Construction Site Hire: Plan Delivery and Collection

Hiring a shipping container for a construction site can provide useful temporary storage while work is under way. However, the delivery position also needs to work when the container is ready for collection.

One hired container had remained on site while construction continued around it. By the time collection was requested, surrounding works had made normal recovery impractical. The container eventually had to wait around six months before access and lifting arrangements allowed it to be removed.

This example shows why access should be considered throughout the hire period, not only on the day the container arrives.

crane lifting container

Why construction site hire needs an exit plan

Construction sites change quickly. Open areas can become occupied by buildings, pipework, scaffolding, fencing, equipment, excavations and stored materials. A position that is suitable for delivery at the start of a project may no longer be accessible when the hire ends.

In this case, the container had effectively become surrounded by the works. It could not simply be collected by bringing a vehicle alongside, lifting the unit and driving away. The recovery had to wait until the site conditions allowed the container to be lifted clear.

When arranging shipping container hire for a construction site, consider both parts of the process:

how the container will be delivered and positioned;
how a suitable vehicle and lifting arrangement will reach it later;
how the construction programme may change the route and working area;
where the container can be moved if access starts to disappear.

Construction work can remove access

Access may change from one week to the next on an active building or engineering project. Temporary roads can move, excavations can appear and permanent structures can occupy areas that were previously available for a delivery vehicle.

Ground levels may change as well. Soil, hardcore and other materials can build up around a container, while excavation can leave it separated from a suitable vehicle position. Keeping the area around the unit under review helps identify problems before collection becomes urgent.

A container should have firm, reasonably level support suited to the site and expected load. Soft or uneven ground can contribute to settlement and affect door operation. Drainage around the underside and future access should also be considered. The shipping container foundations guide covers practical points when preparing a position.

Delivery access is not always collection access

Southampton container deliveries use HIAB. HIAB is the common UK term for a lorry-mounted crane used to unload and position containers.

The vehicle still needs a suitable approach and a workable position for the lift. The proposed location should also allow for the container to be placed level, with the doors facing the intended direction and enough space for future access.

As the project develops, walls, buildings, scaffolding, trees, overhead services and other site equipment can affect the lifting operation. A container may fit the intended position but still be unsuitable for delivery or later collection if the vehicle cannot reach a suitable lifting position.

Do not assume that a HIAB can lift over every obstruction. Review the route and the proposed vehicle position before the site becomes more developed, and provide updated access details if conditions change.

Choose a container size that fits the project

The amount and type of storage required will help determine which container is suitable for the hire period. A 20ft shipping container for hire may suit a smaller storage requirement, while a 40ft shipping container for hire provides a larger storage area for a project with more goods or equipment to accommodate.

Allow space around the container for access to the doors and avoid placing materials where they could block the route needed for future collection. If the site programme is likely to change, discuss the intended position and access arrangements when requesting a quotation.

Plan the container position around the site programme

Before placing a hired container, review the construction programme and consider what will happen around the proposed position during the hire. Identify work that may close the route, raise or lower ground levels, or introduce overhead obstructions.

It may be easier to move a hired container earlier in the project than to recover it after construction has surrounded it. Any relocation needs suitable lifting arrangements and should be agreed with the supplier rather than attempted without planning.

Site managers should also keep the following under review:

vehicle access to the container;
the ground condition along the approach;
clearance around the lifting position;
changes caused by scaffolding, fencing or temporary works;
the planned door orientation;
future collection access after materials and structures have been added.

Temporary storage for construction projects

Construction site hire can support temporary storage during a project, but the container should remain part of the site plan. A convenient gap at the beginning may become unavailable later, so access needs to be reviewed as work progresses.

This container was eventually recovered after around six months, but the delay could have been avoided only if the changing site conditions and collection requirements had been considered earlier.

For a construction site hire enquiry, compare the available container sizes and include the proposed position, access route, ground condition and any nearby obstructions in the details sent through the container quote form.