Container listings and guides use plenty of terms that aren’t self-explanatory – some come from international shipping, others from German building law. This glossary groups the key terms by topic and links to a fuller article wherever there is more to say.
Dimensions, standards and paperwork
ISO container A container built to the international ISO standards for dimensions and corner castings. This lets it be loaded and stacked worldwide with standardised equipment (crane, hook-lift truck, semi-trailer).
TEU Short for “Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit”, the measure of capacity for container ships and terminals. A 20-foot container counts as 1 TEU, a 40-foot container as 2 TEU. Rarely relevant for private buyers, but it turns up often in listings that come from the shipping trade.
High cube A container with increased standard height (usually 2.90 m instead of 2.59 m external height). The extra space is needed for interior insulation, floor build-up and ceiling lining during conversion. More on standard dimensions in Sizes & dimensions.
CSC plate A metal plate on the container confirming approval under the international CSC Convention for sea transport, and documenting regular inspections. Not required for pure land use, but it hints at the year of manufacture and origin. Details in Container number & CSC plate.
Type code Four-character code next to the container number, such as 22G1 or 45G1. The first character stands for length, the second for height, the rest for the type. A 5 in second position means high cube. Explained in Container number & CSC plate.
Twistlock A rotating lock that engages the opening of a corner casting and locks containers to each other or to the vehicle. When stacking on land, simple stacking cones or twistlocks are often used.
Corner casting The eight reinforced corner fittings of a container – four at the top, four at the bottom. They carry the entire load when stacking, lifting and lashing, which makes them the single most important spot to check when assessing condition.
Condition and trade
One-trip A container that has completed only a single freight journey – usually the delivery run from the factory – and is therefore practically as good as new. The term says nothing about the actual quality of the workmanship.
Cargo-worthy A container approved for sea transport: watertight, with a valid CSC plate and functioning locking gear. A grade below near-new stock, but still suitable for demanding use.
WWT (wind and watertight) The container reliably keeps out rain and draughts but is no longer approved for international sea transport. Usually sufficient for land-based storage. A full overview of condition grades is in Buying a used container.
Corten steel Weathering steel that, under alternating wet and dry conditions, forms a dense surface layer and therefore corrodes more slowly than ordinary steel. Shipping containers are mostly made of Corten steel and are painted as well. It is not rust-proof, though: where paint is damaged and water stands, Corten steel rusts too. How to deal with it is covered in Care and rust protection.
Container variants
Standard container (general purpose) The enclosed shipping container with a steel roof and a double door at one end – the basic form from which all other variants derive. See Shipping containers.
Open side A container whose long side opens over almost its full length. Practical as a store with direct access to every shelf. See Open side containers.
Double door (tunnel container) A container with doors at both ends, for loading through or splitting the store in two. See Double door containers.
Open top A container with a tarpaulin instead of a steel roof, loaded from above by crane. See Open top containers.
Flat rack A loading platform with container dimensions, only floor and end walls – for machinery, vehicles and over-width cargo. See Flat rack containers.
Reefer (refrigerated container) An insulated container with its own refrigeration unit for temperature-controlled goods. Needs a three-phase power supply. See Refrigerated containers.
Room container An insulated container with windows, electrics and heating for people to spend time in – as office, crew room or living module. Not ISO-standardised but transport-compatible. See Office containers.
XL container A room container 3.00 m instead of about 2.44 m wide externally. More floor area, but transport needs a permit. See XL containers.
Technical and conversion terms
Container rain Condensation that forms at night on the cold steel ceiling and drips into the container. The cause is warm, humid air cooling below its dew point at the ceiling. Remedies are ventilation, storing only dry goods and insulation; see Container ventilation.
Point footings Individual footings under the corner castings, with longer containers also in the middle. The usual and cheapest foundation for containers. See Container foundations.
Thermal bridge A point in the building envelope where heat escapes noticeably faster to the outside than in the surrounding area – on steel containers, typically along the continuous steel profiles. Thermal bridges promote condensation and mould. Explained in detail in Thermal bridges in containers.
Spray foam (PU insulation) Polyurethane insulation that is sprayed on as a liquid and then expands. It seals even uneven steel surfaces without gaps, which is why it is often used in container conversions. Details in Spray foam insulation.
Floor load / load-bearing capacity The weight a container floor can carry permanently without deforming. Relevant both for storing heavy goods and for later adding screed or tiling.
Law and permits
Change of use A building-law term for switching a building’s or plot’s approved use, for example from storage to occupied space. A change of use can require a permit even without any structural work. More in Building application & change of use.
Special use of public land Use of public streets or paths beyond ordinary common use, for example temporarily placing a container on a pavement. This usually requires a special-use permit from the local authority. Details in Containers on public land.
Warranty A seller’s statutory liability for defects that already existed at the time of sale. Private sellers frequently exclude it by contract. When a dealer sells used goods to a consumer, the warranty can be shortened but not excluded under German law; between businesses it can be excluded. Covered in detail in Purchase contract & warranty.
Important note
The explanations in this glossary are general and do not replace legal advice. In particular, building-law terms such as change of use and special use of public land are interpreted differently across German states and municipalities. Binding information is provided only by the responsible authority.
Note on German law: Terms such as change of use, special use of public land and the statutory warranty rules reflect German law. Outside Germany, check the equivalent local rules.
Conclusion
Knowing these basic terms makes it much easier to make sense of container listings, contracts and guides – from condition grade to build type to building-law jargon. Each term links to a fuller article for anyone who wants to dig deeper into a specific topic.