Disadvantages of Container Houses
The disadvantages of container houses are mainly reflected in structural safety, fire hazards, living comfort, service life, and compliance costs:
I. Structural Safety Hazards
To reduce costs, non-standard white-label manufacturers often use thin steel frames (e.g., with a wind resistance rating of only 6-7, far below the national standard of 8). In coastal or strong wind areas, problems such as frame deformation and wall cracking are prone to occur, and the rework cost can reach 30%-50% of the initial purchase cost. In addition, some products from small manufacturers are not prefabricated, and on-site installation requires piece-by-piece assembly, taking 2-3 days per unit, while prefabricated products from leading manufacturers only take a few hours, and the difference in time costs directly affects the project delivery schedule.
II. Fire Safety Hazards
1. Poor fire resistance: Container houses mostly use steel structures for support. In a fire, the temperature in the fire scene can reach 800-1000℃, exceeding the critical temperature of steel structures (500℃), and they may collapse in about 10 minutes, which is not conducive to personnel evacuation. 2. Flammable filling materials: Some products use flammable materials such as polyurethane and polystyrene to fill the panel cores, which have low ignition points and poor flame retardancy. They will burn rapidly and release toxic gases when exposed to high temperatures or open flames. 3. Narrow evacuation routes: Some user units, in pursuit of area, do not leave safety routes that meet the standards, and personnel evacuation is hindered in a fire, which is prone to causing casualties.
III. Poor Living Comfort
1. Insufficient thermal insulation: The thermal insulation performance of low-end products is poor, and it is necessary to choose products from manufacturers with quality assurance (the price is usually about twice that of low-end products) to improve it. 2. Poor sound insulation: Metal materials have good sound transmission effects, and additional sound insulation treatment is required to reduce noise interference. 3. Small internal space: The width of a standard container is only 2.4 meters, with poor ventilation and lighting. Long-term residence can easily lead to physical and mental discomfort.
IV. Limited Service Life
The durability of container materials is greatly affected by the environment, and corrosion problems are prominent in humid or high-salt areas. Without regular maintenance (such as rust prevention treatment and painting), the service life may be shortened to 10-15 years, and safety hazards increase with the number of years.
V. Compliance and Environmental Protection Costs
1. Environmental protection requirements: New regulations require that the reusability rate of products should reach more than 80%. White-label products mostly use disposable materials and cannot be recycled after disassembly, resulting in additional construction waste disposal costs. 2. Export compliance: Export products need to have international certifications such as CE and ISO. Non-standard products may face risks such as customs seizure and non-compliance with certifications, and the losses can reach 20%-40% of the value of the goods. 3. After-sales service: Compliant manufacturers need to establish a national service network with a response time of no more than 24 hours. White-label manufacturers have no fixed teams, and the delayed resolution of problems may lead to project stagnation losses.
