Can Container Houses Use Fire

It is generally not advisable to use fire directly in container houses due to extremely high risks. The specific reasons are as follows:

1. Serious fire hazards
The steel structure of container houses has poor fire resistance. In a fire, the temperature in the fire scene can reach 800 - 1000℃, far exceeding the critical temperature (500℃) at which the steel structure loses its stability. Ordinary container panel houses will collapse due to structural failure within about 10 minutes after a fire breaks out, resulting in a very short window for rescue. In addition, some container panel houses use flammable materials such as polyurethane and polystyrene to fill the panel cores. These materials have low ignition points and poor flame retardancy. They will burn rapidly when exposed to high-temperature sparks, short-circuited wire beads, or open flames. Their honeycomb structure also increases the contact area with air, making the combustion more intense and further exacerbating the risk of fire spread.

2. High risks in confined spaces
The interior of a container is a typical confined or restricted space. During maintenance, transportation, or renovation, residual volatile liquids such as diesel, engine oil, paint, and thinners will continuously volatilize, forming high-concentration flammable and explosive gas mixtures. If the gas concentration reaches the explosion limit and encounters sparks from electric welding, cutting flames, high temperatures generated by metal friction, or static electricity, it may trigger violent deflagration or explosion. Such accidents often occur without warning and have extremely strong destructive power, posing a serious threat to the safety of personnel and property.

3. Toxic smoke and escape difficulties
When a fire occurs, the combustion of various materials (such as plastics, coatings, and insulation layers) in the container will produce a large amount of toxic smoke, including carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide. In a confined environment, the toxic smoke will quickly fill all spaces, causing personnel to suffocate or fall into a coma due to poisoning. At the same time, containers usually have only one entrance and exit, which may be blocked by flames during a fire, making it extremely difficult for internal personnel to evacuate. External rescue personnel also find it difficult to carry out effective rescue because they cannot predict the internal situation (such as the distribution of the fire and the location of personnel), further reducing the probability of survival.

4. Strict approval required for special circumstances
If hot work must be carried out in the container area due to special circumstances such as maintenance, it is necessary to strictly follow the hot work approval process, issue a hot work permit, and strictly prohibit work without approval or permit. Before work, it is necessary to thoroughly clean up flammable and flammable and explosive substances around and below the hot work point. The hot work area should be effectively fire-separated from other areas (such as using fire blankets or isolation boards), and fire-fighting equipment and supervisory personnel should be provided to ensure full safety control.