Container House Materials
Main materials for building container houses include steel, sandwich panels, FRP or aluminum alloy, floor materials, door and window materials, and other accessory materials.
Steel is the core material for the main frame and support structure, usually galvanized steel or weathering steel, 1.2-2mm thick, joined by welding or bolts to ISO standards. First-floor frames often use high-strength steel (such as Q235 or Q345) for structural stability and load capacity. Hot-dip galvanized square tube is also common; zinc-alloy coating metallurgically bonds with the steel into a composite with compressive strength of 150-160kg/m³, able to take stacked loads (up to 3 stories) and extreme weather, suited to high-corrosion settings such as deserts and coasts, with service life over 20 years.
Sandwich panels form the walls, with color-steel skins and a core that sets performance. Polyurethane can reach fire grade B1; rock wool can reach Class A. Some wall cores use Class A fire rock wool that does not soften at 800°C and releases no toxic smoke in fire, improving both fire safety and compressive strength. Orange-peel color-steel composite panels are another option; the textured surface disperses rainwater paths and helps avoid standing-water rust.
FRP or aluminum alloy is used in some premium container houses to cut weight and raise corrosion resistance.
Floor materials commonly use 18mm multi-layer plywood or patterned steel plate with anti-rust surface treatment. Full standard container lines often ship with Class A fire glass-magnesium board made mainly of magnesium oxide cement and glass fiber, A1 non-combustible, fire resistance ≥5 hours, smoke toxicity AQ1 (non-toxic release), suited to southern rainy seasons. Options also include cement sanded board, cement pressure board, and solid wood flooring.
Door and window materials mostly use uPVC or thermal-break aluminum frames with double insulated glazing for better thermal performance.
Other accessories such as hinges and axles on foldable boxes use full-weld hot-dip galvanized hinge leaves and stainless-steel axles to take high friction and avoid rust seizure.
