Wood flooring built into shipping containers has become a hotly contested topic in recent years. As people find more and more inventive uses for retired shipping containers, they are claiming a positive environmental effect for their recycling efforts. On the other side of the equation, many container floors are made using exotic hardwood trees. While it is still a renewable resource, it takes fifty to sixty years for one of these trees that were cut down to make container floors to grow.

An even bigger issue to be aware of is the chemicals that soak into the container floors during production. Australia has very strict specifications for the treatment of shipping container floors; they are treated with serious pesticides and fungicides to prevent alien insects and rodents from reaching Australia. Wood preservatives containing a variety of organochlorine pesticides including aldrin, dieldrin, chlordane and lindane which have been approved in Australia for the treatment of wood used as structural members in cargo containers. Consequently manufacturers treat all containers to Australian specifications, decided it is difficult to separate units for a single country outside of the fleet and risk potential fines and penalties if an unapproved container is caught entering Australia.

Analysis performed on these floors determined that insecticides could be transferred to products on container floors. The physical pick-up of the insecticide from the soil surface is considered the main source of the toxins. The highest levels of insecticide residues were found in products stored in freshly treated laminated lumber. Toxins like the ones mentioned above largely dissipate after a couple of years, so with special preparation, cleaning, and sealing with epoxy finishes, the chemicals can be isolated. Experts agree that when a barrier inhibits the outgassing of substances, there is virtually no risk. This is comparable to lead paint hazards in the past that have been corrected in older homes.

If the data plate is still on the container, it should indicate the types of chemicals the floor was originally treated with. Naturally, if the flooring was damaged and changed somewhere along the line, the data plate will not help you. You will also never learn what was shipped or the leaks on your container floor during your offshore career. If a shipping container is to be used for any type of permanent habitation, as part of a shipping container home, for example, the recommended course of action is to remove the original flooring, dispose of it properly, and install new flooring. You are looking at ten sheets of plywood in a 40′ container plus labor; If you plan to live in or serve food out of a container, you should include these expenses in your budget.