality and reduces dependence on weather conditions.
Offices from containers
Container offices are practical and versatile: they can have an industrial look for construction sites or a modern, glazed design for commercial spaces.
Toilets and sanitary containers
Container toilets are ideal for events, construction sites or public spaces. Mobile sanitary containers have also been a quick solution in the context of recent sanitary crises.
Site organizations
Construction site arrangements can include containers for bedrooms, dining areas, offices, security booths and storage, often arranged on multiple levels for maximized efficiency.
Commercial containers and guard cabins
Commercial containers are perfect for mobile businesses or quick-service points of sale. Small-sized security booths provide security and strength at the access points of the facilities.
Sanitary and medical containers
Sanitary containers became fashionable in 2020 due to the need for mobile medical spaces (quarantine, triage, offices). Examples of completed projects include units for hospitals in various cities across the country.
Global use of containers
The uses of containers are very varied: mobile fast-food restaurants, container campsites, storage and multi-level construction site organizations. For each application, containers have demonstrated their practical and economic value.
As an informal note from the industry: after 20 years of use, the real average cost involved in a container was estimated at approximately 20 euros per month (indicative value, dependent on context and use).
