The Australian housing crisis continues strong. Many have touted shipping containers as an alternative. How viable an option is it?

The Australian housing crisis continues to make a political impact. With more and more numbers of homeless people coming to the fore, it is high time the authorities came up with a viable alternative. Some have touted shipping containers as an option. However, not everyone is prepared to invest in mobile accommodation shipping containers. The debate is a finely layered one.

The Quality of Containers

One of the defining points of the housing debate is the quality of containers. A majority of experts have repeatedly cautioned against the quality of containers. They contend that a shipping container should comply with a host of conditions before being conducive to homemaking.

First and foremost, cutting through the containers for windows tends to compromise with the structural integrity of the container. In that case, the presence of a professional structural engineer is highly recommended. The same entails a considerable cost.

Moreover, not every structural expert agrees to inspect used shipping containers. Their instant preference is brand-new ones which are way costlier.

Safety and Security of Containers

Health concerns continue to dodge the authorities. More often than not, used containers are particularly vulnerable to intense scrutiny. What if carcinogenic elements were shipped in a particular container? Would that be in the least liveable?

Such health hazards are all the more enhanced since it is impossible to trace the contours of individual journeys of each shipping container. Probing the historical fingerprint of a used shipping container is not only logistically unviable but also financially cumbersome.

Degree of Space

Another major criterion is space. How spacious can a shipping container possibly be? There are various agreements for and against it.

Generally speaking, the standard shipping container is no more than 6m to 12m? Is it a suitable dimension? Mobile accommodation shipping containers need to factor in the internal stud work put on the drywalls, which tends to reduce the width all the more.

If, on the other hand, two containers are used, extra space is created. To limit the space, you might have to build a separate stud wall. That would only put pressure on your purse strings. Therefore, most experts contend that the options of customisation are highly limited.

The Question of Insulation

No shipping container is built to maintain a constant temperature. It tends to be exceedingly hot during summer or extremely chilling in winter. Insulation, therefore, is a highly contentious matter.

At the same time, various insulation alternatives have been put forward. From ceramic paint to exterior insulations, the options are not as limited. Each needs sufficient experimentation to determine the degree of sustainability.

Conclusion

As mentioned at the outset, the Australian housing crisis shows few signs of dying down. While shipping containers do present a rosy picture, much needs to be ascertained before anything is put to practice.