Shipping Container: Exterior Insulation CX44

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Exterior Installation of CX44 Panels

The InSoFast CX Container Panel is designed for the side walls of most shipping containers. The CX panels are set up for an 11" repeating pattern of the corrugation and the panel size is 44" x 24". They are installed horizontally with the studs running vertically. Lay out the first row of CX panels to determine the fit to the container. Variations in the corrugations may require the panels to be trimmed or spaced out slightly.  Leave a 1/4" gap to allow for spray foam sealant.

Before You Glue

Dry fit and adjust your panels to fit. Use a razor blade knife to fit around cargo hooks, dents, weld seams or other protrusions.

Start by gluing the bottom rail panel foam support that was cut and fitted in the previous webpage.  Apply glue in a 3/8" bead using an "S" pattern.

Place a 3/8" bead of adhesive on the stud on the exposed dove tailed ribs on the backside of the CX44 panel.

Loctite PL Premium 3x Adhesive

• 1 large 28-fl oz / 828 mL tube = 18 (24" studs or inserts)
  • CX 44 (22 panels with 2 studs each plus 8 end wall edges) = 52
  • 52 ÷ 18 = 3 tubes of the adhesive

As an example one side wall of a 20' standard height shipping container you will need approximately 3 tubes of the adhesive. In our application we used 5 tubes for the glue around openings like windows and the extra for the end wall and door frame.  

PL Premium 3x adhesive is applied in a ⅜" bead on the backside of the studs which have the ribbed surfaces. It is important that there is enough adhesive to squish into the dovetails on the back side of the stud.  To verify that enough adhesive is used, press the panel into place. Pull the panel back and check to see if the adhesive has spread out the width of the stud. It is normal for the panel to "float out" from the side of the container when it is accommodating irregularities in the container walls. Additional adhesive may be necessary in some areas. If you find an area that has not bonded to the container, simply drill a hole through the foam and inject additional adhesive.

Add a 3/8" bead of adhesive to the cut end of the panels to secure the panel around the window opening. Install CX Panels in a running bond pattern, (stagger joints like brick work.) To start the second row, cut a panel in the center with a long snap off blade utility knife. This will start the off set running bond or staggered pattern.

Add Extra Adhesive Around Openings

Since there is no stud at the cut ends of the panels, an additional bead of PL Premium 3x is applied at the start and end of each wall. 

There are many suitable spray foams for air sealing around the openings.

It is important to seal the bottom of the first row of panels and around all openings. Apply a continuous bead of spray foam or adhesive along the bottom of the side wall of the container.

The End Wall and Swing Door Frame

The CX44 panel will not work for the end wall and door frame without modification. Here we used the UX2.0 panel to handle the flat surface areas. Additionally the horizontal studs work well for the finish trim and outside corner treatments.

Here we glued the studs and all the outside edges so the panel so ti is solidly attached to the corner.

Secure and brace the panels until the adhesive sets.

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