Materials and construction
floor treatment
Floor treatment is the chemical or coating treatment applied to a container's plywood floor. Container floors are often treated with pesticides to protect the wood from insects during transport. Treatments differ by maker. Ask the seller what treatment a floor has and whether it was sealed or replaced.
Why it matters
Container floors are made for global shipping, so the wood is treated against pests. Common treatments named by sellers include products with phoxim, chlorfenapyr, cypermethrin and imidacloprid as active ingredients. A Falcon Structures article reports that a toxicology review found low risk, because the chemicals have low volatility, but this is a seller view. For storage use, many operators seal or cover the floor, or choose one-trip units. For conversions to offices or homes, floor choices are a design decision. A common mistake is to sand or cut the floor without a mask. Ask the supplier for treatment data and follow safety guidance. This is not health advice.
Read: Are used shipping containers safe? What operators should know about floor treatments
Definition source: falconstructures.com
Related terms
marine plywood floor
A marine plywood floor is the wood floor in a shipping container, made of thick laminated plywood fixed to steel cross members. Sea Box describes a 1 1/8 inch thick marine plywood floor. It carries the cargo load, including forklift traffic.
one-trip container
A one-trip container is a container that has made a single cargo voyage from the factory before being sold or rented. It is close to new. It usually has clean lines, solid floors and doors that work smoothly. Sellers use the term in slightly different ways.
container modification
A container modification is a change made to a standard shipping container. It covers a single door cut-in up to a full fit-out. Common changes include doors, windows, vents, insulation, electrical work, HVAC, lining, partitions and plumbing. Sellers often group these changes into packages.
container office
A container office is an office made from a shipping or storage container. A builder cuts in windows and doors and adds insulation, finished walls, flooring, electrical and lighting. It sits directly on the ground and can be moved with a forklift or a truck.
container inspection
A container inspection is a check of a container's outside, inside, doors, floor and roof for damage, leaks and wear. Buyers do it before purchase. Operators do it when units go out and come back. It can be a quick look or a formal review to a standard.
used container
A used container is a container that has served a working life, usually at sea, before being sold or rented for storage. Sellers grade used units, often as cargo worthy, wind and water tight or as-is. The grade affects price, appearance and how well the unit keeps out water.
For the industry
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