Fire protection for shipping containers

You probably know that shipping containers can withstand harsh sea conditions, but what about fire?

Sixteen serious fires on container ships in the past five years may indicate an existing fire resistance problem. However, if you dig a little deeper, you'll find that the problem isn't the shipping container—the shipping container actually helps contain the fire and prevents extensive fire damage.

Most fires in shipping containers result from the transportation of hazardous materials that do not meet the safety requirements associated with the use of a properly modified container. Some of the most dangerous cargoes known to cause shipping container fires include:

• Explosives – including fireworks.
• Gases – for example, medical oxygen.
• Flammable liquids, solids and other materials that will spontaneously combust.
• Organic peroxides and other oxidizing agents.
• Lithium batteries.

All of these materials can be transported safely if they are placed in an appropriate shipping container and all relevant authorities are notified of the nature of the cargo. Insurers estimate that 5% of shipping containers are mislabeling their contents as some shippers try to avoid higher fees for shipping hazardous materials.

Despite this problem, most fires in shipping containers are still confined to a single container and are self-extinguishing. The fact that most container fires do not escalate into more serious incidents shows that shipping containers are an excellent form of fire protection.

How does a shipping container protect against fire?

An unmodified shipping container is usually naturally fireproof. However, further modification when transporting hazardous materials increases protection against a fire starting or getting out of control.

Tests conducted by the US Coast Guard in 1977 showed that a simple wood fire inside a container would go out on its own as the fire ran out of oxygen. However, a fire caused by flammable liquids may cause the container to become pressurized and explode. Usually the explosive force will blow open doors without a blast panel.

The key finding is that most simple fires inside shipping containers are self-extinguishing and remain within the metal box without spreading to the surrounding area. Storing some materials inside a storage container requires modifications to ensure maximum fire safety. However, it is relatively simple if you properly assess the risks and follow basic principles of fire safety.

Fires outside containers

Usually the shipping container remains intact and safe after extinguishing a fire or arson. Corten steel has several properties that make a storage container fire resistant.

You can expect that the contents of the shipping container will not be damaged by fire or smoke unless the shipping container is inside a wildfire for an extended period of time. In this case, the transfer of heat to the contents poses a great danger.