Transportation and the freight business has always been the backbone to the industrial revolution and have completely evolved since its early days and conception. There is a real need to be alert when it comes to shipping goods that are generally categorized as hazardous or dangerous. Granted that each country has a different law and the regulations around each substance could also be very different. At the same time, it is vital to check international standards for the movement of goods. It should be a matter of careful study that there are various methods of transporting goods that are dangerous in nature depending on their molecular state, that is – Solid, liquid or gaseous form. In this article we will consider the use of dangerous goods containers. How these vessels could be used to carry goods over land and water, at rare situations via air freights in smaller measures too.
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| Dangerous Goods Container |
Containers are designed to withstand the attacks of nature during transportation and at the same time to provide the safest method of moving goods. The container itself is designed to help stack and contain a large volume of capacity that needs to be moved. The material most often used is durable and resistant to climatic changes and treated against degradation. Containers used in such areas should always maintain the quality and safety of the goods delivered.
Temperature Controlled Container
Some dangerous goods need to be controlled with the appropriate temperature in the compartment that it is being stored. The exact match in the temperature will ascertain if the product that is being transported is going to be in the condition that it is intended to be at the time of receipt. Word of caution – If frozen products are transported in dangerous goods containers, it is important for it to carry clearly marked signs on the exterior of the container with signs such as “Frozen Material inside” or “Refrigerated material transported”.
Storage and Security
While transporting of the dangerous goods in containers from one location to another, it is also essential to place these in appropriate storage facilities before and after the transportation to fulfill all regulatory requirements. The storage facilities should also have to maintain any specific temperatures that are needed to keep the products in good quality.
Insulation of Containers
Containers can be insulated irrespective of their height and dimensions. A regular method of insulation would be the use of standard process of insulating a refrigerator, which has been widely used and accepted method for insulation. The flooring for these containers also need to be appropriate and ply flooring can be a suitable and cost-effective approach.
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| Dangerous Goods Container |
Sizes of Dangerous Goods Containers
There are 3 standard sizes of these containers 10 feet, 20 feet and 40 feet containers. The size of the containers is directly proportional to the volume of substance it can hold and transport. The larger the size provides the direct advantage of costs for manufacturing this equipment. The 40 feet dangerous goods containers are approximately 3 to 4 tons in weight and have a capacity of 60 to 65m cube. Most containers are equipped with doors to open 270 degrees and are easily transportable by heavy weight forklifts.
Shelving and Carrying Explosives
The smaller containers are generally used in these specific lined with marine ply which helps in both providing shock absorption as well as arresting sparks. There are lights that are installed in them to provide a safe method of operations for such dangerous goods. There are shelves in the container that help to provide smarter storage space inside a container. These can be made to order and fill desired needs.
Overall, containers for special needs such as transporting and storing dangerous goods are both available in standard designs as well are in tailor made structural modifications as per required needs. Feel free to hire an engineer who can help design and suggest the idea according to your operational needs.