Do Container Houses Have Thermal Insulation Layers?

Container houses can have thermal insulation layers, but whether they are equipped depends on the design and renovation. Standard containers (bare containers) that have not undergone any thermal insulation treatment typically lack thermal insulation layers. Their metal shells have high thermal conductivity, making them prone to absorbing and conducting external high temperatures in summer, resulting in stuffy interiors; in winter, heat is quickly lost, making the interiors cold and difficult to meet the requirements for living comfort. However, through scientific thermal insulation design and construction renovation, the thermal insulation performance of container houses can be significantly improved, even reaching or exceeding traditional building standards. The specific renovation methods are as follows:

1. Select appropriate thermal insulation materials
The core performance of thermal insulation materials is a low thermal conductivity coefficient, which means they can effectively prevent heat transfer. Common materials include:

• Expanded Polystyrene (EPS): Made from polystyrene resin through a foaming process, with a thermal conductivity coefficient of approximately 0.03-0.04 W/(m·K). It is relatively low-cost but has average fire resistance and requires fire protection treatment when used.
• Polyurethane Foam Board (PU): Produced by the reaction and foaming of isocyanate and polyol, with a thermal conductivity coefficient as low as 0.02-0.03 W/(m·K). Its closed-cell structure provides both waterproofing and is commonly used for exterior wall insulation.
• Rock Wool Board: Made from natural ores such as basalt, which are melted at high temperatures and then fiberized. It has a thermal conductivity coefficient of approximately 0.03-0.04 W/(m·K) and has Class A fire resistance, making it suitable for scenarios with high fire safety requirements.

2. Add thermal insulation layers
Thermal insulation layers can be installed by either external hanging or internal embedding:

• Externally Hung Thermal Insulation Layer: Fix thermal insulation boards (such as polyurethane boards) on the exterior walls of the container and cover them with metal sheets or decorative layers to form a composite structure of "thermal insulation-protection". This method does not occupy interior space but requires attention to the waterproofing and weather resistance of the outer layer materials.
• Internally Installed Thermal Insulation Boards: Paste thermal insulation boards (such as rock wool boards) on the interior walls of the container and cover them with gypsum boards or wood veneers to form a three-layer structure of "structure-thermal insulation-decoration". This method is simple in construction but reduces the interior net height.

3. Use thermal insulation liners for containers
For temporary or mobile needs, a new type of composite packaging material—thermal insulation liners—can be used. These are composed of multiple layers of materials such as aluminum foil, polyethylene (PE), and polyamide (PA). Through the reflection of thermal radiation by the aluminum foil and the blocking of thermal convection by PE/PA, they can block 97% of thermal radiation while alleviating thermal convection inside the container. These liners are easy to install and suitable for short-term use scenarios.

Through the above renovations, the thermal insulation performance of container houses can be greatly improved, effectively solving the problems of cold in winter and heat in summer, and meeting diverse needs such as living and office use.