Engineering container homes
Every idea or project eventually reaches a point where it becomes necessary to verify the possibility of actually bringing the concept to fruition. In the case of a construction project such as a shipping container home the two cornerstones that will determine the viability of your concept are the engineering and your local building codes.
These are two pretty big hurdles that are seldom talked about on the Internet. I'm mentioning them with the intention of putting the task of engineering a container structure into the proper perspective.
While you may not have (nor aspire to have) the depth of knowledge that comes with an actual engineering degree, it is necessary, and entirely possible, for you to acquire a good understanding of the basic engineering principles needed to engineer a container structure. This knowledge will help you in several ways;
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You will build smarter
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Minimize permit delays
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Know when an engineer is needed
Understanding the role of the engineer in design and plan approval, and more importantly, the concepts behind calculating loads and load paths for container homes are covered in the Constructure Guide's engineering section.
Permits for Container Houses
Gaining an understanding of the unique engineered design of the shipping container is the first step towards permitting your project.
The International Residential Code, or your local building code are the regulations that will show you how to determine your engineering needs before your project ever breaks ground.
The Constructure Guide not only provides you with information on how to engineer for loads and design load paths but can help you determine exactly when an engineer is or isn’t required, when engineers may be required by inference, as well as where and when local or state’s laws could govern what type of engineering is required.
Container Home Design Criteria
Unfortunately, The 2006 International Residential Code’s 701 pages do not contain a single reference to shipping containers as a building material. Some people have interpreted this to mean it’s impossible to get building permits for homes incorporating shipping containers. This is untrue, The Constructure Guide will show you how the IRC provides several provisions for non-traditional designs and materials, including shipping containers.
Differences in climatic, geographic, and seismic conditions across the country dictate that regional/ local data will be among the primary inputs when determining your design criteria. Here again the Constructure Guide ties together the cornerstones of the building code and engineering principles in a way that's easy to understand and utilize.
Once the design criterion has been defined a structural evaluation and analysis of load combinations can proceed, by the building code if possible, or using reasonable methods of analysis or testing.
Constructure shows you how the building department will apply design loads and load combinations based on the building code, as well as the formulas and equations used.
The Constructure Guide is filled with information that you can't do without if you are planning a container house project. Purchase the Guide today and you can be on your way to designing and building your own container home.
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