What Is an Aluminum Container?
Aluminum containers are containers made of aluminum. They are available in a wide range of sizes, from small containers for home storage to truck bed-sized containers and containers large enough for human habitation.
Uses and Shapes of Aluminum Containers
Since most parts of aluminum containers are made of aluminum, they are lighter than steel, with a specific gravity of about 30%, and are strong, rust-resistant, and relatively long-lasting.
Because of their rust resistance, they are often used for outdoor storage and warehousing and are less expensive than ordinary commercial sheds.
Some can be as large as 6 square meters, which is considerable for a shed. In recent years, in addition to warehouses, the use of aluminum containers as prefabricated buildings or storage units has been increasing.
The basic form of an aluminum container is a box-shaped type called a fixed type, as shown in Figure 1. In this example, the box-shaped aluminum container has double doors on the front.
Since aluminum is easy to process, it can be customized with sliding doors or windows, depending on the size, in addition to the double doors shown in Figure 1.
Aluminum containers are also lightweight, making them suitable for transporting objects, and they are often used on the back of trucks for transportation purposes.
The legal service life of aluminum containers of 6 meters or less is 2 years, while that of containers over 6 meters is 7 years.
Larger sizes include 2-ton, 6-ton, and 10-ton containers.
Aluminum containers are also available in foldable types.
The Schematic Diagram of a Folded Aluminum Container
In this example, as shown in Figure 2a, the front is a vertical opening door, which can be folded by folding this door, the rear door, and the side walls, as shown in Figure 2b.
Many small aluminum containers are designed to be stable and easy to carry when stacked. Recently, they have become popular for storing camping equipment.
Since aluminum containers are heat-resistant, they can be used to hold hot items and can be locked with a key even when exposed to rain.
Cautions for Using Aluminum Containers
Aluminum containers are easy to process, so they are increasingly being used not only for storage and sheds but also for offices and residences. In this case, they can be customized to improve livability by installing air conditioners, soundproofing, and windows. However, depending on the intended use and size, an application for a building permit may be required.
If the total floor area of an aluminum container is 10 m2 or less, a building permit is not required even if it is used as a building, but there are exceptions in other various conditions as well. Therefore, when purchasing or using aluminum containers, be sure to confirm whether or not an application is required.
Aluminum containers are available in a wide range of sizes and shapes. Please select the size and shape according to the intended use, check the application requirements when purchasing and using them, and use them in compliance with the law.