Required Characteristics of Shipping Container Flooring

Almost forty to fifty years ago, only hardwood plywood was used for the flooring of shipping containers. With the passage of time, inventions in shipping container flooring were made keeping in view the requirements and needs of modern trade. Nowadays, different kinds of shipping container flooring materials are used. Whatever the material is, it should meet the criteria of standard shipping container flooring characteristics. The required characteristics of shipping container flooring are described below:

Combat long-distance ocean travel:

A shipping container carries almost every kind of load from light to heavy. The flooring of the shipping container should be strong enough to withstand the heavy cargo without damage. A standard shipping container flooring is made of plywood, bamboo, or hardwood. The average life span of good quality plywood is 10 to 12 years including regular maintenance and protection. On the other hand, bamboo’s average life span is 10 to 15 years if properly protected and maintained. Shipping container flooring of steel has the highest life span that is 50 years, however, the tensile strength of steel is less than both bamboo and plywood. Bamboo has a long existence and the highest strength of carrying heavy loads. Therefore, it is recommended for the flooring of shipping containers.

Waterproof:

Waterproof container flooring means the floor can withstand any water, other liquid things without causing damage to the material. While water-resistant material means it can hold water for a short period of time then it will start showing effects of damage. So the flooring of the shipping container must be waterproof and water-resistant too. The containers are shipped through oceans, loaded with liquid cargo, and carry the loads for more than one month without any check. Would you like to have a leaky floor? Of course, not. Vinyl flooring is the best water proof shipping container flooring.

Weather tolerance:

Perishable and non-perishable goods require different types of storage conditions. Fluctuations in temperature, humidity, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and preservatives are all the things a shipping container flooring came across. Tolerance to the inner and outer atmosphere is the key requirement of the flooring of shipping containers. Hundreds of containers are shipped every day. There is no roof and shelter for the containers to protect them from severe and continuously changing weather conditions. Containers are roughly loaded and unloaded. If the container’s outside, as well as flooring of it, would not be able to withstand those conditions.

Easy to clean:

Containers remain loaded for several days until they reach their destination. If the shipping container flooring would not be easy-to-clean type, it will get damage early because of a lack of maintenance and sanitation practices.

Floor Strength:

Carrying capacity or weight-bearing capacity of the floor of a shipping container is one of the most important characteristics of the flooring. The whole process starting from the manufacturing of containers to use them for trade purposes depends upon the strength of its flooring. Plywood shipping container flooring is one of the oldest and highest strength holding flooring.

Abrasion/scrap resistance:

Abrasion free floor is very important for the safe shipping of cargo. The containers used for heavy machinery loading and unloading are floored with plywood shipping container flooring. The reason is its strong structure capable of holding heavy loads without getting damaged.

Fewer joints:

Less the joints less will be the risk of damage or breakage of shipping container flooring. A plywood floor is capable of carrying a 5,460kg load while a steel container carries up to 9,200kg load without leaning. This weight carrying capacity is directly related to the number of joints a floor has.

Durability:

The majority of containers got damaged (either floor gets damaged or joints loosen) after first or usually second shipping. it costs hundreds of resources to prepare one single container. If every container is manufactured properly, maintained properly, material selection for the flooring of shipping containers is best, it won’t get damaged easily.

References:

Islam, H., Zhang, G., Setunge, S., & Bhuiyan, M. A. (2016). Life cycle assessment of shipping container home: A sustainable construction. Energy and Buildings, 128, 673-685.

Hoffmann, N., Stahlbock, R., & Voß, S. (2020). A decision model on the repair and maintenance of shipping containers. Journal of Shipping and Trade, 5(1), 1-21.

Getahun, S., Ambaw, A., Delele, M., Meyer, C. J., & Opara, U. L. (2018). Experimental and numerical investigation of airflow inside refrigerated shipping containers. Food and Bioprocess Technology, 11(6), 1164-1176.

Tso, C. P., Wong, Y. W., Jolly, P. G., & Ng, S. M. (2001). A comparison of hot-gas by-pass and suction modulation method for partial load control in refrigerated shipping containers. International Journal of Refrigeration, 24(6), 544-553.

Aro, M. D., Brashaw, B. K., & Donahue, P. K. (2014). Mechanical and physical properties of thermally modified plywood and oriented strand board panels. Forest Products Journal, 64(7-8), 281-289.

Li, W., Zhang, Z., Zhou, G., Leng, W., & Mei, C. (2020). Understanding the interaction between bonding strength and strain distribution of plywood. International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives, 98, 102506.