Container: Industry-Specific Trade Guides
Eight sectors, eight dedicated trade guides. Each profession has its constraints, standards, and optimal configurations — a reefer container in pharma does not have the same requirements as one for agriculture, and a construction site office is entirely different from a pop-up commercial store. Find yours below for tailored figures, regulatory obligations, and typical configurations.
Choose Your Sector
Each guide details configurations, prices, standards, and dominant use cases.
Construction & Building Industry
CDM 2015-compliant welfare units, secure tool storage, configurations sized to crew.
View the Construction GuideLogistics & e-commerce
Warehouse satellite, seasonal peak back-up, multi-site pre-positioning. Cost per m³ vs traditional warehouse.
See the Logistics GuideEvent Management
Festivals, trade shows, film shoots, pop-up stores. Short-term rental, reefer + generator, brand fit-out.
See the Event Management GuideCatering Solutions
Fixed snack bar, food truck, event bar, kitchen extension. HACCP equipment, connections, standards compliance.
See the Catering Solutions GuideAgriculture
Harvest storage, cold chain for fruits & vegetables, seasonal equipment, input shelter. Reefer and dry containers.
See the Agriculture guideIndustry
Mobile workshop, cleanroom, spare parts storage, production line backup. Technical modules adapted.
See the Industry guideCommerce & retail
Pop-up store, temporary boutique, beach kiosk, mobile showcase. Visual identity and mobility.
See the Retail guideHumanitarian & NGOs
Rapid deployment in crisis zones, medical storage, mission logistics, emergency housing.
See the Humanitarian GuideWhy a specific guide for each sector?
The shipping container is an ISO standardised product — but its usage varies dramatically from one profession to another. A construction worker equipping a site cabin for 30 people has different priorities than a winemaker looking to protect their harvest during six weeks of grape picking, or a brand activating a pop-up store in Paris during Fashion Week.
The differences cover four dimensions: (1) regulatory standards (CDM 2015 in construction, Food Safety Act 1990 + HACCP in catering, MHRA GxP in pharma, DEFRA codes in agriculture), (2) technical fit-out (extraction hood, cold room, cleanroom, 3-phase 63A), (3) typical hire duration (project-based or permanent), (4) budget tolerance (cost per m³ in logistics, brand image in retail).
Our eight sector guides written with professionals from each field cover these four dimensions, with updated figures every quarter. The goal: to prevent you from paying for unnecessary equipment or forgetting mandatory compliance.
Typical sizing by sector
Overview to frame your project before delving into the sector-specific guide. The numbers are averages observed on the UK market — your case may obviously vary depending on the scale and specificity of your activity.
| Sector | Typical number of modules | Dominant model | Budget project type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average construction site | 2-6 modules | Long-term rental | 800-£2,100/month |
| E-commerce logistics | 3-10 modules | Rental/purchase mix | 500-£1,700/month or £13,000-£51,000 |
| Event festival | 3-8 modules | Short-term rental (package) | 3,000-£13,000 / event |
| Fixed snack catering | 1 module | Purchased with equipment | 25,000-£59,500 |
| Agriculture harvest | 1-3 reefers | Seasonal rental (6-8 weeks) | 2,000-£5,100 / season |
| Industry workshop/cleanroom | 1-2 modules | Custom fitted-out purchase | 25 000-150 000 € |
| Pop-up store for retail | 1 module | Purchase or short-term rental | 15 000-£59,500 or 800-£1,700/weekend |
| Humanitarian mission | 5-20 modules | Fitted-out purchase + maritime | 40 000-£425,000 depending on the mission |
Indicative budgets excluding land costs, excluding specific technical connections, and excluding international transport. For humanitarian missions, orders of magnitude vary greatly according to the scale of the crisis.
Frequently Asked Questions for all sectors
How to know which type of shipping container is suitable for my sector?+
Four questions to ask in order. (1) Required temperature: negative cold, positive, ambient? (dictates dry vs reefer). (2) Useful volume or surface area: 33, 67 or 86 m³? (dictates 20, 40 or 45 feet). (3) Duration of use: occasional, seasonal, permanent? (dictates rental vs purchase). (4) Final use: storage, habitation, commerce, workshop? (dictates dry standard vs converted). Our sector guides detail typical configurations for each case — click on your profession above.
Can a shipping container be rented for occasional needs in any sector?+
Yes, short-term rental (< 3 months) is available in all sectors. Rates are increased by 40-60% compared to long-term rentals, with delivery within 48-72 hours. Widely used in events (3-21 days), agriculture (6-10 weeks for harvests), construction industry (duration of the building site), pharma (backup punctual). Note: rental excludes structural modifications — for permanent interior conversion, purchase is mandatory.
How long does it take to deliver a container to a construction site or location?+
Typically 48 to 72 hours in urban French areas. 24-48 hours in emergency (additional fee of £85-300). For large projects (3-10 modules), plan for 1-2 weeks. In major events during peak season (June-July), reserve 2-4 months ahead for reefers. For international export or humanitarian missions, maritime delivery times are 2-8 weeks. A responsible person must be present at the delivery to validate the location and sign the delivery note.
Are there specific certifications by sector?+
Yes. Construction: no certification of the container itself, but compliance with CDM 2015 Schedule 2 welfare facilities. Food/catering: Food Safety Act 1990, HACCP plan, FSA registration. Pharma: MHRA GxP, IQ/OQ/PQ qualification, auditable temperature monitoring. Maritime export: valid CSC plate (Convention for Safe Containers). Refrigerated road transport: ATP agreement (perishable foodstuffs). Cleanroom ISO 5-8: HEPA/ULPA filter qualification. Specialist suppliers deliver with the required certification — request it explicitly on the quote.
How to compare quotes between sectors?+
Basic rates (purchase or simple rental of a dry container) are identical across sectors. What varies by sector: (a) added equipment (HACCP hood, cleanroom overpressure, pharma insulation), (b) typical duration (punctual event vs permanent logistics), (c) required certification. For a fair comparison: request a detailed quote line-by-line (base container, equipment, delivery, connections, certifications) — it is the standard on the UK market.
Your sector is not listed?
Simply describe your project in our form — our suppliers adapt.