Maritime containers withstand severe temperatures because of their steel structure. Steel is one of the most rigid metals available and can withstand practically any condition, but it has its limitations.

You put your confidence in these storage boxes to keep your valuables safe. You want to know that your company’s equipment or key papers will be safe, even in extreme weather. But, how hot can a shipping container get in the sun? It has been found that the maximum temperature inside a shipping container can be up to 135 degrees Fahrenheit. At the same time, the lowest can be as low as -21 degrees Fahrenheit. However, if you are shipping perishables, you should use a standard reefer. Refrigerated container temperature never exceeds the stated limit. Because most shipping boxes are stored outside, the weather should be considered while assessing your alternatives for on-site storage. We’ve compiled this resource with everything you’ve ever wished to know about shipping containers and how they fare in harsh weather.

What makes shipping containers strong?

Due to the sheer structural strength of steel, customised freight boxes may be employed as construction components for ordinary structures. Shipping unit producers rely on a box’s stability, partly attributable to the high tensile strength of steel, to build container-based structures. But what exactly is steel, and how does it contribute to the structural stability of these cargo boxes? The solution is hidden deep inside steel’s most minor building pieces.

Corten Steel Lattice Strength

Steel is primarily iron with a few additional elements such as carbon and chromium. The iron atoms organise themselves into a cubic lattice in their pure state. The atomic arrangement of pure iron, on the other hand, is comparatively simple to shatter and distort, which is why pure iron is relatively soft and pliable to hammering. The structure is distorted when various sized atoms are introduced into the iron lattice.

The iron atoms struggle to maintain their clean cubic shape but bend around the distortions, causing the perfect cubic mesh to run at opposite angles.

The direction or angle of the atomic pattern is referred to as the grain. While a flawless piece of iron would have a single continuous grain, the introduction of flaws fractures the lattice into multiple grains that clash with each other. The grain boundaries are exceptionally ridged, and the structure is locked up like stiff scars running through softer skin.

The strength of steel’s extensive grain boundaries comes at a cost: the higher the strength, the less flexibility. Steel with high carbon content, hence high strength, will snap before it bends. However, there are some building situations where flexibility is advantageous. For example, it is preferable for a structure to slightly flex rather than break during an earthquake. Steel comes in a variety of alloys with varying percentages of non-iron components. Builders must choose steel alloys with the idea that the most potent option will also be the most prone to snapping.

Manufacturers of steel shipping containers utilise an alloy known as “corten steel” or weathering steel. The word “corten” is derived from a combination of the steel’s distinguishing characteristics: “COR-rosion resistance” and “TEN-sile strength.”

Can a Shipping Container Withstand a Wildfire?

Yes.

It’s reasonable to be concerned about your shipping boxes’ capacity to resist wildfires as they grow more widespread. The good news is that maritime containers withstand severe temperatures. As a matter of fact, maritime storage boxes are so fire-resistant that many fire departments employ them in training exercises and simulations.

While your storage unit would most likely survive a fire, the temperature inside the shipping container may rise due to fire and severe heat. This rise in temperature in a container leads to malfunction. For example, suppose you want to use your metal shipping container during the summer months or any other season when your location is prone to wildfire outbreaks. In that case, you need to take precautions since dry containers’ temperatures can rise immensely.

Here are some ideas on how to go about it:

• Cover your unit’s roof with light-coloured materials, which will reflect the sunlight and assist lessen the heat it absorbs.
• Insulate your unit’s walls to keep heat out and inside temperatures cool.
• Use fans within your device to circulate air and keep interior temperatures low.
• Wrap heat-sensitive things with plastic wrap to shield them from internal temperature variations.

Will your Shipping Container Withstand Snow and Freezing Temperatures?

Yes.

Snow and freezing temperatures have little direct influence on the structural integrity of a steel shipping container, but that doesn’t imply they’re innocuous. On the contrary, snow is frozen water, and water is steel’s main adversary. Rust is the shipping container’s nemesis. When a unit is exposed to (or submerged in) water for an extended time, rust begins to form, and your unit can quickly move from stable to fragile.

Consider a maritime shipping container to be a large metal box for the interior temperature. Metal absorbs cold air and cools from the outside when exposed to extreme cold. If you are storing temperature-sensitive things in your shipping containers, wrap and insulate them before leaving them in. Another suggestion is to line the inside of your freight unit with blankets or insulating material to keep things warm and comfortable inside.

Can Shipping Containers Withstand Hurricanes and Flooding?

Possibly.

This response is a little more sophisticated. Cargo boxes are not watertight. However, they are very resistant to water. This implies that these units can easily keep moisture away from your belongings during heavy rains. Still, when submerged in water for extended periods, there is a possibility that your unit will begin to allow tiny amounts of water inside. Therefore, during extended submersion in water, we recommend relocating your device or attempting to seal it.

Shipping Container Safety in Natural Disasters

After learning about the shipping box’s structural strength, a few questions remain: In a tornado, are standard containers safe? Is it possible for a shipping container to endure a hurricane? Shipping containers were designed to survive strong winds at sea. Therefore, by taking the suitable measures to install and secure a modified container, it should be able to endure a wide range of severe weather conditions. Make sure you convey your intense weather worries to your container provider so that they can best advise you on any necessary changes.

LOTUS Containers is unrivalled in the shipping container industry. We provide a variety of freight containers to satisfy all of your storage needs, no matter how large or small.

Since 2008, we have been one of the leading providers of shipping container solutions. You can rent or buy shipping containers from us. We send shipping containers worldwide while maintaining the highest cost and flexibility. In addition, we provide not only intermodal containers but also provide several other services.

Extreme weather may be challenging. But dealing with shipping containers shouldn’t be. Contact us today to find out how simple buying and storage can be.