Storage Containers for Sale

Which grade to buy for storage

Wind and watertight is the correct specification for most static storage. It means the unit is structurally sound and keeps weather out; it makes no claim about sea carriage. It is usually the best value on the market for this use.

Go up to cargo worthy only if the container may later be shipped or resold to someone who will ship it — the CSC plate holds value. Go down to as-is only if you have inspected the specific unit and accept its defects; as-is is sold on description of faults, not on a grade.

Groundworks decide how long it lasts

The single biggest determinant of a storage container's life is what it stands on. Set it on level bearers — concrete pads, railway sleepers or steel plates under the four corner castings — so air circulates underneath and water drains away. A container placed directly onto soft ground holds moisture against the underside, and the cross-members and floor bearers go first.

Level matters for a second reason: a container racked out of square has doors that will not close. Get the corners level to within a few millimetres and the doors keep working for decades.

• Four level bearing points under the corner castings, not a continuous bed
• Free drainage away from the unit; never place it in a hollow
• Doors facing away from the prevailing weather where the site allows
• Access for the delivery vehicle checked before ordering, not after

Security and condensation

Standard container locking bars are strong but the padlock is the weak point. A welded lock box that shrouds the shackle removes the obvious attack and costs little; specify it at order stage and it is fitted before delivery.

Condensation — "container rain" — is a real problem in unheated static storage. Passive vents in the side panels help, raising goods off the floor helps, and for sensitive contents a vapour barrier and insulation are the reliable answer. Do not assume a watertight container is a dry one.