Construction Codes Advisory
Promoting construction of safe, healthy, habitable buildings



     Shipping Containers

                                                     strength make them desirable for many other
Question                                             uses. Location for use will subject them to a
Are shipping containers (sea cans) subject to the    number of requirements applicable to the
building code?                                       construction and fire safe operation of buildings.

                                                     A building as defined by the CC Act means any
Answer                                               structure used or intended for supporting or
                                                     sheltering any use or occupancy, and includes an
Yes, but only when a shipping container is no
                                                     addition built to an existing structure and, where
longer used for its original purpose, which is the
                                                     applicable, the land adjoining a structure.
shipping and storage of freight. When it is placed
on a property for use in the support or shelter of
any use or occupancy, the structure is considered
                                                       Compliance with The Construction Codes
a building.
                                                       Act, The Building Code Regulations, The
The shipping containers are required to comply         Energy Code Regulations and the National
with provisions of The Construction Codes Act          Building Code of Canada (NBC) 2020 is
(the CC Act), The Building Code Regulations, The       addressed in the advisory. Words in italics,
Energy Code Regulations, The Fire Safety Act and       other than Act and regulation titles, are
their associated regulations, the National             defined in the NBC 2020.
Building Code of Canada (NBC), the National
Energy Code of Canada for Buildings, the
National Fire Code of Canada (NFC) and               Because shipping containers do not meet the
municipal bylaws. The following may also be          prescriptive requirements found in the NBC, the
required:                                            local authority may request an engineering
• Development permit                                 review and submission of plans certified by a
• Building permit                                    professional engineer prior to issuing a building
• Construction plans                                 permit.

                                                     Issues of importance to recognize prior to
Background                                           construction approval include:
                                                     • Use and occupancy
Intermodal shipping containers or “sea cans” are
used for the transport of goods from one place       • Structural inspection
to another. These containers are designed to be      • Foundation design
packed with goods and lifted, stacked, handled       • Anchorage to the foundation
and moved by one mode of transportation or           • Mechanical systems and ventilation
another. However, their availability, capacity and   • Building envelope and exterior finish
Shipping Containers

Regarding use and occupancy, any storage of
dangerous goods as defined and regulated by
the NFC should be disclosed to the local
authority. Dangerous goods means those
products or substances that are regulated by
TC SOR/2001-286, "Transportation of Dangerous
Goods Regulations. (TDGR)" or classified as
controlled products under HC SOR/2015-17,
"Hazardous Products Regulations."

All measures necessary to ensure their safe
storage must be accommodated in the design,
construction, and/or modification of the shipping
container for that purpose. This may include
limits on the volume of dangerous goods being
stored, adequate ventilation, appropriate fire
detection, alarm and suppression systems.

As with all development uses, the use of shipping
containers as a building must meet zoning and all
other bylaws applicable in a local authority.
While some municipalities may accept shipping
containers as buildings, other municipalities may
limit their use through zoning controls.




 Building and Technical Standards Branch                                                     Construction Codes Advisory
 1430 - 1855 Victoria Avenue                                                                    Shipping Containers
 Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 3T2                                                                       August 2024
 306-787-4113 Phone
 btstandards@gov.sk.ca
 www.saskatchewan.ca/btstandards                                                            Original approved and signed by:
                                                                                                Chief Codes Administrator
 This guide is published by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations for purposes of providing information to users on the topic
 contained herein. In case of conflict between The Construction Codes Act (the CC Act), The Building Code Regulations (the BC Regulations),
 The Energy Code Regulations (the EC Regulations), The Plumbing Code Regulations (the PC Regulations), the NBC 2020 and this Advisory,
 provisions of the CC Act, the BC Regulations, the EC Regulations, the PC Regulations and the NBC 2020 apply.


                                                                                                                                              2
