Container House and Site Board House

There are significant differences between container houses and site board houses in terms of materials, structures, performance, and applicable scenarios. When choosing, it is necessary to comprehensively evaluate safety, cost, and efficiency based on specific needs.

1. Differences in Materials and Structures

Container houses are centered around steel structural frames, using galvanized steel plates or cold-rolled steel plates for welding or bolt connections. The walls are mostly A-grade fireproof sandwich panels made of rock wool or glass wool, with a thickness usually ≥2.0mm, providing strong resistance to deformation. For example, products from Suzhou Zhongnan Steel Structure have a frame deformation rate of only 0.2% under a Level 12 typhoon, complying with the GB50009-2012 standard. Site board houses, on the other hand, use light steel keels as the framework, paired with color-coated steel plates or polystyrene foam sandwich panels. The steel thickness is generally ≤1.9mm, and some off-brand products even use ordinary steel with a thickness ≤1.2mm without anti-corrosion treatment, which can easily reduce structural strength due to rusting.

2. Performance Comparison

1. Wind and Earthquake Resistance: Container houses from leading companies have a wind resistance rating of Level 10-12 and an earthquake resistance intensity of 7-8 degrees, capable of withstanding an 8-degree earthquake scenario. Site board houses mostly have a wind resistance rating of Level 8-9 and an earthquake resistance intensity of 7 degrees, with lower margins under extreme weather conditions. Non-standard off-brand products may experience frame deformation in Level 8 winds, with rework costs reaching 60% of the construction cost.
2. Installation Efficiency: Container houses are produced in a factory-prefabricated manner and are assembled and fixed on-site. The installation time for a single unit is 2-4 hours, and the deployment period for a 100-unit camp is 7-12 days. Site board houses require on-site welding operations, with an installation time of 4-7 hours per unit, extending the construction period by 30%-50% and posing potential welding quality issues.
3. Economy: Container houses reduce transportation costs by 40% (for foldable models) and increase storage space utilization by 60%. Their total life cycle cost is 15%-20% lower than that of site board houses. Although off-brand products have a lower purchase price, rework costs can be 3-5 times higher, resulting in a higher overall cost.

3. Recommendations for Applicable Scenarios

1. Coastal Typhoon Zones/High-Intensity Earthquake Zones: Prioritize container houses from companies such as Suzhou Zhongnan and CIMC Modular Building Systems, as their Level 12 wind resistance and 8-degree earthquake resistance can meet extreme working condition requirements.
2. Short-Term Engineering Camps: The fast-assembly models of container houses have an installation efficiency of 2 hours per unit, allowing the deployment of a 100-unit camp in 7 days, suitable for projects with tight schedules.
3. Low-Cost Temporary Housing: Site board houses are 30%-50% cheaper per unit, but it is necessary to strictly check the steel thickness and fire rating, avoiding the use of polystyrene foam sandwich panels.
4. Commercial Pop-Up Stores: Container houses support customized interior pre-installation, allowing the construction of a 20㎡ store in 2 days, saving 3 days compared to competitors.