structural support 2 story shipping container home

[engineer_123]

As the experts on here may know, shipping containers are originally designed for the four (4) corner post to carry the majority of the loads, which is why they are stacked parallel to each other. As far as I understand, the bottom, top, side rails are fairly weak; and are even more weak when the corrugated walls are cut out. I need opinions on the best way to structurally modify the first floor of the shipping container to accommodate the second floor? Containers being used are 8'Wx19.87'Lx9.5'H, perpendicular, ~3' overhang. The middle-corrugated walls will be cut-out, a metal stairway with one (1) landing will connect the upper and lower floors. All the members in my model are completely failing, given the loads, mostly the 150 mph winds. It seems that the entire bottom floor will require headers/bracing etc. First floor will be slab-on-grade.

 

[Tomfh]

Yep, for basic structures - sheds, offices, etc, they work fine.

It’s when people turn them into architectural statements, chopping them to peices, stacking them in bizarre ways, then fully rebuilding what is effectively a new house inside that makes you wonder why did you even bother.

 

[rb1957]

"All the members in my model are completely failing" ... regardless of how good (or bad) your model this ... this is a sign ... abandon hope ...

"It makes sense if you keep it minimal, $2,000 for a shell is not bad" ... I can sell you a plane for $1000, but it still makes a lousy submarine.

 

[mfgenggear]

na I would not give up.
sometimes just take a breather and the solution will present it self.
keep digging and researching.

 

[LittleInch]

The way to structurally modify the bottom row of containers to allow some idiot to mount another row at right angles to the bottom row is to install a humungous beam in place of the weedy 60mm square tube between the corner posts and possibly more vertical supports direct to whatever this thing is sitting on plus probably some cross bracing to support the walls when you go and cut out holes for windows and doors.

For about 4 weeks of my life which I'll never get back, I slept in a converted container shared between two people on a construction site in the jungle. Never again - totally horrible and the prefabricated portable buildings (Portacabin and the like) were much better.

 

[mfgenggear]

It may be better to construct a steel frame of rectangular tubes. And make it beefy.
It is sawed very easily. And welds very easily.

 

[Tomfh]

to allow some idiot to mount another row at right angles to the bottom row

Perhaps the finest summary of the sort of foolishness we see