Small Container Two-Story House Design
The design of a small container two-story house requires comprehensive planning in terms of structural mechanics, space utilization, thermal insulation, electrical systems, waterproofing, ventilation, fire protection, exterior styling, and water supply and drainage.
Structural Mechanics: The connection nodes between the upper and lower container layers are crucial. High-strength bolts should be used for connection. According to the 'Technical Specification for Connections in Building Steel Structures', the bolt preload should reach 80kN - 120kN to ensure structural stability. Mechanical calculations should be carried out at the connection points to avoid deformation or fracture caused by stress concentration.
Space Utilization: The ground floor should be designed as a public activity area, such as a living room and dining room, with a clear height of no less than 2.6 meters. The upper floor should be arranged with private spaces like bedrooms, and the stair slope should be controlled between 30° - 35° to ensure safety and comfort. For example, a 44-square-meter container house in Texas achieves an efficient layout with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, a dining room, and a patio through vertical functional area division.
Thermal Insulation: The walls should use 50mm-thick polyurethane sandwich panels with a thermal conductivity coefficient of less than 0.024W/(m·K) to effectively block heat transfer and reduce energy consumption in winter and summer. An additional thermal insulation layer, such as XPS extruded polystyrene board, can be added to the roof to further enhance thermal insulation performance.
Electrical Systems: Wires should be selected according to the power of electrical equipment. For example, when the total power of equipment like the living room air conditioner is 5kW, a 6mm² copper wire should be used for the main line. The distribution box should be equipped with leakage protection devices, and each floor should have an independent circuit to avoid overload risks.
Waterproof Design: The roof should use SBS modified bitumen waterproof membranes with a lap width of no less than 100mm, and reinforcement should be carried out at internal and external corners and other parts. Waterproof flanges should be made at the junctions of walls and floors. The bathroom floor should be coated with waterproof paint with a thickness of no less than 1.5mm.
Ventilation Design: Openable windows should be installed on the exterior walls of each floor, with an area accounting for 20% - 30% of the exterior wall area, to promote natural ventilation. Exhaust fans should be installed in bathrooms and kitchens, with an air exchange rate of no less than 10 times per hour to promptly remove odors.
Fire Protection Design: Each floor should be equipped with one 4kg ABC-type dry powder fire extinguisher per 50 square meters. Fire alarm devices should be installed in conspicuous and easily accessible locations, such as corridors and stairwells. The width of evacuation routes should be no less than 0.9 meters to ensure rapid evacuation in emergencies.
Exterior Styling: Styles can be created through color combinations and module arrangements. For example, blue-yellow contrasting colors can enhance visual impact, while wood and rust colors can create a wilderness atmosphere. Containers can be arranged in a staggered manner to increase a sense of hierarchy and avoid monotony.
Water Supply and Drainage Design: PPR pipes should be selected for water supply pipes, with a diameter of 20mm for kitchen sinks. PVC-U pipes should be used for drainage pipes, with a diameter of 110mm for bathroom risers. Water meters and valves should be installed in easily accessible locations to avoid maintenance difficulties caused by concealed work.
