Insulating containers?

Looking at container conversion as option for office space in a larger unin sulated workshop.

Top option seems to be spray foam interior with studs to take dry lining an d insulate floor. it fills all the voids in the corrugations but it costs.

A U.S. outfit was offering a container lining kit , that appeared to be som e sort of Structural Insulated Panels, pre cut they simpy loaded rear and s ide walls in , ceiling lining sat on top of walls and floor was layed insul ation, very fast to do. Concerned that leaving the corrugation voids unfill ed creating a moisture or damp trap.

Another vid appeared to be using polystyrene bats bonded to the interior be fore lning with ply, again concerned creating a load of sealed voids in the corrugations.

Seen a few online where they have studded the interior and then filled with rockwool, before ply lining over.It`s lowest cost but can`t help but feel may get condenstaion on inside of corrugations soaking the rockwool over ti me.

Any words from the wise, including just wear the cost and buy an actual Pot acabin?

Reply to
Adam Aglionby
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insulated workshop.

and insulate floor. it fills all the voids in the corrugations but it costs .

ome sort of Structural Insulated Panels, pre cut they simpy loaded rear and side walls in , ceiling lining sat on top of walls and floor was layed ins ulation, very fast to do. Concerned that leaving the corrugation voids unfi lled creating a moisture or damp trap.

before lning with ply, again concerned creating a load of sealed voids in t he corrugations.

th rockwool, before ply lining over.It`s lowest cost but can`t help but fee l may get condenstaion on inside of corrugations soaking the rockwool over time.

I concur with your concern, and point out that it applies to spray foam too . Put foam (batts) on the outside & Robert's your relative.

NT

Reply to
tabbypurr

You would need an effective vapour barrier on the inside of the insulation to prevent any moist warm air making it to the cold side - that is what will cause interstitial condensation. (assuming the outer skin of the container is water tight)

Reply to
John Rumm

Whether you need a vapour barrier or not depends on whether the insulation has open or closed cell structure. If it's closed cell structure, you don't need it.

Reply to
harry

Only true when all the gaps and joins between insulating boards are also airtight.

So for example, using foil faced PIR foam would be ok without an additional vapour barrier if all the joints were foil taped.

Reply to
John Rumm

Plastics have a small degree of vapour permeability, and with a steel conta iner there is zero evaporation outward of water vapour. So to work long ter m in this case would require a very thorough vapour barrier. Masonry breath es vapour outward, steel doesn't.

NT

Reply to
tabbypurr

Without the container being able to breathe, some water vapour is certain to condense on the container steel walls. In the OP's case I assume this water will run down the container sides. As long as this can run out, and the OP doesn't care about rusting issues then I don't see any problem.

The better the vapour barrier the less interstitial condensation.

Reply to
Fredxxx

insulated workshop.

and insulate floor. it fills all the voids in the corrugations but it costs .

ome sort of Structural Insulated Panels, pre cut they simpy loaded rear and side walls in , ceiling lining sat on top of walls and floor was layed ins ulation, very fast to do. Concerned that leaving the corrugation voids unfi lled creating a moisture or damp trap.

before lning with ply, again concerned creating a load of sealed voids in t he corrugations.

th rockwool, before ply lining over.It`s lowest cost but can`t help but fee l may get condenstaion on inside of corrugations soaking the rockwool over time.

As its a building within a building, how about teaming u with the poster in the other thread and building the office out of polystyrene boxes!

NT

Reply to
tabbypurr

Adam Aglionby scribbled

trap.

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How the pro's claim they do it.

Reply to
Jonno

Reply to
Andrew Mawson

no VB whatever there! Black mould will love it.

NT

Reply to
tabbypurr

That`s what has struck me, but would you put a vapour barrier between insulation and outer walls or is the inner space supposed to be sealed?

Reply to
Adam Aglionby

VB needs to be on the warm side of the insulation

NT

Reply to
tabbypurr

:

nsulation and outer walls or is the inner space supposed to be sealed?

Thanks!

That`s what I thought, though there is a least one tube vid of someone fram ing interior of container , then conscientiously stapling VB to the studs b efore lining with rockwool.

Would have thought that this puts the vapour barrier on the cold side and a ctually likely to condensate?

It seems that insulation is very much the new snake oil. Theres the radiant barriers , the radiant barrier bubble wrap , the `who cares about trapped condensation you`ll be gone by the time that shows` container insulators and outstanding is the insulative ceramic paint `endorsed` by NASA.

On the original question, reefers , or specifically non-operational reefers , fridge containers, aren`t as rare as thought but tend to have lost a lot of space to redundant fridge plant, which then needs sealed up on conversio n, leave out the bit about venting the refrigerant....

At moment top option appears to be ex truck insulated body, about same cost complete as insulation material alone for a container.

Reply to
Adam Aglionby

insulation and outer walls or is the inner space supposed to be sealed?

aming interior of container , then conscientiously stapling VB to the studs before lining with rockwool.

actually likely to condensate?

yup

nt barriers , the radiant barrier bubble wrap , the `who cares about trappe d condensation you`ll be gone by the time that shows` container insulator s and outstanding is the insulative ceramic paint `endorsed` by NASA.

st complete as insulation material alone for a container.

where on earth are you buying insulation.

NT

Reply to
tabbypurr

en insulation and outer walls or is the inner space supposed to be sealed?

framing interior of container , then conscientiously stapling VB to the stu ds before lining with rockwool.

nd actually likely to condensate?

iant barriers , the radiant barrier bubble wrap , the `who cares about trap ped condensation you`ll be gone by the time that shows` container insulat ors and outstanding is the insulative ceramic paint `endorsed` by NASA.

cost complete as insulation material alone for a container.

Take a ex supermarket insulated bidy assume 40`

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1k +VAT & Delivery

40ft conatiner going to need 30+ 8 x4 at 75mm leaving out insualting floor, plus framing, pallet of seconds at that thickness 639 + VAT + framing timb er + container to frame.

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Reply to
Adam Aglionby

ween insulation and outer walls or is the inner space supposed to be sealed ?

e framing interior of container , then conscientiously stapling VB to the s tuds before lining with rockwool.

and actually likely to condensate?

adiant barriers , the radiant barrier bubble wrap , the `who cares about tr apped condensation you`ll be gone by the time that shows` container insul ators and outstanding is the insulative ceramic paint `endorsed` by NASA.

e cost complete as insulation material alone for a container.

r, plus framing, pallet of seconds at that thickness 639 + VAT + framing ti mber + container to frame.

they have kinspan at £120/pallet, and kingspan is way OTT, and if you use it you dont need framing.

NT

Reply to
tabbypurr

etween insulation and outer walls or is the inner space supposed to be seal ed?

one framing interior of container , then conscientiously stapling VB to the studs before lining with rockwool.

de and actually likely to condensate?

radiant barriers , the radiant barrier bubble wrap , the `who cares about trapped condensation you`ll be gone by the time that shows` container ins ulators and outstanding is the insulative ceramic paint `endorsed` by NASA.

ame cost complete as insulation material alone for a container.

oor, plus framing, pallet of seconds at that thickness 639 + VAT + framing timber + container to frame.

se it you dont need framing.

Not that great a bargain , pallet of 10 @ 120 * 4= 480 +VAT but they are random +/- 10mm thickness variants and warped , need some framing to bring them into line ;-)

Reply to
Adam Aglionby

use it you dont need framing.

what does that mean?

aming to bring them into line ;-)

or just slice to flatten & glue. Yes it's crude, but you wanted cheap. Loft insulation roll would surely be cheaper, or frameless polystyrene.

NT

Reply to
tabbypurr

ou use it you dont need framing.

Compared against a pallet lot of 36 boards at 639 , need 4 pallets which wo rks out at nearkly 160 quid cheaper but...

framing to bring them into line ;-)

ft insulation roll would surely be cheaper, or frameless polystyrene.

Its warped,and its random thickness, if the void your needing to insulate is over 100mm deep , it might kick into the space, but it will leave gaps, it won`t flatten in any meaningful manner.

Insulation roll , needs a vapour barrier somewhere and not convinced it dos en`t eventually end up as a sponge.

Polystyrene in FR grade dosen`t become cheap.

Didn`t say cheap was highest priority but 40` wind and watertight steel con tainer running from around the 1500 quid mark, spending a grand to insulate it simply dosent make sense,site office with the insulation windows and do or runs from around 3K.

What have learned so far is container conversions are trendy not cost savin g, may also have something to do with being temporary buildings getting ar ound some planning restrictions...

Scratch build from SIPs begins to look a possibilty.

Reply to
Adam Aglionby

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