Also known as ITUs (Intermodal Transport Units), shipping containers are heavy duty welded steel boxes designed and manufactured to transport goods safely over high seas. They can be loaded and sealed intact onto container ships, railroad cars, planes and trucks. Containers are adaptive by design and possess the qualities of small land-based structures.
Containers are measured in TEU’s, a 20’ container equals one TEU and a 40’ ITU equals two. Categories of shipping containers include platform, tank, refrigeration, and general purpose among others. General purpose units are divided into sub-categories: high-cube, double door, side wall doors, open sides, etc.; the most common of these general purpose models, dry cargo containers, are typically 8’ wide and 8.5’ to 9.5’ high.
Steel containers are constructed of 14 gauge corrugated sheet steel panels welded to main structural 7 gauge tubular steel top and bottom side rails and end frames. The structural components of a shipping container are; corner fittings, corner posts, bottom side rails, top side rails, bottom end rails and door sill, front top end rail and door header, plywood floor, front end wall, bottom cross members, roof panel, side panels, and doors.
The roof is constructed with several die-stamped corrugated steel sheets with an upwards camber at the center of each trough and corrugation. This camber provides a doming of the roof panels to promote water run-off. Container floors are 28mm thick plywood screwed into structural cross members and in a standard 40’ foot unit have a maximum weight capacity of 58,730lbs. The doors are steel panels fitted with locking and anti-rack hardware and weather-proof gaskets.
