GB2472465A

GB2472465A - Two-shell ventilated container buildings

Info

Publication number: GB2472465A
Application number: GB0914003A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rex Edward Michau
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-08-07
Filing date: 2009-08-07
Publication date: 2011-02-09
Also published as: GB0914003D0

Abstract

A container building is disclosed comprising: providing an outer shell 16 for forming outer walls 2a-5a of the container building; providing an inner shell 20 for forming inner walls 2b 10 5b of the container building; and inserting the inner shell 20 inside of the outer shell 16. An air gap is provided between the inner and outer shells 16,20 for ventilation along with and a vent 12 and a compressible member 18 may be placed between the inner shell and the base of the outer shell to prevent heat transfer. Additionally the roof or lid 22, of the container may slope to a central drainage channel 14 to drain water off the roof.

Description

TWO-SHELL VENTILATED CONTAINER BUILDINGS

The present invention relates to buildings that are preformed in containers and then delivered to the site at which the building is desired to be located. The present invention also relates to a method of constructing such container buildings.

It is known to construct a building out of what is essentially a steel cargo container of the type used to transport goods on ships or lorries. The container is modified by attaching internal framework and materials used for the interiors of conventional buildings to the inside surfaces. The container is then transported to the desired location for the building.

However, there are a number of problems with such conventional container buildings. Firstly, the steel structure fitted with internal framework tends to accumulate a significant amount of condensation due to fluctuations in its temperature. Also, it is time consuming and inefficient to attach conventional building interiors to the inside of the steel shell.

Also, workers fitting the internal components of the building are in competition for the limited space inside of the container.

The present invention aims to provide an improved container module.

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a method of constructing a container building comprising: providing an outer shell for forming outer walls of the container building; providing an inner shell for forming inner walls of the container building; and inserting the inner shell inside of the outer shell.

As the present invention forms the container building from two different shells the production of the building is made much more efficient. In particular, work can be performed on both the inner and outer sides of the inner shell before it is inserted into the outer shell. For example, in a preferred embodiment plumbing and/or electrical systems are fitted on the outside of the inner shell whilst the inside of the inner shell is plastered or decorated. Work is also able to be conducted on both the inner and outer sides of the outer shell prior to insertion of the inner shell into the outer shell.

The present invention also avoids the difficulty of attaching materials for forming the interior of the building to materials for forming the exterior of the building. Rather, the inner shell may be formed of materials for forming the interior of the building and then this is simply placed inside of the outer shell, which is formed of materials for forming the exterior of the building. Therefore, the inner and outer shells may be formed from different materials without facing the problem of joining these dissimilar materials. This also reduces or eliminates the need for adhesives and other volatile chemicals that conventionally become problematic when the container building heats up. Also, the container building of the present invention can be manufactured more efficiently as the inner and outer shells can be manufactured on separate specialised production lines. For example, a metal outer shell may be made on one production line and a wooden framed inner shell may be made on another production line.

The container building is preferably configured to be constructed as discussed above and then transported to the desired location for the building. As such, the container building is preferably configured to be lifted off the ground. The container building may also be configured to have at least one other container building stacked on top of it. The present invention therefore also contemplates providing a plurality of the container buildings, wherein the upper and lower surfaces of each container building are configured to interlock with another of the container buildings. For example, the upper surface of a first container building may comprise recesses and/or projections for engaging projections and/or recesses respectively on the bottom surface of a second container building. Alternatively, or additionally, the lower surface of the first container building may comprise recesses and/or projections for engaging projections and/or recesses respectively on the upper surface of a third container building.

Preferably, the container(s) has corner castings, such as ISO corner castings.

The container building may form a stand alone building or it may be connected to other components or other container buildings to form part of a larger building. The container building may form at least part of a house, hotel, office or any other type of building.

The container building may be a relief building for rapid deployment after a disaster, such as a relief house.

The outer shell comprises a base and side walls.

The outer shell has an open top so as to allow the inner shell to be inserted into it. The outer shell is preferably formed primarily from one material. The outer shell is preferably formed of metal, and more preferably from steel. The side walls are preferably formed from corrugated metal so as to increase their strength. The corrugations may have lengths extending in the horizontal or vertical directions of the building. Preferably, the corrugations have lengths extending horizontally. This enables the external facade of the building to appear as though it is made from more conventional materials, such as wooden slats.

At least one of the side walls of the outer shell preferably has one or more openings for a door. At least one of the side walls preferably has one or more openings for a window. The base of the outer shell preferably has apertures through it for allowing air to pass though the base. In a preferred embodiment the base is formed from spaced apart cross members that extend between the side walls of the outer shell.

The inner shell comprises side walls for forming the interior walls of the. container building once it has been assembled. The inner shell preferably comprises a frame so as to provide its rigid structure. The frame is preferably formed from timber. The inner shell preferably comprises metal reinforcement members at its corners, between the side walls. These reinforcement members assist in maintaining the integrity of inner shell, for example, when it is lifted for insertion into the outer shell. Less preferably, the frame may be formed primarily from metal bars (e.g. steel) or a plastic instead of timber.

Wall boards are preferably arranged over the inside of the framework so as to provide continuous walls over the inside of the inner shell. The wall boards may be plaster, wooden or plastic boards. The wall boards are preferably arranged so that a shadow gap is provided at each corner of the inner shell between the boards of adjacent walls. As will be well understood by those skilled in the art, a shadow gap is provided by leaving a small space between the edges of the wall boards forming each corner. These shadow gaps are preferably filled with a sealant material. The shadow gaps enable the wall boards of the inner shell to move slightly relative to each other, e.g. due to transport of the container or lifting of the inner shell. The shadow gaps also hide any cracking of paint in the gaps, which would otherwise show on the inside corners of the inner shell.

At least one of the inner shell side walls preferably has one or more openings for a door. These openings are arranged and configured such that when the inner shell is placed in the outer shell the openings coincide with the door openings in the outer shell. At least one of the inner shell side walls preferably has one or more openings for windows. These window openings are arranged and configured such that when the inner shell is placed in the outer shell the window openings coincide with the window openings in the outer shell.

The window and door openings in the inner and outer shells may alternatively be formed after the inner shell has been arranged in the outer shell. Preferably, the windows and doors are fixed about the openings in the outer shell. A trim may be provided about each of the openings in the inner shell so as to conceal any slight misalignment between the corresponding openings in the inner and outer shells.

The inner shell may have an open base side or a closed base side, and an open top side or a closed top side. In the preferred embodiment the inner shell has a closed base side. Preferably, the closed base comprises a frame of parallel spaced apart cross-members for supporting the inner shell. These cross members are preferably metal, such as steel. Flooring panels may be provided over the frame for supporting or forming the internal floor of the building. These panels are preferably timber. In a preferred embodiment the closed base is fixed to the base of the outer shell after the inner shell has been inserted into the outer shell. A shadow gap may also be provided between the flooring panels and the inner wall boards of the inner shell.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the method comprises arranging the inner shell within the outer shell such that an air gap is provided between the walls of the inner and outer shells. More specifically, each wall of the inner shell is spaced apart from its corresponding wall in the outer shell.

This air gap provides the advantage that air can circulate between the walls of the inner and outer shells. This helps to prevent condensation depositing between the walls of the inner and outer shells. This is of particular advantage in embodiments where the outer shell is formed primarily of metal, since such structures tend to change temperature relatively quickly and hence cause water to condense onto the structures.

This can cause damage to both the inner and outer shells due to, for example, rusting of any metal in the inner and outer shells and/or rotting of parts of the inner shell.

The air gap between the side walls of the inner and outer shell (including any insulating material which may be present therebetween) preferably has a size of: > 0.5 cm; >1cm; >2cm; >3cm; >4cm; >5cm; >7.5cm; > 10 cm; > 12.5 cm; or > 15 cm. The air gap preferably extends between the side walls of the inner and outer shells all of the way around the inner shell.

Preferably, the outer shell has at least one vent for allowing air to pass into or out of the gap between the inner and outer shells. The at least one vent preferably has a mesh for preventing insects from passing through the vent. The outer shell preferably has at least two vents, the two vents preferably being arranged in opposite sides of the outer shell. The at least two vents may be arranged at different heights in the outer shell walls. Preferably, one of the vents is arranged at the top of one of the walls and another vent arranged at the bottom of one of the walls. This is particularly advantageous as it encourages air to flow into the outer shell through one vent, through the air gap between the inner and outer shells, and out of the outer shell through another vent. This allows air to circulate and so assists in preventing the build up of condensation between the shells. The at least one vent may have a filter so as to filter the air passing therethrough.

The air gap between the walls of the inner and outer shells is preferably in communication with the apertures in the base wall of the outer shell. This allows air to circulate through the air gap between the side walls and through the base of the outer shell.

The inner shell preferably also has at least one vent for allowing air to pass into or out of the inner shell. The at least one vent preferably has a mesh to prevent insects from passing through the vent. The inner shell preferably has at least two vents, the two vents preferably being arranged in opposite sides of the inner shell. The at least two vents may be arranged at different heights in the inner shell walls. Preferably, one of the vents is arranged at the top of one of the walls and another ventis arranged at the bottom of one of the walls. The at least one vent may have a filter so as to filter the air passing therethrough. The vents in the inner shell are preferably arranged so as not to be adjacent the vents in the outer shell when the inner shell is inserted in the outer shell. In a preferred embodiment the outer shell has a vent in the upper portion of a first wall and the inner shell has a vent in the lower portion of the corresponding wall, adjacent to the first wall. Additionally, or alternatively, the outer shell may have a vent in the lower portion of a second wall and the inner shell may have a vent in the upper portion of the corresponding wall, adjacent to the second wall.

In the preferred embodiment, a roof lid is provided and the roof lid is coupled to the outer shell. The roof lid and outer shell form an external container containing the inner shell. The roof lid preferably comprises members for engaging the outer shell and for securing the roof lid to the outer shell. Preferably, the engaging members extend away from the underside of the roof lid and are configured to lie adjacent either the inside or outside of portions of the walls of the outer shell. Preferably the engaging members are arranged and configured to lie between the walls of the inner and outer shells. The engagement members and the portions of the outer shell walls preferably have apertures through them for bolting the engagement members to the portions of the walls through the apertures.

The roof lid preferably comprises a metal structure. The roof lid is preferably primarily metal, such as steel for example. Preferably, the roof lid comprises a frame of parallel spaced apart cross members for supporting the roof lid. The roof lid is preferably constructed so as to provide an air gap between its upper and lower surfaces. The roof lid is also preferably constructed such that when the roof lid is attached to the outer shell this air gap is in communication with the air gap between the side walls of the inner and outer shells so that air can circulate between the two air gaps.

Preferably, the underside of the roof lid comprises a ceiling for the inner shell. The ceiling may be plaster, plastic or wood. In this embodiment the inner shell preferably has an open top side and the ceiling is provided over the inner shell when the roof lid is connected to the outer shell. Alternatively, ceiling panels may be provided separate from the roof lid and may be arranged over the inner shell prior to connecting -10 -the roof lid to the outer shell. In a less preferred embodiment the inner shell may simply have a top side which is closed by a ceiling. In all of the above described ceiling configurations a shadow gap may be provided between the ceiling and the inner walls of the inner shell.

Embodiments have been described above wherein the inner shell is inserted through the top of the outer shell and then a roof lid is connected over the inner and outer shells. However, it is also contemplated herein that the inner shell may be inserted into the outer shell through an opening in at least one of the sides of the outer shell. The inner shell is orientated such that any door and window openings in the inner and outer shells are aligned, as has been described above.

A side wall member is then connected to the outer shell so as to close the opening and contain the inner shell inside of the outer shell. In these embodiments a separate roof lid need not be provided and the roof of the outer shell may be integral with the non-openable side walls of the outer shell. Alternatively, the container building may be configured such that the inner shell can be inserted through either the top or a side of the outer shell. Less preferably, the inner shell may be inserted into the outer shell through the base of the outer shell, and the base wall then connected to the outer shell so as to enclose the inner shell.

The upper side of the roof preferably comprises a sheet material that is preferably a metal sheet, and even more preferably a corrugated metal sheet. The upper surface of the roof preferably falls between opposing sides of the roof so as to form a drainage channel between the opposing sides and for draining water off the roof. This is advantageous as the container is able to provide drainage off the roof, but is configured such that other containers can still be stacked on top of it. Also, as the roof is actively drained, water does not simply run off all sides of the roof and down the side walls, as is conventional. This prevents the side walls from becoming dirty, but also reduces the likelihood of leakage into the building, e.g. through the windows and doors. The drainage channel is preferably configured so as to have a length running parallel to the opposing sides and preferably such that rainwater runs off the side of the roof perpendicular to the opposing sides. As mentioned above, in a preferred embodiment, the roof has a corrugated upper surface. In this embodiment the corrugations have lengths extending between the opposing sides and perpendicular to the drainage channel so that water can flow freely from the opposing sides into the drainage channel.

This roof structure is believed to be novel in its own right. Accordingly, from another aspect the present invention provides a cargo container having a base, side walls and a roof, wherein the upper surface of the roof slopes downwards in a direction into the container so as to form a channel in the roof for draining water off the roof surface. The roof may have any of the features described above in relation to the roof or roof lid of the container building and particularly with respect to the drainage channel.

In a preferred embodiment the outer shell and/or roof lid of the container building comprise reflective -12 -surfaces for reflecting heat and/or light. This assists in reflecting heat away from the container building and so preventing the container building from overheating.

This also assists in reducing temperature fluctuations that might cause condensation to form between the inner and outer shells. The reflective surface may be provided as a sun shield on the roof and/or walls of the outer shell. Additionally, or alternatively, a reflective layer may be provided between the ceiling of the inner shell and the roof (e.g. of reflective foil) The method preferably further comprises arranging a resiliently compressible member on the inside of the base of the outer shell prior to arranging the inner shell in the outer shell. Once the compressible member has been laid in the outer shell the inner shell is placed inside of the outer shell and on the compressible member. This is particularly advantageous for several reasons. The compressible member acts as suspension, cushioning the inner shell. This assists in preventing damage of the inner shell during transport of the container building, particularly in combination with the shadow gaps that are preferably arranged between the walls of the inner shell. This is of particular advantage as the inner shell is then able to be formed of building materials that are more suitable for the interior of the building, and which are typically subject to damage and cracking during transport, such as timber, plaster and paintwork. The compressible member is also preferably an insulating material and so reduces heat loss through the base of the container building.

Also, the compressible member is preferably arranged and configured such that when the roof lid is -13 -attached to the outer shell it forces the inner shell downwards so as to compress the compressible member between the inner and outer shells. As the compressible member is resiliently compressible it is configured to hold the top of the inner shell firmly against the roof lid, once the roof lid has been attached to the outer shell. In a less preferred embodiment a compressible member is provided between the inner shell and the roof lid in addition to, or as an alternative to, providing the compressible member under the inner shell.

The compressible member comprises at least one resiliently compressible material. In a preferred embodiment the compressible material of the compressible member is an elastomer or foam, such as neoprene for example. Preferably, the member is formed comprising a layer of compressible material and a rigid layer on one or both sides of the compressible layer. In a preferred embodiment the inner shell has an open base and the upper layer of the compressible member forms the internal floor of the building. In another embodiment the inner shell has a closed base forming the internal floor of the building and the closed base may be placed on the compressible member. In a further embodiment, the compressible member forms a closed base of the inner shell.

The compressible member may be a single sheet extending under the inner shell. Alternatively, a plurality of compressible members may be provided at selected locations between the inner and outer shells.

For example, in the embodiment where the inner shell has a base comprising spaced apart cross-members a compressible member may be provided under each cross-member. In these embodiments heat insulator material may be provided in the regions between the compressible merhbers. The insulator material is preferably air permeable so as to allow ventilation.

A waterproof membrane is preferably arranged around the walls of the inner shell and inside of the outer shell. This membrane preferably covers the whole of the walls, except at portions where parts of the walls are omitted for windows and doors. The membrane may also be omitted adjacent the vents in the inner shell so as to improve air circulation into and out of the inner shell.

The membrane also preferably extends under the inner shell and/or over the inner shell. The membrane may be provided between the base of the outer shell and the internal floor of the building container. The membrane is preferably provided between the roof lid and the internal ceiling of the building container. Preferably, the membrane is air permeable.

The present invention also provides a method of erecting a building comprising a method as described above and further comprising subsequently transporting the container building to the desired location and placing it on the ground or on foundations.

The present invention also provides a container building comprising: an outer shell having a base, side walls and an open top; an inner shell having side walls and being arranged inside of the outer shell; and a roof lid secured to the outer shell so that the roof lid and outer shell form an exterior container containing the inner shell.

-15 -The container building is preferably configured as described above.

Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a container according to the present invention; Fig. 2 shows the main components of the container of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a cross-section through the container of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4A shows a cross-section through a portion of the container in which a window is located, and Fig. 4B shows an enlarged view of part of Fig. 4A.

A preferred embodiment of a container building will now be described with reference to Figs. 1-4B. This container building is preferably used as a stand-alone building. However, it can also be used to form part of a building in a modular building assembly.

Referring to Fig. 1, the container building 1 comprises: two lateral side walls 2,3; two end side walls 4,5; a roof 6; and a base 7. One of the lateral walls 2 includes a door opening 8 and a window opening 10. One of the end walls 4 includes a vent 12 in an upper portion thereof. The opposite end wall 5 also includes a vent at the lower portion thereof, although this can not be seen in Fig. 1. The vents 12 include filters for filtering air passing through them.

The roof 6 has a corrugated external layer with the channels between the corrugations running in the direction between the lateral walls 2,3 of the container building 1. The roof 6 falls slightly from the tops of the lateral walls 2,3 to the central part of the roof 6, at which a gutter drain channel 14 is located. As such, rain water is channelled away from the lateral side edges of the roof 6 and towards the drain channel 14 so that it can run off the top of one or both of the end walls 4,5.

Fig. 2 shows an exploded view of the main components of the container building 1. The main components are an outer shell 16, a compressible member 18, an inner shell 20 and a lid 22.

The outer shell 16 is primarily a steel structure having a base 7, two lateral walls 2a,3a, two end walls 4a,5a and an open top side 9. The base 7a is formed from cross-members 24 that extend longitudinally between the lateral walls 2a,3a and which can be seen through the cut-away portion of the lateral wall 2 in Figure 2. The cut-away portion is for illustrative purposes only and is not provided in the outershell 16. The lateral sides of the cross-members are spaced apart from each other such that there are slotted holes in the base. One of the lateral walls 2a has an open port 8a for receiving a door and an open port lOa for receiving a window. The opposite lateral wall 3a is continuous. One of the end walls 4a has a vent 12 in its upper portion.

The opposite end wall 5a has a vent in its lower portion. The lateral and end walls 2a,3a,4a,5a, are formed of corrugated metal, wherein the channels of the corrugations extend horizontally around the outer shell.

The base corners 26 of the outer shell 16 have ISO corner castings and enable the outer shell 16 to be lifted, stacked and transported easily. The upper corners of the outer shell 16 are provided with corner -17-posts 28 and apertures 30 for bolting the roof lid 22 on, as will be described later.

The compressible member 18 has a size and area for covering the whole of the base inside of the outer shell 16. The compressible member 18 is a three layer laminated structure having two rigid outer layers which sandwich a compressible foam layer therebetween.

The inner shell 20 has a timber frame 32 inside of which the internal walls have been attached. The inner shell 20 has a base 7b, two lateral walls 2b,3b, two end walls 4b,5b and an open top side 11. The base 7b has a continuous floor extending between the side walls 2b-5b.

One of the lateral walls 2b has an open port 8b for receiving a door and an open port lOb for receiving a window. These ports 8b,lOb are arranged and configured to coincide with the door and window ports 8a,lOa of the outer shell 16 once the inner shell 20 has been placed therein. The opposite lateral wall 3b is continuous.

One of the end walls 4b has a vent 34 in its lower portion for allowing air to pass through the end wall 4b. The opposite end wall 5b has a vent 36 in its upper portion for allowing air to pass through the wall. The side walls 2b-5b are formed from plaster board that is attached to the timber frame 32.

The roof lid 22 has an area for fitting over the top of the outer shell 16 so as to prevent water from entering it. The roof lid 22 has two lateral sides 41,42 and two end sides 43,44. The lid 22 has corner castings 40 at each corner to enable the container to be transported and other containers to be stacked on top of it. The lid 22 has outer shell engaging members 46 extending downwardly from each corner casting 40. These -18-engaging members 46 are configured to slide inside of the corner posts 28 at the top of the outer shell 16 and have apertures 48 in them for use in securing the lid 22 to the outer shell 16.

The roof lid structure 22 has several layers. The outer layer is formed from corrugated steel and the corrugations are arranged such that the channels between them run in a direction between the lateral side edges 41,42. As described above, a drainage channel 14 is provided extending between the end edges 43,44 for draining water off the roof lid 22. The upper surface of the roof lid 22 drops from the lateral edges 41,42 towards the drainage channel 14 such that water drains from the lateral edges 41,42 into the drainage channel 14. The outer surface of the roof lid 22 may also comprise a reflector material for reflecting the sun's rays so as to prevent overheating of the container building. Cross members are provided under the outer layer and extending longitudinally between the lateral edges 41,42 for supporting the roof 22. The lateral sides of the cross-members are spaced apart from each other. A ceiling for the interior of the building is attached to the underside of the roof lid 22.

The assembly of the components shown in Fig. 2 to form the building shown in Fig. 1 will now be described.

The compressible member 18 is inserted into the outer shell 16 and is placed on its base 7a. The inner shell is then lowered into the outer shell 16 and positioned on the compressible member 18 such that the door and window ports 8a,8b,l0a,lOb in the two shells 16,20 are aligned. The roof 22 is then placed over the outer shell 16 such that the outer shell engaging means 46 of the roof 22 slide inside of the corner posts 28 of the outer shell 16. The roof 22 is forced down so as to exert a downward force on the inner shell 20, which compresses the compressible member 18. The roof 22 is forced down until the apertures 30 in the upper portions of the outer shell corner posts 28 are aligned with the apertures 48 in the outer shell engaging members 46 of the roof 22. Bolts are then inserted through the aligned apertures 30,48 so as to secure the roof lid 22 to the outer shell 16 with the compressible member 18 compressed.

Fig. 3 shows a cross-section through the container building of Fig. 1 and illustrating the plane extending in the direction between the lateral side walls 2,3. The same reference numbers are used to illustrate the same components in the Figures. As can be seen in Fig. 3, the inner shell 20 is arranged within the outer shell 16 so that the side walls 2b,3b of the inner shell 16 are spaced apart from the side walls 2a,3a of the outer shell 16 by an air gap 50. This air gap 50 is also in communication with the gaps between the cross-members 24 in the outer shell base 7a and the gaps between the cross-members 25 in the roof 22. The air gaps are also in communication with the vents 12,34,36 in the end walls 4a,4b,5a,5b of the inner and outer shells 16,20.

As such, the air is able to circulate between the interiors of the inner and outer shells 16,20 and may also flow through the gaps 50 between the shells 16,20.

This prevents moisture and condensation from building up between the inner and outer shells 16,20, which would damage and rot the structure of the inner shell 20 at least. This is a particular problem with containers 1 -20 -having a steel outer shell 16 since the outer shell 16 may change in temperature relatively rapidly and so cause water in the air to be deposited on the inner shell 20 or outer shell 16. An air permeable, water impermeable membrane may also be arranged between the inner and outer shells 16,20 and so as to surround the inner shell 20. The membrane may also extend between the bases 7a,7b of the inner and outer shells 16,20 and between the top 11 of the inner shell 20 and the roof 22. The above mentioned air gaps 50 are provided between the membrane and the outer shell 16.

Fig. 4A shows a cross-section through the part of the side wall 2 of the container 1 having the window port 10, after the window 56 has been installed. Fig. 4B shows an enlarged view of the attachment of the bottom part of the window 56 to the container building 1. It will be appreciated that this attachment extends around the perimeter of the window port 10. The gap 50 between the lateral wall 2b of the inner shell 20 and the lateral wall 2a of the outer shell 16 is bridged with a bridging member 52. This member 52 extends around the perimeter of the window port 10. A first window holding member 54 is provided on the bridging member 52 and also extend around the window port 10. A first side of the window 56 is then placed against the first holding member 54 and a second window holding member 58 is provided against the second side of the window 56. The window 56 is then held between the first and second window holder members 54,58, which are themselves connected to the inner and outer shell side walls 2a,2b by the bridging member 52.

Claims

Claims: 1. A method of constructing a container building comprising: providing an outer shell for forming outer walls of the container building; providing an inner shell for forming inner walls of the container building; and inserting the inner shell inside of the outer shell.
2. The method of claim 1, comprising inserting the inner shell into the outer shell through an opening in the top of the outer shell and then securing a roof lid to the outer shell over the opening so that the roof lid and outer shell form an external container containing the inner shell; or inserting the inner shell into the outer shell through an opening in a side of the outer shell and then securing a side wall member to the outer shell over the opening so that the side wall member and outer shell form an external container containing the inner shell.
3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the upper surface of the container building roof drops between opposing sides of the roof to a drainage channel for draining water off the roof.
4. The method of any preceding claim, comprising providing an opening for a door or window both in a side -22 -wall of the inner shell and in a side wall of the outer shell, and then inserting the inner shell into the outer shell such that the openings are aligned to form a doorway or window into the container building.
5. The method of any preceding claim, comprising arranging the inner shell within the outer shell such that an air gap is provided between the walls of the inner and outer shells and for allowing air to circulate between the walls of the inner and outer shells.
6. The method of claim 5, comprising providing at least one vent in the container building for allowing air to pass into or out of the gap between the inner and outer shells.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein said at least one vent is provided through a wall of the inner shell and/or through a wall of the outer shell.
8. The method of any preceding claim, further comprising arranging a resiliently compressible member between the inner shell and the base of the outer shell.
9. The method of claim 8, comprising securing a roof lid to the outer shell so as to force the inner shell downwards and compress the compressible member between the inner and outer shells.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the compressible member has a resiliency and is arranged and configured such that it maintains the top of the inner shell held -23 -firmly against the roof lid when the roof lid is secured to the outer shell.
11. The method of claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein the compressible member is an insulator for preventing heat transfer across the base of the container building.
12. The method of any preceding claim, further comprising arranging a waterproof material around the walls of the inner shell and inside of the outer shell.
13. The method of any preceding claim, further comprising installing plumbing on the inner shell and/or installing electrics on the inner shell and/or plastering the walls of the inner shell prior to inserting the inner shell into the outer shell.
14. The method of any preceding claim, comprising providing the outer shell and/or container roof with a reflective surface for reflecting heat and/or light.
15. A method of erecting a building comprising a method as described in any preceding claim and further comprising subsequently transporting the container building to the desired location and placing it on the ground or on foundations.
16. A container building comprising: an outer shell having a base, side walls and a top; an inner shell having side walls and being arranged inside of the outer shell; -24 -wherein the outer shell has an opening in said top or in a side for inserting the inner shell into the outer shell; and wherein said building comprises a roof lid or a side wall member secured to the outer shell over the opening so that the outer shell together with the roof lid or side wall member form an exterior container containing the inner shell.
17. The container building of claim 16, wherein the inner shell has an open top side and the underside of the roof lid comprises a ceiling for the inner shell, the ceiling being provided over the inner shell by having secured the roof lid to the outer shell.
18. The container building of claim 16 or 17, wherein the upper surface of the container building roof drops between opposing sides of the roof so as to form a drainage channel between the opposing sides and for draining water off the roof.
19. The container building of any one of claims 16-18, wherein a side wall of the inner shell and a side wall of the outer shell each have an opening for a door or window, wherein the openings are aligned to form a doorway or window into the container building.
20. The container building of any one of claims 16-19, wherein the inner shell is arranged within the outer shell such that an air gap is provided between the walls of the inner and outer shells and for allowing air to -25 -circulate between the walls of the inner and outer shells.
21. The container building of claim 20, wherein the container building further comprises at least one vent for allowing air to pass into or out of the gap between the inner and outer shells.
22. The container building of claim 21, wherein said at least one vent is provided in a wall of the inner shell and/or in a wall of the outer shell.
23. The container building of any one of claims 16-22, further comprising a resiliently compressible member arranged between the inner shell and the base of the outer shell.
24. The container building of claim 23, wherein the compressible member has a resiliency and is arranged and configured such that it is compressed between the inner and outer shells and maintains the top of the inner shell held firmly against the roof lid.
25. The container building of claim 23 or 24, wherein the compressible member is an insulator for reducing heat transfer through the base of the container building.
26. The container building of any one of claims 23-25, wherein the compressible member is formed from a compressible layer and a rigid layer arranged on one or both sides of the compressible layer.

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27. The container building of any one of claims 16-26, wherein a water impermeable membrane is arranged around the walls of the inner shell and inside of the outer shell.
28. The container building of any one of claims 16-27, comprising plumbing and/or electrics installed on the inner shell and/or outer shell. l0
29. The container building of any one of claims 16-28, wherein the outer shell is formed from metal.
30. The container building of any one of claims 16-29, wherein the inner shell comprises a timber frame.
31. The container building of any one of claims 16-30, wherein the outer shell and/or container building roof comprises a reflective surface for reflecting heat and/or light.
32. The container building of any one of claims 16-31, wherein the container building is configured to be lifted off the ground for transportation to another location.
33. A cargo container having a base, side walls and a roof, wherein the upper surface of the roof slopes downwards in a direction into the container so as to form a drainage channel in the roof for draining water off the top of the container.
34. The cargo container of claim 33, wherein the upper surface of the roof slopes downwards between opposing sides of the roof so as to form the drainage channel between the opposing sides, and wherein the drainage channel is a longitudinal channel that is configured so as have its length running parallel to the opposing sides and such that rainwater runs off a side of the lid other than the opposing sides.
35. The cargo container of claim 34, wherein the roof has a corrugated upper surface and the corrugations have lengths extending in a direction between the opposing sides so that water can flow from the opposing sides into the drainage channel.