Container Mobile House - Ground Fire Cage

If container mobile houses have fire hazards, they may become 'ground fire cages', and great importance should be attached to fire safety. Here is a detailed analysis:

I. Typical Cases of Fire Hazards

1. Electrical Faults Causing Fires: In 2020, in the industrial park in Anci District, Langfang City, two container-renovated houses caught fire due to electrical circuit faults in the circuit breaker. The fire ignited the surrounding weeds and then spread to the containers, resulting in an over-fire area of about 20 square meters. Such cases indicate that aging electrical circuits, unauthorized wiring connections, or non-standard installations are common causes of fires in container houses.
2. Poor Fire Resistance Leading to Collapse: In the 2018 fire of a container mobile house in the Binhai New Area, Tianjin, two people were trapped and died due to the collapse of the house. Container panel houses are mostly supported by steel structures. During a fire, the temperature in the fire scene can reach 800-1000℃, exceeding the critical temperature of steel structures (500℃), leading to a loss of load-bearing capacity. Ordinary houses may collapse within 10 minutes after a fire, hindering personnel evacuation and material rescue.
3. Flammable Materials Exacerbating the Fire: Some container houses use non-fire-resistant polystyrene foam sandwich panels. When burning, they release toxic gases and the fire spreads rapidly. For example, in the fire in Linping District, Hangzhou, although the house owner partially rescued cash and documents, the overall damage to the house was severe, highlighting the hazards of flammable materials.

II. Key Measures for Fire Safety

1. Choose Fire-Resistant Materials: Give priority to using Class A non-combustible materials such as rock wool sandwich panels and glass-magnesium fireproof boards. For example, the moisture-proof and fireproof floors for inhabited containers produced by Shanghai Xiangpiao Fireproof Board Manufacturing Co., Ltd. have a fire-resistant temperature of 1000-2000℃ and have characteristics such as water resistance, light weight, and impact resistance, which can significantly improve the fire resistance of the house.
2. Standardize Electrical Installation: Avoid unauthorized wiring connections, use qualified electrical products, and regularly check for circuit aging. In the Langfang fire case, the circuit fault on the ground outside the circuit breaker was the direct cause, emphasizing the need for professional installation and maintenance of the electrical system.
3. Equip with Fire Protection Facilities: Install smoke detectors and fire extinguishers in the house and plan escape routes. Container houses have enclosed spaces, and early fire detection and suppression are crucial.
4. Avoid Storing Flammable Materials: Reduce the accumulation of combustible materials in the house. In the Hangzhou case, although the house owner rescued cash and documents, it increased the fire load and the difficulty of rescue.

III. Market Status and Selection Suggestions Currently, the prices of fire-resistant container houses in the market vary greatly depending on materials and configurations. For example, the fast-assembly and detachable container houses (fire-resistant type) provided by Beijing Jinhua Hengyuan Integrated Housing Co., Ltd. start at 399 yuan, while the fire-resistant and explosion-proof mobile cabins from Shanghai Beihong Engineering Equipment Co., Ltd. cost up to 7281 yuan. It is recommended to choose products with fire protection certifications, steel structure anti-corrosion treatments, and compliant sandwich panels, and require manufacturers to provide fire resistance limit test reports to ensure that the houses comply with the 'Code for Fire Protection Design of Buildings'.