Dismountable Shipping Container
Opening and Closing Tool

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Shipping containers have been used for decades to transport goods around the world, but in recent years, they have gained popularity as a flexible and affordable solution for temporary housing and workspaces. Dismountable shipping containers are a variation of traditional shipping containers that can be easily assembled and disassembled, making them an ideal option for temporary or portable structures. In this article, we will explore what dismountable shipping containers are, their benefits, and the various ways they are used.

Dismountable shipping containers are shipping containers that have been designed to be easily assembled and disassembled. They consist of modular units that can be bolted together to create a larger structure. The units can be connected in a variety of configurations, providing a flexible and customizable solution for temporary housing and workspaces.

All dismountable shipping containers are, the same dimensions, except for length; this has been standardized by the shipping industry, the trucking industry, railroad industry and the department of transportation (DOT). This was done in the mid 70’s so that cargo can travel on land surface roadways, byways, and railways. The metal doors on the shipping containers are also standardized. Also, shipping containers are called dismountable shipping containers (they can be mounted or dismounted on a trailer chassis).

Dismountable shipping containers use the same type and style of doors and locking bars, which our tool can be used. This was done by design, not  by chance.

Lengths are as follows: 20′, 40′, 45′, 48′, 50′, 53′. All these containers are globally used to transport cargo. The 53′ length is now, the new standard length.

Benefits of Dismountable Shipping Containers

Dismountable shipping containers offer several benefits, including:

1. Flexibility: Dismountable shipping containers can be easily assembled and disassembled, making them an ideal solution for temporary or portable structures. They can be reconfigured to meet changing needs, and units can be added or removed as needed.
2. Affordability: Compared to traditional building methods, dismountable shipping containers are a cost-effective solution for temporary housing and workspaces. They are made from reclaimed materials and can be purchased for a fraction of the cost of traditional construction materials.
3. Sustainability: Shipping containers are made from recycled steel and are a sustainable option for temporary housing and workspaces. They can be repurposed or recycled at the end of their lifecycle, reducing waste and preserving natural resources.
4. Durability: Shipping containers are designed to withstand harsh conditions during transportation, making them durable and weather-resistant. This makes them ideal for temporary housing and workspaces in harsh environments.

Uses of Dismountable Shipping Containers

Dismountable shipping containers have a wide range of uses, including:

1. Temporary housing: Dismountable shipping containers can be used as temporary housing, providing a flexible and affordable solution for those in need of shelter. They can be used for emergency housing, disaster relief, and more.
2. Workspaces: Dismountable shipping containers can be used as workspaces, providing a cost-effective and flexible solution for small businesses and entrepreneurs. They can be used as offices, workshops, studios, and more.
3. Retail spaces: Dismountable shipping containers can be used as retail spaces, providing a unique and cost-effective solution for businesses.
4. Event spaces: Dismountable shipping containers can be used as event spaces, providing a flexible and cost-effective solution for events and exhibitions.

Please be sure to read OPNBar Extended Instructions & Precautions

Why are the Doors of My Dismountable Shipping Container Difficult to Open/Close?

Here are some likely reasons a dismountable shipping container door will not open or close.  Our hand leverage tool / shipping container door extension handle helps to address these issues.

• Doors and lock rods may warp or the container frame is racked so that the door gear will not operate correctly. This may be caused by cargo shifting during transit. Look at the container to make sure that the doors are aligned and level, both top, and bottom.
• The hinge pins and blade are seized due to corrosion.
• The door gasket has been damaged and is preventing opening. Door gaskets are designed to present two or more fins against the structure or adjacent door. These are generally flexible but when the gasket is damaged, they may become hard or blocked thus jamming the door closed, or preventing it from being closed.
• Water has become trapped between frozen shipping container doors, particularly relevant to refrigerated cargoes, or containers with moisture-releasing cargoes in cold weather.
• The Covid economy had also released many shipping containers in the world which are now often reused and the issue of hard-to-open/close used shipping containers is now a more common issue than ever.

How to Open & Close Difficult Shipping Container Doors

This leverage tool uses the principles of leverage to do the difficult work. By providing an extended area on which to grasp, with both hands, a more stable platform to manipulate the latch handle is achieved.

Designed to fit and extend the door latch handles on side-by-side doors found on the following units with the safety of the truck driver, operator, and worker foremost in mind:

• Standard Shipping Containers
• Conex Boxes
• Intermodal Containers
• ISO Containers
• Reefer Containers
• Military Containers
• Waste Management Containers
• Dismountable Shipping Cargo Containers
• Refrigerated Shipping Cargo Containers
• Semitrailer Dry Freight Cargo Vans
• Semitrailer Refrigerated Freight Cargo Vans

This intermodal container (also known as ISO Container, Conex Box, or Railroad Container) cargo inspection tool and leverage safety bar is to aid in opening and closing side-by-side doors found within Dismountable Shipping Cargo Container Trailer Transportation Industries (Railroad, Harbor, and Trucking Industries).

Eliminates the Need for a crescent wrench, screwdriver, hammer, and crowbar which are commonly needed/used to open stuck shipping container doors.

Injuries from Opening/Closing Hard-to-Open/Close Shipping Container Doors

On a freezing morning, when ice has seized a car door shut, one would never consider using a crowbar to open a car door.  The same thing goes for shipping containers.   While conditions may be more extreme in container operations, is it reasonable to use that kind of force to open or close container doors? Experience suggests that it is not, and often ends with someone being hurt.

Injuries to personnel involved with container door opening and closing are increasing, and often it is as a result of an inappropriate technique that is being employed. We might expect container doors to open and close as if they were car doors, without understanding why this might not be the case.

Starting with the structure of container doors, most will have four or five hinges per door. The mechanics at the point of manufacture is that the hinge pins must be all aligned on the same plane (vertical and horizontal) and in line. Offset hinge pins will result in the blade binding when it is rotated about the pin – the more the misalignment, the greater resistance will be encountered during operation. At the time of manufacture, therefore, it might be expected that the hinge pins on every door are aligned and free to fully open (270º of operation).

Let’s assume that the container is presented in pristine or well-maintained condition; why might the door not open with ease? Containers are generally either on a trailer/chassis or on the ground, and in both cases the position of the locking gear handles are at an inconvenient height. For best results, the handles should be directly in front of you and at a height that is above the waist and below the shoulders.

Technique is all-important. Start with the two lock rods on the right-hand door, lift the handles out of the retainers and rotate them together as far as they will go. This should be more than 90º and rotation beyond 90º often initiates the container door opening process by forcing the cams out of their keepers. Then grasp the vertical locking bars, one in each hand, so that your hands are just below shoulder height and pull back with your body, using your leg muscles rather than you back.

If the door is still stuck, unless specifically advised against doing so (ie. the container is carrying a flexitank or bulk cargo), open the locking bars on the left-hand door and then grasp the inner locking rod of both doors and pull back, again using your body not your back. If the door still will not open, ask a colleague to pull on one door while you pull on the other.

Injuries almost always occur at the point frustration takes over and mechanical means are employed – the crowbar or a fork truck. So why will the door not open? Generally, this can be attributed to one of four reasons:

• The container frame is racked so that the door gear will not operate correctly. This may be caused by cargo shifting during transit. Look at the container to make sure that the doors are aligned and level, both top, and bottom.
• The hinge pins and blade are seized due to corrosion.
• The door gasket has been damaged and is preventing container door opening. Door gaskets are designed to present two or more fins against the structure or adjacent door. These are generally flexible but when the gasket is damaged, it may become hard or blocked thus jamming the door closed, or preventing it from being closed.
• Water has become trapped between the doors and frozen, particularly relevant to refrigerated cargoes, or containers with moisture-releasing cargoes in cold weather.

 Doors that open but are stiff to move may suffer from the first two reasons above, along with possible misaligned hinge pins. Pins can become misaligned by damage to the ‘J-bar’ which has twisted one or more pins, or a hinge blade or pin has incorrectly aligned the blade with the hinges on the door.  Adding a backing plate under a single hinge blade may help take the blades out of alignment.  When a hinge blade needs to be refitted because of damage or corrosion and a doubler plate is required, plates should be inserted under all the blades on that door.

The safe operation of doors requires that some attention be given to them. Many hinges have coatings to the inner surface of the hinge blade, others use plastic liners, both of which are designed to protect against corrosion. Some designs are fitted with greasing apertures. Fundamental to success is the examination and maintenance processes.

Typically, doors will be opened for in-service inspections and off-hires. Where oil does not free the hinges, repair work is probably necessary. An inspection is required to check that the hinges and hinge pin welds are not broken or cracked. Opening doors could be done when a depot releases a unit for packing, since it may have been in the stack for a prolonged period.

If the doors cannot be opened to pack a container, send the unit back! If it is already packed and you need to open the doors, but they will not open by hand, try to pull both doors open at the same time with increasing power. If you need more than two people, ensure you tell the container operator, especially if, as a result of container door opening, the locking gear or doors are or become damaged.

And, when you are opening a packed container, remember to watch out for those packages that are just about to fall out. In all these matters, be alert that the doors are big and heavy – treat them with respect and report anything unusual.

Source: TT Club

Equip operators with the proper tools needed and promote safety to help them avoid injury.

Related: Injuries from Opening/Closing Hard to Open/Close Shipping Container Doors