Cold Weather Applications for Containers
Important Notice: Container Surface Temperature Applications
Renovating a shipping container InSoFast provides an engineered method to add insulation and framing to increase your comfort and is the responsible green thing to do (dollars and environmentally). From the depths of a cold winter to the heat of a sweltering summer, InSoFast panels will help keep you dry and comfortable. Our products have a design that combines ease of application with the powerful effectiveness of continuous insulation. Adding insulation to your shipping container is one of the most effective investments you can make for your comfort.
Don’t Close down for the winter!
Cold Weather Tips:
When bonding InSoFast’s EPS foam insulation and studs, use above 41°F (5°C) and avoid cure and surface temperatures below 32°F (0°C). Surfaces need to stay warm and be clean, dry and free of frost, grease, dust and other contaminants.
*In this application you are bonding two non-porous surfaces together, the metal ceiling and the InSoFast panel. Additionally you are working against gravity. You must “T” brace the panels until the adhesive sets. Add water in the form of a very light or atomized spray from a plant mister bottle to the applied adhesive. This will accelerate the adhesive set time but decrease the re-positioning time. To increase the adhesion on a ceiling application it is advised that you use a 3/4″ bead of spray foam adhesive parallel and in contact with the expose metal rib. Be careful not to fill the electrical raceway if you are going to install wiring in the ceiling.
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| Types of spray foam that work, contact us for other recommendations. |
| Important: Add a generous 3/8” bead of PL Premium 3x Strong Adhesive on the ribbed surface of each stud, (you are working against gravity here, DON’T SKIMP OUT or cut corners), next apply a ¾” to 1” bead of Great Stuff Gap and Crack spray foam next to the PL Premium. The spray foam cures quickly and provides additional holding power for the panels after the temporary bracing has been removed. PL Premium requires a minimum of 7 days to cure before any finishes like drywall can be installed. |
Pre-fit all materials and protect finished surfaces. If using cartridge format, cut nozzle at a 45° angle to desired bead size and puncture inner seal. Be very careful not to allow Loctite® PL® Premium to cure on a finished surface.
Moisture is Necessary for PL Premium 3X Adhesive
When you are bonding two non-porous surfaces (such as InSoFast panels to metal) or if you are in very dry conditions (less than 30% relative humidity), add water in the form of a very light or atomized spray from a plant mister bottle to the extruded adhesive. This is a positive benefit for ceiling applications as it speeds curing time.
Repositioning time will also be reduced to less than 15 minutes. Use mechanical supports like “T” braces for 24-48 hours hours while the adhesive cures. Cure time is dependent upon temperature, humidity, porosity of substrate and amount of adhesive used. Low temperature and humidity will slow cure time.
Interior Installation
Preparation:
To ensure positive adhesion it is recommended to use adhesive above 41°F (5°C). For easier application, ensure the product temperature is 59°F (15°C) or higher. The best solution is to move the container inside to a place warm or cover the container by tenting it in. Here are a couple of suggestions for tenting the container. If you are doing multiple containers, set the shelter up over your 1st container heat that shelter if possible 59°F (15°C) or higher for 24-48 hours. When you complete that container get 4 people to pick the shelter up and move it over to the next container.
Cold Weather Use:
Cold Weather application is possible down to 19°F (-7°C) ambient conditions. Adhesive product must be kept above 45°F (7°C) during application and all bonding surfaces must be free of snow, ice and frost prior to use. Cold weather conditions will slow cure times.
Exterior Installation
When installing InSoFast panels to the exterior, the interior of the container must be heated above 41°F (4°C) or preferably 59°F (15°C) or higher until the adhesive has had a chance to cure. No worries when keeping the interior temperature just right when the InSoFast panels installed on the exterior, it is insulation.
Interior and Exterior Installation
Install the exterior panels first while heating the interior. Allow adhesive to cure on the exterior before installing interior insulation.
The US Department of Energy funded a study which found that, “Heat loss from your floor can account for up to 23% of the heating cost in a container home which seems pretty obvious since a floor is 23% of a container’s surface area. An un-insulated floor in shipping container is like standing outside in a snowstorm with a hat, coat, scarf, down coat, in a pair of shorts, not fully protected. Insulation will reduces heat loss through the floor by approximately 80%” from the 12″ o.c. steel beams for the floor that transfers energy like fins in a radiator. That’s a pretty drastic reduction in heat loss! What starts as a simple weekend installing InSoFast panels will lead to a lifetime of comfort and savings on your energy bill.
InSoFast insulation make the walls flat, straight and true so hanging drywall is quite simple. The embedded studs within the panels can support up to 342 pounds of pull out force and were designed with the strength of a 20-gauge steel stud.
Worry free Insulation
Our products stabilize temperatures within the shipping container home, limit moisture, humidity and with no nutrients for mold to blossom and grow you can live worry free in a healthy home. Do it once, do it right, do it fast.