Containers have become so much more than big boxes that transport goods from A to B. For more and more people, containers have become trendy homes – and it’s easy to see why it’s so popular…who doesn’t love the idea of a home that is quick to install, easy to transport and cost-effective? And going off the grid with these homes is easy.  The one thing you do need to be careful with, is making sure your container home ticks all the boxes when it comes to getting city council’s stamp of approval on your architect’s plans as well as building and fire-safety compliance. ASP Fire have shared five factors you need to consider to make sure your container home gets a fire-rating approval:

Can it take the heat? Steel on its own isn’t necessarily strong enough to make for a stable home and it begins to deform when exposed to temperatures over 550°C.

How close are the neighbours? One of the major drawcards of container homes is that you can squeeze them into small spaces to create compact homes. You do, however, need to make sure that you leave enough space between your home and the neighbours so that their homes will not be affected in the event of a fire.

Is the cladding fire-resistant? Containers are usually clad inside and outside for aesthetic purposes. Timber cladding can be specified, which means that the distance from the adjacent structure has to be measured to check it complies with fire-safety regulations. Either treat the timber cladding to be fire-resistant or use a fire-rated, fibre-cement board that resembles timber in its look and feel. Modern cladding materials used in dry walling, from gypsum to fibre board, have varying degrees of fire rating.

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