Considerations to Make Before Building Homes Out of Shipping Containers

1. April 24, 2017 Considerations to Make Before Building Homes Out of Shipping Containers Image 1: Get Necessary Permits for Building Homes Out of Shipping Containers No doubt about it, having shipping containers as base structures for modular homes is now one of the more popular trends around. Not only does it have a really cool aesthetic to it, but it’s also cost-efficient and sturdy enough to withstand almost any kind of weather. After all, if it can stand long journeys across oceans exposed to sun, rain, and moisture, it should be good enough to be a home sitting idly on a residential plot. Before you go buying shipping containers to build your dream modular home, however, you need to ensure local laws will permit you to do so. Page | 1

2. Applying for Permits The first thing you need before going ahead with any of your plans is to ask for permission to build from your local municipality. There will certainly be zoning requirements to follow. Apart from that, there are building codes that you will have to abide by as well. These regulations are in place to help ensure the health and safety of whoever is going to use what you are building. In certain instances, it is also to implement a uniform style of houses, within a residential community. There are also such regulations and policies for commercial establishments, but will most likely have variations due to the difference in purpose of the structure. Your plans need to be approved in accordance with all the community and local government regulations of the place you want to build your container home in. What it Takes to Obtain a Building Permit Shipping container homes are generally safer than other traditional prefabricated modular homes. They are made of strong steel and are built to carry heavy loads, but because containers are originally intended for storing and cargo, the interior is often without insulation. This is why when making a design or concept for a modular home, you must be careful to include clear insulation plans. In order to secure that building permit, you must clearly express what you intend to use the structure for. Expect a discussion on the pros and cons of using shipping containers for your home, especially if the community’s architectural style is a bit more on the conventional side. Environmental considerations will also be a big deal, as well as how you will transport the containers to your plot. It would also be advisable to bring along a building engineer to help answer the more technical questions that may raised. Once you have satisfied the community and local government that your planned home will be safe and will not inconvenience other people, then they’ll probably allow the build. After you get the permits, then you can go ahead and enjoy shopping for shipping containers you can modify for your new home. Page | 2

3. About Equipment Management Services: As an established supplier of new and used shipping containers, we make it a point to only provide quality units to our clients. Not only that, we also offer a variety of other services, such as customization, shipping, modifications, and interim storage. We are proud to have the trust of our clients, both local and international. Sources: How Do You Get a Shipping Container Certified to Legally Live In? Instructables. How to Build a Shipping Container Home. Residential Shipping Container Primer. Page | 3