Thread: Burying a shipping container

dont think the container will take the horizontal load from the soil, ICF would be the best method. with liquid membrane applied to the external walls.

i think it would cost you $$$ to get an engineer to design supports and footings for the container so that you could get it past the building inspector.

The benefit of using a shipping container as a cellar escapes my comprehension. As you've noted, rust would be a major concern, so its structural reliability would be questionable. A crane will be needed to place the container, at extra cost, provided that crane access is feasible. In situ concrete foundation would likely be less dear. The slab above should be designed to span the cellar, whatever its construction. Excavation for the cellar will be substantially equivalent.

Is a cellar necessary at all? Council review of your plans may have additional comments.

Cheers,
Joe

Buried concrete tank Mate of mine has a big one under his two story house. He used receycled brincks to build a wall of two arches through the middle of it to support the slab, it is a fantastic cellar. All council approved, just had to have an exhaust fan in it that recirculated the air from outside.

Hmm

There goes my cellar idea.

The was some thought; and no a cellar is not necessary.

Yes the slab on top would support the span.

it was the rust rather than the piers.

I just happen to have access to a cheap shipping container.

And no do not need another one to store more tools in.

ICF will be the go me thinks, for the cellar.

Cheers

Thanks

Pulpo

What about some huge concrete colverts from road/bridge construction. designed to carry load.

Cheers

Dont forget that concrete is porous and there will be water seepage. You will need to design a collection furrow and a sump with a bilge pump (with a level switch)
I would do it properly:

1. Dig big hole
2. lay cellar slab
3. cast perimeter concrete walls (heavily reinforced)
4. bitumin coat outside of walls
5. build internal support walls
6. cast slab on top
7. build house on slab

This method does not need bilge pump etc as the bitumin coat acts as a barrier, but must be on the outside.
Of course the concrete tank or box culvert will also work with a waterproof coating on the outside.