Energy codes for container homes: insulation and airtightness

Energy codes set how well a house must keep heat in. Steel walls conduct heat quickly, so a container home needs more careful detailing than a timber house of the same size.

Continuous insulation

The steel frame and the corner posts are thermal bridges. Continuous insulation on the outside, or a well-detailed inside layer, reduces heat loss through them.

Airtightness

A tight house saves energy, but it also needs ventilation. Seal the joints around windows, doors and penetrations, and plan a ventilation system that brings in fresh air.

Show compliance

Many offices accept a calculation or a prescriptive method. Keep the material data sheets and the insulation thicknesses on the drawings.

Plan it at the design stage

Changing the insulation after the layout is set costs more than choosing it early. The insulation guide explains the layers, and the cost calculator shows the cost of a better wall.

In the UnedPod configurator you can change the wall and roof build-up and see the result in the estimate.