RAAC in schools & the shipping containers solution

Jane on September 4, 2023

RAAC has been a big issue in the national news. Many municipal buildings in England were built with RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete), and it has become apparent that using this type of concrete may affect the safety and longevity of buildings.

The problem – RAAC in schools

Days before the school year started, many schools told parents that their children couldn’t begin the term as planned. There are serious concerns about the risk of collapse, so some schools in England have delayed the start of term.

Shipping containers solutions

Shipping container classrooms

We have converted shipping containers into comfortable, engaging learning spaces for schools for a number of years. Our classrooms are comfortable year-round and can be easily placed wherever is most convenient for your school.

shipping container classrooms
Shipping Container Classroom
shipping container classroom inside
Inside a converted classroom

Storage

We have a large stock of shipping containers that can be delivered and installed at schools. A standard shipping container is perfect for storage. Containers are strong, secure and simple to purchase (or hire).

Has the Department for Education, or local government informed you that you must empty your school buildings but you have nowhere to store all your furniture? A standard shipping container, available to rent, or to buy is the answer to your storage problems.

20ft new Shipping container
New 20ft shipping container

Office conversions

If your school’s administrative offices are now off-limits, our shipping container offices could be a solution for you.

A wide range of sites use our converted offices, which are perfectly suited to any administrative need. They are also secure and comfortable.

portable office, portable space, office,
Shipping Container Office

We can offer the following:

  • 20ft and 40ft containers for secure site storage for sale or hire
  • Portable 20ft office units
  • Temporary 20ft and 40ft site classrooms
  • Delivery to your door

We have made the purchase or hire of shipping containers and conversions very simple.

If your school has RAAC issues, call us on 0800 121 7388 or contact us using the form below to learn how we can assist. A converted shipping container classroom or office could be the answer to minimising disruption of RAAC in schools.

Contact us

How to easily expand storage at a hospital, school or supermarket

Jane on April 14, 2020

With the current social distancing measures in place in the UK due to COVID-19, many businesses have been deemed non-essential and have been asked to close by the government. Here at Billie Box, we are still very much open and functioning as an essential business; this is because container storage is a highly practical and accessible way to expand storage at other essential businesses and facilities, such as hospitals, supermarkets and schools.

Why container storage is necessary during a crisis

In times of crisis such as the situation we are currently experiencing, container hire can help to alleviate the stress of equipment storage. Due to the requirements of dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak, hospitals are requiring extra storage for surgical masks, medicines and other medical equipment; supermarkets are in need of storage for high-demand items such as larder essentials and canned goods; and schools may need to store supplies that are temporarily out of use during the current term, when many children are being homeschooled.

Practical temporary storage solutions

Shipping containers are an excellent form of temporary storage for the following reasons:

  • Shipping containers can be easily placed, relocated and removed with the correct equipment. This means that you can have a shipping container delivered and placed with minimal effort, move it if it requires relocating in future, and have it removed from your premises if and when you decide that you no longer need it.
  • These units are, by nature, very secure. They are used to transport goods across the world; therefore they must be secure in order to prevent theft. At Billie Box, our containers can be purchased with a lock box and padlock to deter thieves with bolt croppers.
  • Shipping containers are weather-proof. Again, being used to transport goods across the world, shipping containers are subject to harsh weather conditions on ships, which is why they are created in such a way to preserve their contents. This is a vital factor for food and medical equipment storage.
  • Containers are available in a range of sizes for a multitude of purposes. Whether you are a primary school in need of a regular 20ft x 8ft container, or a supermarket chain with larger requirements, there is a shipping container to suit your needs.
Rural crime
New (once used from China) 20ft x 8ft storage container

Other ways a container can be used

Not only are shipping containers excellent temporary storage solutions, converted shipping containers can also be used as offices and canteens. We currently have a number of 20ft portable offices and canteens available from the Grays, Essex area. Please contact us right away on 0800 121 7388 to secure a portable office for your use.

For example, it was recently reported that retired NHS staff have been asked to return to work to help the service cope with rising patient numbers during the COVID-19 outbreak. With a higher number of staff on site and a limited number of locations for staff to rest, a converted container can be used as a staff room or even an extra office space.

In a corporate environment such as a supermarket headquarters, an extra office is helpful for adhering to social distancing guidelines by offering separate space for staff to minimise infection. 

For schools, a converted container may even be used as an extra space to house children of key workers during lessons, in case there are too many children in a classroom to adhere to social distancing guidelines.

20ft Office interior
20ft Office interior
portable office, portable space, office,
20ft Exterior of Portable Office

These are just a few examples of how shipping containers and converted containers can help during this difficult time. If you require container storage or an extra office or canteen space for your establishment, do not hesitate to contact us on 0800 121 7388.

Storage Containers for Schools, Colleges & Universities

Jane on August 1, 2018

In our conversations with customers who work in schools, colleges and universities it’s quite common to hear the same problems. Throughout academia, organisations are finding themselves increasingly short of storage space.

Storage is needed for sports equipment, exam furniture, archive paperwork, text books, etc.

In the past, when schools and universities enjoyed larger development budgets the answer may have been to construct additional buildings on site. Ignoring the money side of this solution for a moment, building new storage buildings can be slow. Very slow.

We have many customers who solve their storage problems by buying shipping containers. Shipping containers are strong, secure, cost-effective and can be sited anywhere with level ground. They require no foundations and usually require no planning permission.

We sell shipping containers for storage at very competitive rates, but we appreciate that not all academic budgets can accommodate the purchase of a shipping container. Most towns now have storage depots, but the funny thing about storage is that you often need swift access to the items that you are storing. Retrieving offsite storage requires planning and will always incur a cost.

Our solution is to rent shipping containers for storage to schools, colleges and universities. For as little as £1.71 a day Billie Box will supply a shipping container that will solve your storage problems. It’s that simple.

Here’s what one of our recent customers from an Academy trust had to say:

‘A very simple and straightforward process. I now have about 5 containers across our Multi-Academy Trust and would recommend Billie Box’s services without hesitation.’

Give Jane or Matt a call on 0800 121 7388 or use our quick quote form.

About Jane Billing
Jane Billing has over 30 years’ experience in shipping container supply. During that time Jane has gained a very broad knowledge of the whole shipping container industry. From construction, to shipping, to adaption and conversions, if you have a question about any aspect of the shipping container industry Jane will likely have the answer for you. After many years working for some of the biggest names in the shipping container industry Jane set up her own company, Billie Box Ltd, in 2012. Since launching, Billie Box Ltd has sold well over 1500 new and used containers.

Classroom shipping container conversions

Jane on March 26, 2018

All too often these days the news carries worrying details of schools being put under increasing pressure to perform, not only from a results perspective but also from a financial perspective.  Teachers are under pressure to provide dedicated teaching to all students, with appropriate attention given to students with additional needs.

Headteachers are under pressure to provision the correct resources for both teachers and pupils.  While the attention and opportunities available for children with additional needs is certainly great news, finding the resources can be extremely challenging.  Appropriating the teaching resource is only one issue; another issue is finding a physical space that suits the needs of all concerned.

Many schools are struggling to find classroom space to use for assisting students with additional needs.  Urban schools may not have the space to build additional classrooms, and rural schools may not have the budget for building new teaching spaces.  Of course, the same challenges apply to all schools.

One solution to the challenge of finding additional teaching space sees schools turning to converted shipping containers.  A shipping container that has been converted into a teaching space is warm, secure, and can be easily sited wherever most convenient.  If the initial placement proves to be impractical, it is relatively simple to move.

shipping container classroom inside
Inside a converted classroom

For many years, schools and education authorities have looked to a popular brand of temporary building (legally we can’t mention the name, but we’re sure you know the brand we mean).  Converted shipping containers have many advantages over traditional ‘mobile’ buildings.  They are surprisingly good value, incredibly secure, vandal-proof and stay draft-free and watertight for many years more than a temporary building made from wood.

Shipping containers, converted into classrooms for one-to-one support spaces, offer a very viable, and long-term cost effective alternative to traditional temporary mobile buildings.

Call us today on 0800 121 7388 or get in touch via our contact page.

We would love to explore ways we can help you meet the challenges of finding extra space in your school.

Contact us to find out more about classrooms and to get a fast quote

Secure storage for Schools, Colleges & Universities

Jane on August 31, 2016

There are so many industries that could benefit from secure storage – anyone who values their business and its assets should consider Billie Box’s services when deciding how best to house their goods. Whilst some companies may seem like obvious targets for burglary it is often those that are overlooked in terms of security that can be the most devastated by its impact…

That is why the number of shipping containers being used by schools, colleges and universities is on the rise as educational institutions increasingly find themselves the victims of theft. When a building is only occupied during the weekdays and daylight hours criminals and opportunists take note, hence why shipping containers for sports clubs are also rapidly expanding in popularity. A fixed and secure static storage space is essential in combating this ever-growing problem.

shipping container, buy a container, purchase a container, buy a shipping container, Billie Box, customer service,

Billie Box makes life simple for you.

The key to our success is the genuine reliability of what we provide.
Jane Billing discussed utilising Billie Box’s recourses with the headmaster of a school in Kent but found he was reluctant to use a shipping container for storage. She discovered that his concerns were due to the fact that his existing containers had previously been broken into.

It transpired that the school had employed the use of a standard padlock-fitted container. These are incredibly easy to penetrate as an exposed padlock does not offer much protection at all. Jane explained that our company use what is known as a ‘Lock Box‘ – essentially a steel-shrouded area to securely house the padlock. This extra layer of protection makes all the difference; breaking and entering is practically impossible as regular bolt croppers are made redundant. The headmaster went on to buy a 20ft container.

Billie Box has assisted many schools across England in supplying a secure storage container on a sale or rental basis. We always recommend a lock box and padlock is fitted to ensure that they are doubly secure.

Schools often have sufficient space to place an 10ft, 20ft or 40ft box with plenty of room for our vehicles to drive and offload the container. For an example of this please see our video demonstration.

Any company or institution wishing to discuss secure storage should call us today on 0800 121 7388 or 01473 557409. Alternatively please visit the ‘Get a Quote’ section of our website.

So, in conclusion, why not call us today for more information: T: 0800 121 7388

Or Get A Quote here

Shipping Containers are Converted into Chemical Stores

Jane on June 19, 2014

Billie Box converts shipping containers into Chemical stores or Chemical Storage containers by using the HSE and BASIS criteria, making them perfect for Agricultural Storage.

BASIS is an independent organisation set up at the suggestion of the UK government in 1978 to establish and assess standards in the pesticide industry relating to storage, transportation and competence of staff. BASIS is an industry self-regulated scheme in line with government de-regulation policy. BASIS is now a registered charity.

10ft Chemical storage container fitted with mesh bunded floor & Shelving

The Basic criteria for all chemical stores:

These are stipulated in the code of practice for suppliers of pesticides to Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry (The Yellow code).

  •       Suitably sited – this is dependent on the type of chemical and site you wish to place it.
  •       Of adequate capacity – this will be determined by our customers, we fit bunds which will prevent any leakage from spillage.
  •       Soundly constructed of fire resistant materials – our stores are constructed of corten steel (high tensile) and painted with marine paint.
  •       Provided with suitable access and exits – this is dependent on the number of personnel and size of unit required.
  •       Capable of containing 110% or 185% of the total amount of pesticides/chemicals likely to be stored at any time (the bunding capacity required will be stipulated in the EA guidance)
  •       Dry internally and frost proof
  •       Well lit and ventilated
  •       Marked with appropriate warning signs
  •       Secure against theft and vandalism
  •       Equipped, organised and staffed to a suitable standard

Further information can be found in HSE information sheet no. 16 – Guidance on storing pesticides for farmers and other professional users.

Billie Box offers the following units:

External dimensions

  • 10ft chemical store (10ft Long x 8ft Wide x 8ft 6in high)
  • 20ft chemical store (19ft 10in Long x 8ft Wide x 8ft 6in high)

Internal dimensions

  • 10ft chemical store (9ft 3in Long x 7ft 8in Wide x 7ft 10in high)
  • 20ft chemical store (19ft 4″ Long x 7ft 8in Wide x 7ft 10in high)

Door opening

  • 10ft chemical store (7ft 6in Wide x 7ft 6in high)
  • 20ft chemical store (7ft 6in Wide x 7ft 6in high)

View our guide to shipping container dimensions…

Shipping containers have wooden floors; however, we replace them with steel. Steel mesh floors and drainage sumps are available. Different chemicals can have different requirements, so we ask our clients to advise their exact requirements in order for us to confirm a price.

Many different industries

There are many different industries that can use the same chemical store specification, such as:

  • Universities, schools, colleges and academies
  • Printers
  • Vineyards
  • Manufacturers
  • Garden Nurseries
  • Horticulture & Forestry organisations
  • Agriculture & Farming
  • Others include:
    • Adhesive manufacturers
    • Automotive
    • Aviation Food & drink
    • Biofuel
    • Biotechnology
    • Councils & local authorities
    • Chemical Defence Industry
    • Educational
    • Electronics
    • Gas
    • Golf Clubs
    • Healthcare
    • Landfills
    • Marine
    • Mining
    • Pharmaceuticals
    • Printing
    • Press
    • Public Sector
    • Publishing
    • Recycling
    • Sports clubs

For more information please contact us today on Freephone 0800 121 7388 or 01473 557409 for a free quotation.

10ft chemical storage sea container fitted with mesh bunded floor

10ft chemical store with steel mesh floor and steel bund

20ft steel chemical store with 12in high steel bunded floor

20ft chemical store with steel floor and steel bund

Drainage sump on a chemical store

Chemical store sump

For more information on farm storage, please see our sister website Chemical Storage 4 Farmers.

About Jane Billing
Jane Billing has over 30 years’ experience in shipping container supply. During that time Jane has gained a very broad knowledge of the whole shipping container industry. From construction, to shipping, to adaption and conversions, if you have a question about any aspect of the shipping container industry Jane will likely have the answer for you. After many years working for some of the biggest names in the shipping container industry Jane set up her own company, Billie Box Ltd, in 2012. Since launching, Billie Box Ltd has sold well over 1500 new and used containers.

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