What are the requirements for the construction site of container houses?

Container houses have generally lower requirements for construction sites compared to traditional brick/concrete/reinforced concrete buildings.The core requirements focus on three main dimensions:site flatness,foundation bearing capacity,and space for passage and hoisting.Furthermore,they can be flexibly adjusted according to usage scenarios(temporary/long-term,single container/multiple container combinations),eliminating the need for complex site hardening and foundation construction.This is their core advantage of easy implementation.The following is a detailed explanation of general basic requirements,specific requirements for different scenarios,and site support requirements,balancing practicality and feasibility:

I.Core General Requirements(Must be met by all container house projects)

1.Site Flatness:A basic requirement,error≤5cm/㎡.Container houses are modular steel structures with a frame structure at the bottom.Uneven sites can cause the container to tilt,resulting in uneven stress on the frame,and later problems such as door and window deformation,cracking of joints,and leaks.

Simple Requirements(Temporary Use/Single Container):Manual leveling is sufficient.Use a level to check;the overall height difference should be≤5cm,with no obvious potholes or water accumulation points.

Standard Requirements(Long-Term Use/Multiple Container Combinations):After initial leveling,pave and compact with gravel/chipped stone.The flatness error should be≤3cm/㎡,preventing localized settlement.

2.Ground Bearing Capacity:Adaptable to the container weight,minimum≥5kN/㎡.A single container house(after conversion of a 20-foot standard container)weighs approximately 2.5-3 tons,and a 40-foot container approximately 4-5 tons.Adding the live loads of personnel,furniture,etc.,the ground must be able to withstand the weight of the container to prevent future settlement.

Hard foundations(cement,asphalt,hardened mud):Naturally meet load-bearing requirements,can be placed directly without additional treatment;Soft foundations(mud,vegetable garden,backfill):Require simple treatment,lay a 10-15cm thick layer of crushed stone/graded sand and gravel and compact it,or lay steel plates/precast cement slabs to increase the load-bearing capacity to≥5kN/㎡(approximately 500kg/㎡);Multi-story container houses(2 stories and above):The ground floor requires a simple strip foundation/independent pier foundation(concrete pouring,each load-bearing pier with a load-bearing capacity≥8kN),no need for whole-slab pouring,simple construction,low cost.

3.Lifting and Access Space:Sufficient space for equipment access is crucial,with container dimensions being the key factor.Container houses require crane/forklift lifting for placement.The site must allow sufficient space for equipment access and operation,based on standard container dimensions(20 feet:6m×2.4m×2.9m;40 feet:12m×2.4m×2.9m):

Lifting Space:No obstructions above the container(power lines,branches,billboards,etc.).Lifting radius≥8m.The ground around the crane outriggers must be compacted(steel plates can be laid)to prevent the crane from sinking.

Access Space:Site entrance width≥3m.Access roads must have no steep slopes(≤15°)or sharp turns,allowing for truck and crane passage.

Single Container Manual Placement(Small Containers/Temporary Use):≥0.5m of operating space must be reserved around the container for short-distance movement with a forklift,eliminating the need for a large crane.

4.No water accumulation and easy drainage:Prevent dampness and container corrosion.The site must have a natural drainage slope(≥2‰),or a simple drainage ditch(20cm wide and 15cm deep)must be dug around the container to prevent rainwater from accumulating at the bottom of the container,which could cause the steel frame to rust and the indoor floor to become damp.It is strictly forbidden to build container houses in low-lying,waterlogged areas,beside rivers,or in soft,muddy areas.

References

GB/T 7714:Pinilla-Melo J, Aira-Zunzunegui J R, La Ferla G, et al. Design of a Shipping Container-Based Home: Structural, Thermal, and Acoustic Conditioning. Buildings, 2025, 15(17): 3127. DOI: 10.3390/buildings15173127.

MLA:Pinilla-Melo, Javier, et al. “Design of a Shipping Container-Based Home: Structural, Thermal, and Acoustic Conditioning.” Buildings, vol. 15, no. 17, 2025, article 3127, doi:10.3390/buildings15173127.

APA:Pinilla-Melo, J., Aira-Zunzunegui, J. R., La Ferla, G., de la Prida, D., & Navacerrada, M. Á. (2025). Design of a Shipping Container-Based Home: Structural, thermal, and acoustic conditioning. Buildings, 15(17), 3127.