Fire and Moisture Prevention for Container Houses

Comprehensive measures for fire and moisture prevention in container houses should be taken from multiple aspects such as material selection, structural design, usage norms, and maintenance management.

Fire Prevention Measures

1. Material Selection
   Give priority to materials that meet fire-resistance standards, such as rock wool boards and fire-resistant cotton as fillers, whose fire-endurance limits should comply with Class A standards. Avoid using flammable sandwich materials like polystyrene and polyurethane foam. These materials will melt and deform at 80℃, burn rapidly, and produce high toxicity. For example, the moisture-proof and fire-resistant floors for residential container houses produced by Shanghai Xiangpiao Fireproof Board Manufacturing Co., Ltd. have a fire-resistant temperature range of 1000 - 2000℃ and a non-combustibility rating of Class A1, effectively preventing fire spread.

2. Structural Design
   Container houses should meet the requirements of the Modular Building Technical Standard, such as a wind-resistance rating of at least Class 10 and an earthquake-resistance rating in line with local seismic fortification standards. The steel structures need fire protection treatment, such as applying high-performance concrete fire-resistant coatings. When mixed with water, these coatings polymerize and foam to form an insulation layer. In addition, a safety distance of at least 6 meters should be maintained between houses to prevent fire spread.

3. Usage Norms
   It is prohibited to install open-flame heating equipment inside the houses. Hot-work operations like electric welding should be carried out away from the houses and be equipped with fire-fighting equipment. Electrical wires and cables should be protected with sleeves. Socket and switch boxes should be made of metal galvanized boxes and be surface-mounted to prevent fires caused by electrical circuit faults. For example, the 2020 Langfang container house fire was caused by a circuit fault in the switch igniting weeds.

Moisture Prevention Measures

1. Surface Treatment
   Treat the surface of the container body with moisture-proof coatings. Give priority to products that are anti-mold, corrosion-resistant, and non-peeling. For example, Sichuan Aishangguizu Container Houses recommends using coatings that can effectively prevent water ingress and maintain long-term surface integrity.

2. Flooring and Insulation
   Use moisture-proof and fire-resistant floors, such as magnesium-based dragon glass-magnesium boards. These boards have low wet expansion and thermal contraction rates, remain stable in shape without deformation, and have a thermal conductivity of only 0.216W/(m·k), providing both moisture-proof and insulation properties. In addition, fire-resistant insulation boards can be laid on the roof to further block moisture intrusion.

3. Environmental Management
   The foundation of the house should be level and dry to prevent water seepage. Regularly inspect the drainage system to ensure there is no blockage. In humid areas, dehumidification equipment or ventilation openings can be added to maintain internal air circulation. For example, container hotels need to solve moisture problems by combining the selection of moisture-proof coatings with optimized ventilation design.