40ft Side Opening Containers for Sale and Hire in Felixstowe

What is a 40ft side opening container?

A side opening container has cargo doors along its long side as well as doors at one end. Depending on the design, the side may open through several folding door panels or through a large uninterrupted opening. This gives much wider access than relying on the end doorway alone.

The layout can make a considerable difference when loading pallets, long materials, machinery or bulky stock. Instead of filling the container from one end and later moving goods out of the way to reach items at the back, you can open the section closest to what you need.

That extra access only helps if the site leaves enough room to use it. A 40ft side opener positioned close to a wall, fence or building may lose much of its advantage because the doors and handling equipment need clear working space alongside the container.

You can compare the specialist design with a 40ft standard shipping container or view the wider container equipment range.

40ft side opening container dimensions

Dimensions vary between manufacturers and door configurations, so published figures should be treated as planning measurements rather than a guaranteed specification. One published standard-height 40ft side opening design has external dimensions of about 12.19m long, 2.43m wide and 2.59m high.

The long side opening is the measurement to check carefully when machinery, fabricated items or other large goods need to pass through it. Door posts, bottom rails and individual panel arrangements can reduce the usable opening on some designs. Confirm the actual container when the load will be a close fit.

40ft high cube side opening containers

The high cube version keeps the nominal 40ft length and 8ft width but increases the external height to about 9ft 6in, or 2.90m. This can be useful where taller goods, stacked pallets or equipment need additional vertical clearance.

Published specifications show that internal dimensions can vary noticeably between high cube side opening designs. One example gives an internal length of about 12.03m, width of 2.29m and height of 2.70m, with a side opening around 11.84m wide. Another published design gives approximately 12.03m by 2.29m by 2.47m internally, with a side opening around 11.56m wide.

The variation matters because reinforcing rails and the construction needed around a long opening can take up internal space. Do not assume that every 9ft 6in high cube side opener provides the same clear height through the side doors. Ask for the internal dimensions, side door height and bottom sill height of the actual unit if clearance matters.

A high cube also needs more overhead clearance during delivery. Check branches, cables, entrances and other height restrictions along the route before arranging placement.

Buying or hiring a 40ft side opening container

Buying can suit a longer-term requirement where the container will remain part of the site setup. It gives you control over future use, subject to the structure, planning position and any proposed modifications. Check the side doors, end doors, seals, locking bars, hinges, floor and supporting structure rather than judging the container only by its external appearance.

Hire can suit temporary storage, a defined project or an additional capacity requirement. Before agreeing to hire, confirm the permitted use, hire period, responsibilities for damage and the arrangements for collection. Modifications to hired equipment may be restricted, so discuss partitions, racking, electrics or other changes before carrying out work.

For either route, tell the supplier how often the side opening will be used and how goods will be handled. A side opening unit is specialist equipment, so there is little benefit in choosing it if normal end-door access would do the job.

Plan the loading area around the side doors.

A 40ft side opener needs more usable space around it than its steel footprint suggests. The door panels need room to open, and the working area beside the container must suit the people, forklifts, pallet trucks or other equipment used for loading.

Plan where frequently accessed stock will sit before the container arrives. Side access can make stock rotation easier because goods can be reached at several points along the length rather than from one direction only.

Check the ground beside the opening as well as beneath the container. A forklift route, for example, needs to be considered separately from the support needed under the container itself. Avoid positioning the opening where parked vehicles, temporary fencing, stored materials or later building work could prevent access.

HIAB delivery and placement in Felixstowe

A final position may be large enough for the container but still unsuitable for delivery. Where HIAB placement is used, the crane-equipped vehicle needs an access route, enough room to manoeuvre into a working position and sufficient crane reach for the proposed drop point.

Measure the narrowest gate and check tight corners, slopes, soft ground and parked vehicles. Look above the route for cables, branches, roofs and other obstructions. Tell the supplier which way the side opening and end cargo doors need to face before delivery arrangements are agreed.

The container should stand on firm, reasonably level support suited to the site and expected load. Uneven settlement can distort a long container and make the large side door assemblies difficult to operate. Drainage should also carry water away from the side opening and end doorway.

Future access matters particularly for hire. Avoid placing buildings, permanent fencing or other obstacles where they could prevent the container being reached for collection. The guide to proper shipping container placement covers the main points to consider before a unit is positioned.

Condition, security and weather protection

Condition terms describe different aspects of a container. One-trip generally means a container has completed a limited initial shipping movement. It does not mean unused, and minor handling marks may still be present. Used units can vary considerably in age, repairs and cosmetic condition.

Wind and watertight describes resistance to ordinary weather ingress when the container and seals are in suitable condition. It does not mean airtight. A side opener has substantially more door perimeter than a conventional container, so check the seals and alignment along the side as well as at the end doors.

Security also needs planning across every opening. Check the locking arrangements provided and decide how all door sets will be secured when the container is unattended. A lockbox may shield a padlock where fitted, but it should not be treated as a guarantee against theft.

Condensation can still occur inside a steel container because of moisture, temperature changes and the goods being stored. Ventilation, suitable packaging, lining or insulation may help in some situations. For more background, see the information on shipping containers and water resistance.

Export use and CSC checks

Some 40ft side opening containers are built for international cargo transport as well as static storage. If export use is planned, make that clear before choosing a unit. Confirm the current CSC status, cargo suitability, securing arrangements and carrier acceptance for the actual container.

CSC-plated, cargo-worthy and wind and watertight are not interchangeable descriptions. Carrier requirements can also vary with the cargo and route. Check the planned movement with the shipping line, freight forwarder or other relevant transport adviser rather than assuming that a side opening container will automatically be accepted.

Planning considerations in Felixstowe

Planning requirements can depend on the intended use, how long the container will remain in position, the status and location of the site, neighbouring property, listed status, conservation areas, any change of use and associated works or modifications.

There is no single rule that applies to every side-opening container. Check the current requirements with the relevant local council before committing to the proposed placement, continued use or modification rather than assuming planning permission is always required or never required.

Choosing the right 40ft side opening container

Start with access. If goods need to be reached regularly along the full length, the side opening can make day-to-day handling much easier. If the long side will sit against a boundary or the extra doors will rarely be used, a standard 40ft container may be a better fit.

Then decide whether high cube height brings a useful advantage. Measure the tallest goods and consider stacked storage, but also check the actual internal and door-opening dimensions because side-opening designs vary between manufacturers.

When you request a container quote, include whether you want sale or hire, the goods being stored, preferred height, loading method, proposed position and the clear working space available along the opening side. These details give a much better basis for choosing a suitable container in Felixstowe.