 Return to Safety Page |
Container Twisted or Not Square
Metal containers may be rated to carry heavy loads, perhaps a ton or more, and are frequently stacked on top each other. Stacks which are several containers high are not unusual since many container designs include a "stacking cap" on the top of each corner post. These stacking caps provide the containers with some interlock and stacking capability. In stacks of containers. the load on the bottom container may be many tons. A container which is twisted or otherwise not square can be a potential safety problem if it "rocks" while standing on a level surface or permits containers stacked on top of it to lean. The design of most heavy-duty metal containers is such that they should sit flat on a level surface, with their corner posts vertical.
Returning damaged containers to a "square" condition requires operator experience and the proper equipment. The process used is similar to the process used to "square" a car frame after an accident. Hydraulic rams are used to apply the necessary force while operator experience is required to anticipate the "spring back" in the container after the force is released. The force must be great enough to change the shape of the container, but not so much that it creates structural damage. In addition, the shape of the container while the force is applied is rarely the shape of the container after the force is removed since the structure will tend to partially "spring back" to its shape before the force was applied. Applying too much force can damage the container, applying too little will not cause it to return to a "square" condition, and applying the force too often can induce failure due to metal fatigue. Repairing a metal container which is twisted or otherwise not square requires the repairer to have substantial experience and judgement, as well as the proper tools.
Despite the problems inherent in "squaring" a metal container which has been damaged, most twisted containers can be repaired at a cost far less than the cost of a new container.
BEST WELD, INC.
1315 WEST 18TH STREET
ANDERSON, INDIANA 46016
(765)641-7720 FAX: (765)641-7784
.