Your Guide to Using Shipping Containers on Your Property

Jane on March 18, 2024

Are you considering a shipping container for your property? 

Here is a list of things to consider when deciding on your shipping container for storage or a facility – for example, a portable office.

  • Planning permission: Containers are temporary structures and can be moved at any time with the correct equipment. However, some councils have their own definition of a shipping container; for example, it could be considered a building and therefore a permanent fixture requiring planning permission.
  • Neighbours: Sometimes the neighbours feel a shipping container isn’t aesthetically pleasing and can be an eyesore. 
  • Vehicular access via A and B roads: Many smaller roads can be too small to take the HIAB vehicles we use to deliver the containers. A 20ft container is delivered on an 8-wheeler HIAB vehicle (approx. 40 ft long x 10ft wide) and a 40ft container is delivered on a 60 ft long x 10ft wide articulated HIAB vehicle. The 8-wheeler vehicles are what’s known as “rigid“ (which means the cab does not break away from the rest of the vehicle) and they need a large turning circle. The articulated vehicles do not need as much of a turning circle but the trailer is long and can cause issues on turning. HIAB means the vehicle is fitted with a crane so that the container can be offloaded. See our Delivery and collection details here.
  • Overhanging trees: Our HIABs cannot offload underneath trees.
  • Overhead cables: HSE legislation states that it is not safe to offload underneath overhead cables. It could be fatal if the crane touches or comes extremely close to a cable. 
  • Underground cables: The same rules apply as for the overhead cables.
  • Manhole covers/Drains: Our vehicles are too heavy to park on manhole covers/drains. If the outriggers are positioned on drains, this will cause the vehicle to topple over.
  • Pathways: The HIAB vehicles require outriggers off to the side for stability when offloading the container. These outriggers can damage the surface of the pathway.
  • Perimeter walls: The crane on the vehicles can only lift over and away from the vehicle so far.
  • Ground surface: You need to ensure that the ground where the container is to be placed is absolutely level prior to delivery (read here for more details). The HIAB vehicles need a hardcore surface to drive over and offload from. They simply do not have the traction to drive out if they get stuck.
  • Road offload: The HIAB vehicles are not allowed to be on any highway when we are offloading a container. 
  • Adequate space: Your container needs sufficient space for the doors to open. The vehicle needs plenty of room for access and offloading. The vehicle needs at least 10ft of space on each side for the outriggers, which ensure stability at the point of offload.

The Versatility of Shipping Containers

  • Access your belongings with ease.
  • Containers are so versatile when it comes to storage and office space.
  • Containers are secure and durable, giving you peace of mind when it comes to protecting your goods.
  • They are watertight to keep the weather out and ventilated to reduce the chance of condensation, ensuring your goods are protected. We sell Absorpoles that will also reduce excess moisture in the container.
  • They are cost effective, because you don’t have to spend time and fuel to take goods offsite and then back onsite. 
  • You can hire or buy new (one trip) and second-hand containers, giving you flexibility.
  • If you move premises then you can take the container with you; however, we can only move empty containers.

Navigating Legal Requirements

Containers are “a temporary structure and as such can be moved with the right vehicles”. However, some councils feel that planning permission is necessary. 

Even if the council initially say you don’t need planning permission, sometimes they can then ask you to apply for retrospective planning permission, for example, if a neighbour starts to complain to the council.

We recommend you call your council to see what their view is on whether you need planning permission or not.

With regards to the offloading of a container, legally our vehicles are not allowed to offload from a highway. If you are requesting this, then you will need to obtain the necessary permission from your local highways department. It will be your responsibility to obtain this permission.

HSE legislation stipulates that our vehicles must have a clearance of 18m from the top of the crane height which equates to 28m from the ground. This applies to any angles away from the cables. The vehicle will certainly need to lift to this height at the time of offload, therefore, we will not offload underneath any cables.

Please ensure that these legal restrictions are adhered to, to avoid any potential issues and fines.

Sustainability and Eco-Friendliness

When using shipping containers you have a choice of buying new (one trip) or second hand. The second-hand containers are approx. 15 years old and have come to the end of their shipping life, but are perfect as a site store. This can extend their life by around another 15 years, which means they have been repurposed.

The new (one trip) containers are used for 1 shipment from China and they are sold as ‘New’ site stores. They will last in the region of 40 years for site storage.

All containers (new and used) are refurbished into many different facilities; for example, chemical stores for farms, storage for schools and councils, portable offices and snack shacks. This extends their life by adding new paint, insulation and other parts.

Keeping Your Container in Top Shape

We have prepared a list of jobs and care instructions that will keep your container lasting longer.

It’s always good to keep an eye on your container from time to time, ensuring that you keep up with the maintenance as and when required. This will ensure the life of the container is as long as possible.

Protecting Your Investment: Insurance and Liability

It is important to insure your container against any liabilities, accidents or theft. Although containers are secure, there can always be another way of illegal access.

We recommend you discuss your requirements with your insurers.

In conclusion, we recommend you do your research regarding the space you have, the legal issues and your storage/facility requirements.

Please call Jane, Matt and Clare with your questions and requirements on 0800 121 7388. We are here to assist you with your storage and facility solutions.

How much should I pay for a 20’ shipping container?

Jane on March 4, 2024

If you are finding it difficult to work out how much you should pay for a 20ft container, read on. With our expert knowledge (nearly 60 years of combined container experience) we are here to give you some guidance.

There are many factors that contribute to the price of a 20’ shipping container.

  1. Material costs: If material costs such as Cor-ten steel and plywood are low, then the build cost will be lower and equally if the material costs are higher the build cost will be increased in price.
  2. Labour rates: Around 90% of all container production is carried out in China. The Chinese decide how much they pay their workers and this is affected by how much workload they have.
  3. Shipping Costs: For many years new containers have been shipped with 1 cargo and the shipping costs have been swallowed up by the shipper. These containers are known as ‘Once used’.  However, if things like war and other worldwide issues occur, then the shippers may well charge for the carriage of the cargo, which will add to the cost of a container. 2024 has seen the Houthi rebels cause mayhem with the vessels coming from China to Europe and this has prompted the shippers to divert their ships around the Cape of Good Hope. This has resulted in delays in getting the new ‘one trip’ containers into the UK, creating a supply and demand issue.
  4. Supply and Demand: If there is a huge glut of containers available for sale, then the price will be low. If there is low availability then the price will be higher.
  5. The used container prices take their lead from the cost of a new ‘one trip or once used’ container. If there are low volumes of new units then customers will go for a used one, which can drive up the price.
  6. Container prices can vary depending where the containers are in the UK. For example in Felixstowe, where a large number of containers are dropped off, they can be cheaper than in other inland locations like Birmingham, where the container has been trucked in, therefore adding extra costs.
  7. Container conversions certainly can increase the value of a container. Extra work and additions made to the container can increase the price. We convert a new ‘once used’ container into portable offices, where we insulate them and add electrics, etc.
  8. Location can play an important role. If the country you are taking the container out of and into is not particularly busy with imports and exports, then there will be extra charges added to the container to cover the shipping costs.

Condition of the container

  1. The condition of a container can certainly impact the price of a container. If the container has become so old that there is a fair amount of rust surrounding holes in the walls, this can mean that the container is beyond economical repair. A container like this will be extremely cheap. However, if a container has been built in China and used for ‘one trip’ then it will achieve the top value.
  2. We only sell watertight and structurally sound containers, either used, approximately 13-15 years old or new ‘one trip’ units. There is about a difference of £1000 between the 2 types of container. 
  3. All our containers are checked over by our expert repairers before they leave our factories and depots, to ensure quality control.

Modifications

  1. Shipping containers can be adapted to be used as other facilities such as portable offices, chemical stores, snack shacks, farm shops, etc.
  2. When you convert a container, there will inevitably be extra costs, for both materials and labour.
  3. When you put a window or a personnel door into a container, this will certainly add value both to the cost and what it is worth when selling it on.

Price Ranges

  1. A used container can range from £800 up to £1900 per standard 20ft. 
  2. A new ‘one trip’ container can range from £1200 up to £3500 per standard 20ft.
  3. The prices are determined by all of the above factors.

Tips for making an informed purchase

  1. Make sure you have a budget and ensure you are asking for the correct specification. Make sure you are not comparing ‘apples with pears’ when looking at the different suppliers.
  2. We recommend you do your research.
  3. We recommend you get at least 3 quotes. Compare prices and what service each company is offering you.
  4. Look at the companies you are dealing with, and make sure they have a good reputation. Check out their Google testimonials for example. See what their customers are saying about them.
  5. We are a family run business and try to be as helpful as we can, giving you the best experience possible.
  6. Check out which organisations the container companies are associated with. We are members of the British Chamber of Commerce, which checks up on its members.

We are Billie Box Ltd. a family run business with expert knowledge and traditional values.

We offer:

🔵 20ft & 40ft Shipping Container for storage for hire

🔵 20ft & 40ft Shipping Container for storage for sale

🔵 10ft & 20ft Chemical storage Containers for sale

🔵 20ft Portable Container Offices for sale

🔵 Bespoke Container Conversions

🔵 All with delivery to your door

📞 👉 Call us on 0800 121 7388 or visit our websites:

👉 Billie Box

👉 Chemical Storage 4 Farmers

January 2024 Container Hire Offer

Jane on January 5, 2024

����🔴 JANUARY CONTAINER HIRE SPECIALS 🔴🔵

📢 Kick-off 2024 with our unbeatable deals on container hire!👏

Whether you need extra storage space for your business or a temporary shelter for your project, rely on us for the perfect solution!

🔸MAKE YOUR MOVE, MAKE IT HAPPEN! 🔸

Remember, each container is:

✔️ Clean

✔️ Secure

✔️ Weatherproof

✔️ Inspected by professionals

No more mess, no more stress! Keep your belongings safe and organized by starting the year off right with our reliable container hires!

Don’t wait until it’s too late! Contact us NOW on 0800 121 7388! Call us for your free quote today!

More Facts about Shipping containers

Jane on December 18, 2023

The Box that transformed the World….

On the 26th April 1956, a crane lifted 58 aluminium truck bodies aboard an aging tanker ship moored in Newark, New Jersey. 5 days later the ‘Ideal-X’ sailed into Houston, where 58 trucks waited to take on the metal boxes and haul them to their destinations. This was the beginning of a revolution.

worlds largest container ship evergreen ever ace

Before the shipping container, transporting goods was very expensive…. The container made shipping cheap and by doing so changed the shape of the world economy.

The humble shipping container is not the part that is so important, it is what is represents. The container opened up the World to transporting goods from country to country. The container is at the core of a highly automated system for moving goods from anywhere, to anywhere, with the mimimum of cost and complication on the way.

Before the shipping container was used, there were armies of dock workers that were badly paid and badly looked after, loading and unloading ships by hand, under extremely difficult working conditions. It did create an enormous amount of work and cost. When the shipping container was introduced it streamlined the loading and unloading, therefore making the working conditions much safer . The transportation of goods all over the world runs extremely smoothly and therefore cheaply.

Today the shipping container is mainly built from Corten steel (high tensile steel) which gives the container a good long working life. 90% of shipping containers are built in China, mainly because the labour rates are much lower than anywhere else in the world. The Corten steel is also produced in China, avoiding extra transportation costs.

Source: The Box by Marc Levinson

FAQ: Can you deliver my container over grass or a field?

Jane on April 27, 2023

The answer to this is simply: No.

Our vehicles are extremely heavy as they are fitted with a crane that is suitable to carry and lift an empty shipping container.

The 20ft containers are delivered on a vehicle known as an ‘8 Wheeler’ which weighs in the region of 24.25T (including the weight of an empty 20ft container) and 40ft containers are delivered on an ‘Artic vehicle’ which weighs in the region of 34T (including the weight of an empty 40ft container). They do not have 4, 6 or 8 wheel drive fitted and simply do not have the traction to move over wet or muddy areas.

Sadly, as we can’t rely on the good old British weather, we cannot commit to driving over grass, muddy areas and uneven ground.

If the vehicles are driven over this type of ground and subsequently get ‘stuck’ the cost of rescuing the vehicle can be exorbitant. The cost of this rescue will be met by the client.

For more information about delivery and collection of a container, please see our delivery information page.

If you are unsure of the suitability of your site, then please do email us photos and a drawing of your site so we can double-check with our transport guys.

Billie Box is exhibiting at Saltex Nov-22

Jane on September 2, 2022

Billie Box will be attending Saltex 22 at the NEC, stand number J184. The team will be on hand to discuss your storage and container conversion requirements.

Billie Box has been selling and renting shipping containers for over 10 years. Jane Billing started up the company in 2012. Matt Boyle (Jane’s partner) joined Jane in 2016 and Clare Hazelwood (Jane’s sister) joined the company early 2022. Clare joined the company to expand the service by offering Container conversions.

Jane, Matt and Clare have over 55 years of combined knowledge.

Jane and the team pride themselves on their friendly, knowledgeable and professional service.

Billie Box offers the following:

Why not put Billie Box to the test and call us on 0800 121 7388 with your required specification or visit www.billiebox.co.uk.

Billie Box can give you professional advice on your storage and conversion requirements. Visit Billie Box stand no. J184 at SALTEX

Saltex

School Refurbishment

Jane on July 6, 2020

Shipping containers for school and college refurbishment

This week, the UK Government announced a ten-year plan for the refurbishment of schools and colleges across the nation. With over £1 billion in funding, it is the first major rebuilding programme to be launched since 2014, and will begin as soon as 2020-21.

You may be familiar with the use of converted shipping containers for offices, but they can also be used to increase space in schools and colleges. Likewise, regular shipping containers can also be utilised by these institutions for storage. If you are an educational institution planning to refurbish, you may want to consider a shipping container or converted container for reasons outlined below.

Converted shipping containers for increased space in schools

Converted shipping containers are ideal for use in schools and colleges. A converted container is very different from a regular container – although they may look similar from a distance. While they are both made with weather-resistant corten steel, converted containers are insulated, and fitted with doors, windows, lighting and heating systems – everything you may need for a comfortable teaching environment.

These containers can be positioned as required, as long as there is access for a forklift. Each container is fitted with forklift pockets, corner posts and corner castings, making it very easy to install and relocate as needed, with the right equipment. 

If you are looking to use a converted shipping container as an IT room, a canteen or design technology room where high value equipment is present, you also have the benefit of the strong corten steel exterior, steel reinforced entrance door with strong locks, and windows with lockable steel shutters. This helps deter and prevent theft or vandalism, which is essential in a school environment to protect students and staff, as well as expensive equipment.

School design in a post-lockdown UK

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way that we consider design for establishments such as schools and colleges. To prepare for education post-lockdown, converted containers may be used either as temporary classrooms, or alternatively as permanent solutions to the issue of social distancing in classroom environments in case the pandemic continues or develops.

As more children return to school, it is possible that classes need to reduce in size in order to accommodate more space between students. Converted shipping containers fulfill this need by creating more classrooms at a much lower cost than would be required to extend school buildings.

Shipping container storage for schools and colleges

If you are a school or college undergoing refurbishment in future, you will likely need storage for equipment while the refurbishment is taking place, whether that’s sports apparatus, computers, furniture such as desks and chairs, or other equipment. Shipping containers are excellent for this purpose, as they are weather-resistant, watertight, fire resistant and can deter thieves with the use of a lockbox and padlock. 

As mentioned earlier, shipping containers are ideal for temporary storage as they can be easily installed, relocated and removed with a forklift. We can arrange delivery and collection should you wish to hire a container for storage through Billie Box.

Interested in hiring a container for storage or purchasing a converted shipping container? Do not hesitate to contact Jane today on 0800 121 7388 or 01473 557409.

Rent a shipping container with a simple phone call

Jane on May 26, 2020

Rent a shipping container with a simple phone call

Did you know that it’s actually very easy to hire a container from Billie Box? If you’ve never hired one before, or you’ve had trouble in the past, you might be unsure about future container hire. We’re here to show you how renting a container from Billie Box can be accomplished with a few simple steps, starting with a phone call.

Reasons to rent a shipping container

Are you renovating your home? Require storage space for your business? Hosting an event such as a festival or market? Whatever the reason, a shipping container can easily solve your storage problems.

Shipping containers are resilient and weatherproof. They spend most of their lives carrying goods from one side of the Earth to another in all types of weather conditions. Therefore, they need to be tough in order to protect their contents!

Did you know that shipping containers can also deter thieves? Not only does it keep your stored items out of site, we also supply our containers for hire with lock boxes, which you can use with a padlock to deter thieves with bolt croppers. 

Shipping containers can be easily delivered and taken away with the right equipment. We have a list of depots across England, and can arrange delivery and collection nationwide from £195.00 plus VAT each way.

How to rent a shipping container

It’s in fact very easy to rent a shipping container from us! All you need to do is:

  1. Call us on 0800 121 7388 or 01473 557409 with your name, postcode, the size of the container and any accessories you require, and your rental period.
  2. We will then email you with a free quote.
  3. Once you have agreed to the quote, we’ll create a ‘hire agreement’ and invoice you for the first 26 weeks’ rental, accessories, delivery and collection charges, plus VAT. We also ask you to set up a standing order for all future payments. This form will be sent to you with the hire contract.
  4. When you have paid the first invoice, we will make the delivery and offload arrangements.

Find out more details about container hire here.

What kind of shipping container do I need?

Wondering what kind of shipping container you need? Well, it depends on how much you’re storing. A standard container size is 20ft (L) x 8ft (W) x 8’6” (H). This will usually fit the household goods of a one-to-two-bedroom apartment.

If this doesn’t sound like enough space, we also rent 40ft (L) x 8ft (W) x 8’6” (H) and 40ft (L) x 8ft (W) x 9’6” (H) containers.

Interested in hiring a container? Do not hesitate to contact Jane today on 0800 121 7388 or 01473 557409.

Is your tyre garage adhering to storage regulations?

Jane on March 20, 2020

In addition to the many regulations imposed on car repair workshops and garages, there is one more that is essential in securing the safety of your workers and the financial future of your business: tyre storage.

Tyre storage and Health & Safety

According to HSE, there are many different injuries which can occur in the rubber and tyre industries. Being hit by a moving or falling object accounts for 14% of injuries, while slips, trips and falls cause 13%. 

There is also a historical risk of cancer associated with inhaling rubber dust and fumes. This was alleviated by reducing the use of materials containing 2-naphthylamine and related chemicals in rubber; however, it is still important to maintain a high standard of dust and fume control. 

Finally, fires have been recorded involving the storage, treatment and handling of rubber based products, including whole tyres. Tyres are composed of combustible materials, including rubber, carbon, oil and sulphur; they are also designed to absorb the heat generated from friction with the road, and when ignited, also absorb the heat of the fire – this makes it difficult to fully extinguish a fire involving tyres, as it may reignite.

Tyre storage regulations

Due to these many hazards, proper tyre storage is crucial in looking after your business and your workers. According to HSE’s guide to safe and healthy working conditions in the retread industry, tyres must be stored:

  • Either inside a secure building or a securely fenced compound to minimise the risk of fires being started maliciously
  • Segregated from highly flammable liquid stores and compounds and from processes that involve a fire risk
  • With adequate separation between adjacent stacks of tyres to give sufficient fire breaks
  • With high standards of housekeeping, preventing litter and combustible materials from accumulating in the tyre and casing storage areas
  • In an area that can be easily accessed for daily safety checks

Legal implications

Improper storage of tyres can result in injury and, in the worst cases, death. Not only are victims of poor health and safety exposed to the possibility of physical harm, and mental and emotional distress, but employers are also susceptible to increased insurance premiums, legal costs, fines and even imprisonment.

At the very least, an accident caused by improper tyre storage can result in the loss of stock and production. By preventing accidents and ill health, you are saving your business time and money.

How to ensure correct tyre storage

Reduce trip hazards

A shipping container is your best bet for correct tyre storage. Having a separate facility for storing tyres keeps them away from your work space, ensuring that they won’t be a trip hazard.

Enhance security

Our shipping containers can be fitted with a heavy duty lockbox and padlock. This pairing is ideal for security purposes, as the system deters criminals with bolt croppers. There is an eye welded to the first door and the box is welded to the second door. So when in operation the box closes over the eye and then the padlock is positioned inside the box.

Fire safety

Shipping containers are made with corten steel and feature tight-fitting doors, making them naturally very fire resistant. If a fire starts in a shipping container, it can contain the fire until the emergency services arrive, protecting any employees on your site at the time of the fire, as well as the rest of your property. 

Increase space

Tyres are a very bulky product, so having a dedicated space to store them will free up plenty of space in your workshop. Shipping containers can vary in size, but even a smaller 10ft x 8ft container can accommodate tyre racking.

Create movable storage

With the right equipment, shipping containers are easily relocated. This is important if your business is expanding. A shipping container is usually classed as temporary storage, which means that you’re unlikely to need planning permission to house one at your garage. This is unlike a warehouse, which would require permission and would need to adhere to further storage regulations.

How to implement a monitoring regime of stored tyres

As we mentioned earlier, it’s important to check stored tyres daily to make sure that your facility adheres to HSE guidelines. 

When checking your storage, ensure that you make and keep a record of each check. You should check that your tyre stacks are separated, and that the temperature inside the storage facility is below 25 degrees Celsius and above 0. If the temperature is above the maximum recommendation, swap out your tyres regularly to alleviate the risk of fires and protect the quality of the rubber.

Where to purchase a shipping container for tyre storage 

If you want to improve your tyre storage, give us a call on 0800 121 7388 for a free quote, or visit billiebox.co.uk.

Coronavirus and the Container Industry

Jane on March 12, 2020

Coronavirus is affecting the UK in many ways. The market for shipping containers is not immune to the effect Coronavirus is having on the country.

If you have read our article about buying new containers, you will know that our new containers are manufactured in China. The Coronavirus was originally discovered in China in January 2020.

In February 2020 there were around 800,000 shipping containers sitting on Shanghai quay waiting to be loaded onto the ships. Due to the lack of workforce in Shanghai the ship loading has been severely delayed. This significant downturn has resulted in a much lower number of containers being loaded onto ships for export.

During January and February 2020 we were not affected by the delays, as there were plenty of containers available for sale in the UK. February and March are our busiest time of the year, which means that many of the containers in the UK have been sold or rented out. Normally the containers sold during this busy period would be replaced by the new ones coming in from China. Because of the delays in China, new shipping containers are not arriving particularly swiftly.

This lack of ‘new’ shipping containers entering the market means that our supply chain has the potential to grind to a halt. If this happens our suppliers have little option other than to significantly increase prices.

Our suppliers are forecasting further increases throughout 2020 and possibly into 2021.

If you are looking to buy a container, then we recommend you purchase now before the price goes up even further.

20ft new Shipping container

20ft new Shipping container


Call us today on 0800 121 7388

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