Preliminary Work for Container Houses
The preliminary work for container houses mainly includes five aspects: site selection and survey, planning the house layout, handling relevant procedures, preparing materials and equipment, and clearing the site and setting out the foundation.
Site selection and survey are fundamental steps. It is necessary to choose an area with flat terrain and good drainage, avoiding low-lying flood-prone areas, landslide zones, and high-voltage power line corridors. At the same time, a geological survey of the site should be conducted to ensure that the foundation bearing capacity meets the requirements. For example, in soft soil areas in Guangxi, a 30cm thick gravel layer needs to be replaced and compacted to achieve a bearing capacity of ≥150kPa, while in rural areas, the foundation bearing capacity generally should not be lower than 100kPa. Additionally, it is essential to confirm that the site has clear property rights, obtain the owner's permission for leased sites, and comply with village committee regulations for installations in rural areas to avoid illegal construction.
Planning the house layout requires determining the number and arrangement of containers based on usage needs, such as linear, L-shaped, or combined layouts, while reserving passageways and activity spaces. Structural design should consider the modular dimensions of containers (standard 20-foot containers are approximately 6 meters long and 2.4 meters wide; 40-foot containers are approximately 12 meters long and 2.4 meters wide) to reasonably plan space combination schemes. For example, a rural three-bedroom, one-living room house may require 3-4 standard containers or custom-made box units for assembly. It is recommended to draw a simple layout plan in advance to clarify the positions of doors and windows and provide a basis for subsequent construction.
Handling relevant procedures is crucial for legal construction. If the project involves public areas or special purposes, temporary building filing materials, including design drawings, structural calculation sheets, and safety commitment letters, should be submitted to the local housing and construction department, with an approval period of approximately 3-5 working days. Installations in rural areas still need to comply with village committee regulations to avoid issues related to unreported construction.
Preparing materials and equipment requires strict quality control. The steel plate thickness of the purchased container bodies should not be less than 1.5mm, and the frame structure should be sturdy. Foundation materials should use concrete with a strength grade of C25 or higher and steel bars. Connectors should use high-strength bolts or welding materials. Waterproof sealing materials should use weather-resistant adhesives and waterproof membranes. Insulation materials can be rock wool or polyurethane boards. Additionally, supporting materials such as water and electricity pipelines should be prepared to ensure the complete functionality of the house.
Clearing the site and setting out the foundation are the final preparations before construction. It is necessary to remove weeds and debris from the site, level and compact it mechanically or manually, with a compaction degree of over 95%. According to the design drawings, use a theodolite or total station to set out the foundation boundary lines and centerlines to provide precise positioning for subsequent foundation construction.
