keeping a shipping container cool in the summer

[Flash and Flare]

Not sure if this belongs here as it does have to do with cooling but not Air Conditioning so if the Mods feel it belongs in the Heating and Air Cond forum please move it.

Last fall I purchased a 20ft Shipping Container and I am looking for ideas on how to keep the inside temperatures down without compromising its water and rodent free nature.

The doors face the south and will have direct sun exposure. I do not currently have power run inside, but I will be putting one 15amp circuit inside to power a few inside lights.

Any creative ideas ?
Thanks
F&F

 

[Streetbu]

Insulate it, vent it, or shade it. Or all 3.

 

[Bigplum]

Put another one on top

 

[Lippyp]

Put a tin roof on it with an air gap, use light coloured roofing, paint the container a light colour, maybe fit a solar panel and a battery and some 12V extractor fans to keep air moving.

 

[Flash and Flare]

Guess I should say I would like to do this without adding another ISBU on top or adding another roof.
I want to cool it down just as it sits now, already planned on painting the top of it white and I am painting the rest of it light tan to match my house and my 24x24 shop.

Louvered vents ?
Circular attic vents ?

 

[brownbagg]

you can't , mine gets to 130 in the summer

 

[Flash and Flare]

you can't , mine gets to 130 in the summer

Thats not what I wanted to hear, do you have any powered vents ? or any extraction fans ?

F&F

 

[zcar751]

The solar energy placed on the roof will overload any fan. You could spray foam the ceiling to reduce some of the capacity. But on an 80 degree day your looking at 95 to 100 degrees at the 4 foot level. Your best bet is to add a secondary roof with a 6" air gap and spray foam the ceiling. It will be cool in the summer and in the winter you could add some heat and be nice and toasty. Good luck and post some photos.

 

[Spareparts]

How about the silver roof coating they use on mobile home roof, seems to help there and is not much different, just a big box. Maybe a couple of vents on the sides up high for cross flow ventilation with screen on the inside to keep the flying creatures out.

 

[HOTFR8]

I run these on both of my containers.

 

[ahab]

Only use it between 2 AM - 8 AM or when raining.

Run a duct from the front to the back to promote air circulation. Huge help.

 

[ZRX61]

Bury it

 

[9GUY9]

I have a shipping container for a shop at work. It has a wall in the center splitting it in half. One half has 2" or spray foam insulation. It makes a world of difference. It will still get hot in the summer, but not near as bad as the un insulated half. We try to make a point of keeping it closed up in the day, and opening the door at night to allow the cool evening air in.

It is heated with a smaller elec heater in the winter and hold in heat remarkably well.

 

[JonnyMac]

Not sure if this belongs here as it does have to do with cooling but not Air Conditioning so if the Mods feel it belongs in the Heating and Air Cond forum please move it.

Last fall I purchased a 20ft Shipping Container and I am looking for ideas on how to keep the inside temperatures down without compromising its water and rodent free nature.

The doors face the south and will have direct sun exposure. I do not currently have power run inside, but I will be putting one 15amp circuit inside to power a few inside lights.

Any creative ideas ?
Thanks
F&F

The ac compressors, control cabinets and test cell supply air for our emissions lab are housed in two 40ft containers housed on the roof of the building.
When the outside air temp hits around 92 degs the system over heats and shuts down.
We have tried numerous methods of keeping the temps down..shading, misting the walls, forced ventilation, insulation. However the one and only successful solution is an 8kw air conditioning unit (split system in aussie language).
There is so much thermal mass involved, you need to physically remove the heat, simply protecting it from heat isn't enough. That said we generate heat inside the container as well as heat from the sun so our situation is on the extreme side of things.
Good luck

 

[nti06]

I have seen one example of an old refrigerated container repurposed as a construction companies maintenance shop. The reefer unit was long gone when they got it but they framed up the hole and put it a huge window type a/c unit so the maintenance guy had a comfortable and clean place to build engines or whatever. They had another container with a 20 inch fan in the back wall but it still got hot in there.

 

[1/2 Cup]

I run these on both of my containers.

As above, they work really well.

 

[elronin]

I saw a show on PBS once about using ceramic paint on the exterior here is a site that talks about it LINK

YouTube Link

 

[arrowhead]

I would build an insulated box inside of it. You would loose some floor area, but you could put up 2x4 walls and ceiling and insulate but keep the framing say 2" away from the metal exterior. Than you can vent the interstitial space to keep the air temperature down and you've eliminated any thermal conduction. Put a couple of roof vents on and then put some brick vents down at the bottom of the walls down low. This will promote circulation in the interstial space to keep the air temp down. Now you will never "cool" it off without mechanical cooling so it will always be hotter than outside, but add a fan for circulation inside and it might be pretty tolerable. 2x4's are cheap and you don't have to deal with weatherproofing except any vents you add. You could probably try it without vents and see how it goes.

 

[mayday0017]

Still at a loss of why you can't do any type of AC... You could get the small roll around type and add insulation to the inside and keep it at a reasonable temp. Then all you need is a 6" hole in the side for the heat to go out of. If you don't want to make a hole in the side attach a filler pannel to the door so when you open it a crack it is sealed all but the 6" hole for the exhaust of the AC. When you close it completly it could be wired to a switch to turn off the AC and it would still lock up tight. Sounds like you will already have some power coming in so might as well take advantage and it won't make a bigger opening then any of your other options. Added benifit is it will remove moisture from the air too...

 

[bcassel]

I have a 40 foot box, it's painted a dark brown. I can lower the temperature in it about 15 degrees in the summer by spaying it with water and letting the water evaporate.

Won't help much when the outside temp is 110F but it will make it usable for short term trips in and out.

 

[Bigplum]

How about a perimeter frame on the roof backfilled with sand , gravel or pebbles ?
The weight increase might be an issue but a under layer of polystyrene underneath would help
I'm thinking anything you can do to stop the sun beating down directly on roof is the way to go

 

[Flash and Flare]

Lots of good ideas, I should also mention that this shipping container is strictly for raw storage, there won't be any work being performed inside.

My main goal with buying this was to get unneeded seasonal toys and accessories out of my work shop.
Hard to get anything accomplished when you have to step over multiple items just walk 10ft.

A buddy of mine said one of his old co workers just started a spray foam insulation business.
I think I am gonna give him a call and see what he will quote me.
Thanks everyone for all the assistance.

 

[ishiboo]

White paint and roof vents as mentioned.

To air-condition without breaking the bank you would have to do 2" foam on the walls and ceiling, still not cheap.

May I ask where you got one and what it cost + delivery? I'm not far from you and am looking for one to store my stuff while my barn is redone.

 

[Flash and Flare]

White paint and roof vents as mentioned.

To air-condition without breaking the bank you would have to do 2" foam on the walls and ceiling, still not cheap.

May I ask where you got one and what it cost + delivery? I'm not far from you and am looking for one to store my stuff while my barn is redone.

I got it off Craigslist, it was a privately owned and was located just north of Lake Mills. Was listed for $1450 OBO and we settled on $1175 and then I hired a local guy with a roll-back truck to pick it up and drop it off at my house.

Cost for the truck and the guys time was $350 and I helped him.

Before I got this one I was talking with a guy named Ron from Storco in Wis Rapids about buying a 20ft his price was $2700'ish delivered.

I would will buy another someday.

 

[racer1]

Another option is a straight truck box. I got 2- 26 footers for $800 each delivered to my house. They are aluminium with a roll up door. They have a fiberglass roof, so light comes in. they have a 1 1/2" thick oak floor..Most also have E track on walls. So you can put in support bars to stack stuff. Just check with semi trailer shops.

 

[John Mc]

Cover it with old wire fence and then plant fast growing vines. String beans and cucumbers will work. Viola', food and shade, with a side order of camouflage.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Cover it with old wire fence and then plant fast growing vines. Sting beans and cucumbers will work. Viola', food and shade, with a side order of camouflage.

I was going to suggest some pine trees around the outside.

 

[Craptain]

Lanco-seal roof coating (Home Depot) and landscaping. Also think about solar vents like the ones used on boats. http://lmgtfy.com/?q=solar+vents

 

[slowzuki]

50-90% shade cloth over the things with an airspace works wonders. Stuff is cheap and can be had with d-rings in the hems to tension over things.

 

[Flash and Flare]

Bury it,mount a top turret off a B-17 with twin 50s,keep off my grass!!! that's one way.

for storage,sweat is cheaper than insulation,or shivering is cheaper than heat,and Ur not goona be inside for long periods of time,are u? if not,put a light or two in there,yes the battery kind,no sense in wasting wire to a shed mostly unused,or better yet take Ur nite lite on Ur hat, or a spotlight,pretend Ur a prepper.sheds are for storing,avoid working in them,its the shop that counts

Without any attempt to cool it off in the summer any rubber/plastic and or faux leather will be ruined in the 120+ inside temperatures.

 

[denis4x4]

Buy another one and put a roof over as per my avatar. Very cool even in ninty plus temperatures.

 

[stage20]

I have wondered about this with my metal building I had put up last october. Even cool temps. Running electricl 12 ft up will almost mke you sweat. Is it safe to store spray paint at this temp? Lol. I put all my spray tuff in. Cabinet in case it becomes an issue. Never really heard of ny problems but im always paranoid.

 

[brownbagg]

my 45 footer was $2500, i use it has a job site trailer, and i move it from job to job. cost me $200 to move

 

[finn]

Another option is a straight truck box. I got 2- 26 footers for $800 each delivered to my house. They are aluminium with a roll up door. They have a fiberglass roof, so light comes in. they have a 1 1/2" thick oak floor..Most also have E track on walls. So you can put in support bars to stack stuff. Just check with semi trailer shops.

Neighbor has a box truck w/ one of those plastic translucent roofs repurposed for storage.

First winter he had it the roof collapsed under the snow load... same thing happens with that type of semi trail unless you keep them shoveled off....run away from them.

 

[6768rogues]

Put a lawn sprinkler on the roof and water it.

 

[930dreamer]

 

[930dreamer]

Buy another one and put a roof over as per my avatar. Very cool even in ninty plus temperatures.

Can you post some pics of your container shop?

 

[gnpenning]

Uhh, you do know this is a 4year old thread....

 

[Negen]

When my wif asks me to do something I tend to do it about four years later. Probably same thing with people who bump archived threads.

Sent from my G8141 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Mr. D]

The doors face the south and will have direct sun exposure.

I will never understand that statement and trust me I have tried. I just sold my McMansion with double wood entry doors that faced directly West and caught all the direct sunlight as the sun arced East to West.

If the sun rises in the East and sets in the West than direct sun exposure is from the East and West. That's how my mind sees it anyway.