This article contains everything you need to know about portable offices including their manufacture and use.
You will learn:
A portable office is a mobile workspace that can be easily assembled and placed to provide a quiet and convenient location for meetings, completing paperwork, or examining plans. They are built using the same materials and designs as permanent offices, which makes them durable, long lasting, and exceptionally convenient.
The term portable office covers a wide range of enclosures that come in different sizes, configurations, materials, and forms. Each type of portable office is configured to meet the needs of the location where it is placed and designed for instant full functionality. They are produced in modules that are linked together when they arrive at a site or are preformed and delivered as a completed structure. The various components of a portable office are designed to withstand being assembled and disassembled on demand or moved to different locations.
Although portable offices come in a wide variety of designs, sizes, and forms, their construction requires that they follow the same rules associated with permanent structures. As with any form of construction, there are standards and regulations that must be followed in order to ensure the safety of a structure and its conformity to local requirements. The location of a portable office building determines the local construction codes and inspection requirements it must adhere to.
The walls of a portable office determine its strength and durability as well as providing protection from the elements and outside noise. The consistency and appearance of the walls is dependent on the materials used to construct them, which vary from vinyl covered panels with a polystyrene core to vinyl covered panels with a gypsum core or steel, wood, or aluminum..
Portable offices that use panels have a stud system and wall panels with the stud system made of steel or aluminum to provide the framework for support. The stud system or framework is filled in with panels made of a variety of materials to suit the application for which the portable office is being used.
The varieties of wall panels cover a wide range of potential conditions since each portable office is custom fitted to the needs of a situation or set of circumstances. Two particularly unique types of wall panels are ones that are fire rated and ones that are ballistic rated, each of which is designed to meet hazardous and dangerous conditions.
Wall panels for a portable office consist of three components that are arranged like a sandwich. The elements that are placed in the frame include two pieces of material that can be made of gypsum, steel, wood, fiberglass, or vinyl covered hardboard. These are the portions of the portable office wall that are visible, are the exterior portion, and are exposed to the environment. In most cases, they are covered with a sturdy material such as vinyl.
The essence of wall panels is their core that is somewhat like the insulation in a house. The cores of wall panels vary greatly and include wool material, polystyrene, and polyisocyanurate. The core of a panel is sandwiched between the various types of boards and tightly sealed such that air or water cannot penetrate the panel. The core and its exterior boards determine the strength and durability of a portable office and are carefully chosen to fit the needs of the customer and the use of the office.
Every type of paneling is given a sound transmission rating (STC) that runs from 20 to 65 with 65 indicating that a panel is sound proof. Additionally, like the insulation in a home, they are given an R value that indicates how resistant a panel is to having heat travel through it. As R values get higher, the more resistant they are to heat passing through. The final determinant of the effectiveness of a wall panel is its fire rating that can run from A, good for severe fires, to D and E, considered ineffective against fires.
Standard panels, which used to be the most common form of panel, have a 3-inch to 4-inch thickness with an expanded polystyrene (EPS) core and 1/8-inch hardboard or 1/2-inch gypsum panels. The panels on a standard wall panel are vinyl clad, which comes in a wide range of colors to fit any typical office situation.
Standard panels have a STC rating of 22, a R rating of R13, and fire-resistant rating of Class C fire rating. The fire rating is the reason that standard panels are seldom used for the construction of portable offices.
Fire rated wall panels are one of the more popular forms of wall paneling for portable offices due to insurance company requirements. The wide use of fire rated panels is due to the protection they provide, aside from being a comfortable work setting. To receive the highest fire rating, wall panels have to be tested using the American standards for testing and materials (ASTM) E119-00a Fire Test for one hour of fire endurance. The test includes blasting the panels with flames for one hour, which is followed by blasts from a fire hose. To be able to pass the specifications, a wall has to remain intact after enduring the stress.
Fire resistant panels are made of 26-gauge stucco that is embossed with 5/8-inch type X gypsum board with a 2-inch mineral wool core. They have a Class A fire rating, a R11 thermal rating, and STC rating of 28. Although fire rated panels are designed for hazardous environments, their sturdiness and durability has made them popular for general use in multiple environments.
Steel wall panels add an extra layer of durability for portable offices and are the wall materials for container portable offices. They are widely used in facilities that have a great deal of mobile traffic from forklifts, pallet jacks, hand carts, and other vehicles as well as foot traffic from workers. The sturdiness of the steel lain over gypsum enables the panels to withstand potential damage from impacts and vehicular traffic. They are powder coated to fit the requirements of a location or the standards of a customer.
The specifications for steel wall panels include 26-gauge steel, 1/2-inch gypsum sheets, and polyisocyanurate core.
Ballistic rated wall panels, or bulletproof wall panels, are UL rated bullet resistant fiberglass panels that are placed on either side of the core of a panel. The required level of security determines the thickness, which can range between 0.25 inch up to 1.5 inch. Ballistic panels are categorized by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), an agency of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ).
The NIJ has developed a set of standards regarding the types of protection required for materials and locations. Its rating system has five categories that are defined by how a material is capable of providing protection from weapons fire. Levels 1 to 3 are capable of stopping weapons fire from handguns and have a thickness of 0.25 inch up to 0.5 inch. Level 4 panels are capable of withstanding multiple shots from high powered assault rifles and shotguns.
The normal use of ballistic panels is for hostile military conditions to protect access to military operations. Aside from their more dangerous use, they are also used in laboratories and testing environments. Each panel has a gypsum board exterior with ballistic fiberglass interior and a polyisocyanurate core. Ballistic rated wall panels are commonly used where there is a potential of damaging and dangerous projectiles and combustible materials. The thickness of ballistic panels varies in accordance with the panel’s ballistic rating.
Although heavy duty and strong panels are a common requirement for a wide range of portable offices, there are situations where lightweight and easy to maneuver panels are more convenient. In those conditions, it is common to see panels made of aluminum with a honeycomb core. The different types of honeycomb panels vary in accordance with cell size, grade of aluminum, depth of the panels, and thickness of the walls, which can be adjusted to meet specific conditions.
The main feature of honeycomb panels is their lightweight. They are resistant to the effects of moisture, fungi, and corrosion and have exceptional thermal conductivity. The thicknesses of honeycomb panels vary between 3 inches to 4 inches with a R value of R1 and STC value of 28.
Soundproof panels have vinyl covered gypsum board placed over sound deadening board made of wax impregnated wood fibers with sufficient rigidity and density to provide noise control. Sandwiched in the middle of gypsum and sound deadening board is a core of polyisocyanurate. Soundproofing panels have a STC of 23 up to 35 to provide sound dampening. Most industrial and construction locations have decibel levels of 70 to up to 100, which cannot be totally eliminated but can be controlled.
The construction of soundproofing panels has a R value of R11 and a class A fire protection rating with an average STC of 28. Soundproof panels can be found in several locations especially those that have heavy industrial activities.
Hollow cavity wall panels have an interior steel framework without core material. They have vinyl coated hardboard walls with a painted steel exterior that is supported by the steel framework. Hollow cavity wall panels allow a certain amount of design flexibility and leave room for wiring and air flow channels, which is ideal for portable cleanrooms.
The steel structure of hollow cavity wall panels enhances their ability for fire protection. They have an R value of R1 and a STC rating of 20. They are available in the standard thicknesses of 3 inches and 4 inches. The wide use of hollow cavity wall panels is due to their durability, strength, and longevity. Their hollow cores make it possible to run utility raceways that are too long for wiring studs, which adds flexibility to their use.
All wall panels for a portable office come with a standard finish, which is mainly vinyl or painted steel. Although these finishes fit most conditions, there are times when a unique finish can add to the aesthetic appeal of a portable office or enhance its protection. Specialty wall finishes include:
The seven portable office panels or walls listed above are a sampling of the many designs that are available. Since each portable office has to meet a different set of standards and requirements, they necessitate custom designing and fabrication to meet a wide variety of conditions. The customization of portable office wall panels requires the use of different materials that come in several thicknesses and compositions. In every case, custom portable offices can be fabricated to meet a specific set of conditions.
All portable offices have certain elements in common since mobility is a requirement of their use. As much as wall panels may vary in size and materials, all wall panels have the common appearance of a large rectangle. Floors, ceilings, doors, and windows have a similar common appearance.
The division between the various types of portable offices occurs in how the basic elements are arranged and the addition of features that are not common to all portable offices such as stairs, air conditioners, gates, and lights. These additional features are part of the process of customizing portable offices to fit a specific set of factors.
In most portable offices, flooring has a practical purpose of providing a surface to walk on. It can be made of several types of materials each of which is durable and long lasting. In some instances, portable offices necessitate the use of visually pleasing materials to add a positive aesthetic appearance.
A key element for any office space is lighting, which creates a comfortable and inviting work space and makes materials easily visible. The common forms of lighting for portable offices are fluorescent lights and LED lights.
As with many aspects of portable offices, doors come in a wide variety of styles, types, sizes, and designs. Each type of door is designed to meet the needs and requirements of the portable office, which may require doors for loading product or moving machinery.
The ceiling of a portable office is in the form of a grid that can take several forms. In most cases, ceilings are made of 22-gauge or 24-gauge steel that supports the roof, which is normally made of steel or aluminum. The grid supports 2 feet by 4 feet acoustical ceiling tiles made from a variety of materials.
Windows for portable offices can be fixed or functional and made with 1/4-inch tempered glass. For fast and efficient assembly, windows are installed into the aluminum or steel frame of the portable office prior to the installation of the wall panels. Alternate window materials are available and include tinted, laminated, insulated, acrylic, polycarbonate, and safety glass. Fixed windows may not be opened and are permanent in place while functional windows can be slid open. The type of windows is dependent on the location of a portable office.
In the majority of cases, portable offices are raised off the ground necessitating the use of stairs for entrance. Stairs can take different forms in accordance with the type of portable office. They can be a simple flight of stairs that goes directly to the door of a portable office without a landing before the entrance. A normal set of stairs includes a landing with a railing for easy entrance.
As with many aspects of portable offices, their stairs must be in compliance with the requirements of the office of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which stipulates that the stairs must be capable of supporting the weight of a person, tools, equipment, materials, and machinery. Stairs must have a riser height of 9.5 inches with a minimum depth of 9.5 inches.
The use of portable offices is an ever-growing business due to the flexibility and versatility they provide. In every type of business, there are periods of high volume that require personnel expansions and facility expansions. While renting buildings and locations is an option, it does not allow for sufficient adaptation to meet the needs of a company.
Portable offices provided by reliable companies and manufacturers make it possible to mold, adapt, and arrange portable buildings to exactly meet the needs of unplanned or random increases in business. They are extra space that allow for a business to increase their office space at relatively minimal expense as well as provide strong durable places for employees to complete critical work.
Container offices are ground level structures that do not require stairs for access. They are readily available for small short-term projects that require presence at an off-site location for a short period of time. Container offices are tightly sealed much like a shipping container and require heaters and air conditioning. They are highly durable, made of welded steel sides with a set of windows.
The side panels of container offices are made of 20-gauge or 24-gauge steel that is weather resistant and tamper proof. Since they sit directly on the ground, the surface where they are placed has to be solid and level. As with all forms of portable offices, container offices come in a variety of sizes.
Normally, when people envision a portable office, the first thing that comes to mind is a trailer with a box-like unit loaded on it. This particular form of portable office has been around for many years as an easily mobile form of office that can be taken anywhere. Trailer portable offices are common at construction sites with the logo of the company on the side.
Large corporations rely on trailer portable offices as a way to place management at the site of a major project, provide meeting space for special events, and have locations for conferences at isolated locations.
Extra wide portable offices have the same configuration as container portable offices but are larger and wider. The increased area of an extra wide portable office makes it possible to have more furnishings including extra desks for workers as well as tables, cabinets, and electronics. The use of extra wide portable offices is to avoid the possibility of running out of workspace and room.
Aside from their use as additional workspace, extra wide portable offices can serve as a storage area for sensitive equipment and confidential documents. Office supplies, instruments, certain machinery, and technical appliances can be securely stored without concern for being damaged or stolen.
Forkliftable portable offices are constructed on a forkliftable base, which makes them easy to move and create a workspace that is quiet, convenient, comfortable, and secure. They are delivered to a site fully assembled and ready for immediate use prewired for the addition of electrical devices. As with many forms of portable offices, forkliftable portable offices are a flexible solution for creating a controlled workspace without the inconvenience of special planning.
The design of forkliftable portable offices makes them just as durable as larger units with the added convenience of easy movement and placement. The key to their use is their toughness and ability to withstand constant movement. An office can be quickly positioned at a low cost with minimal effort.
The convenience of a preformed portable office makes them ideal for instant placement and use. It is one of the factors that makes portable offices so popular and widely used. Unfortunately, not all portable offices can fit easily into the conditions where they are needed. This necessitates the construction and fabricating of a custom portable office that exactly meets the needs of the conditions.
Although the cost of custom portable offices is higher than ones that have already been constructed, their cost is still not as much as traditional permanent stick-built construction. They allow you to customize a portable office to whatever kind of space you are using. Custom portable offices come in all types of shapes and sizes from single-story walk-in offices to multistory ones. Special features, stairs, heating and cooling, windows, and flooring can be fabricated specifically to the needs of the space and conditions.
The A-Wall 300 is an in-plant building system that uses a unique and innovative structural technique to custom fit the A-Wall 300 into any location. The wall thickness of the A-Wall 300 is designed for consistent sound and temperature control to create a barrier against external environmental conditions. The A-Wall 300 portable building system uses preformed wall panels that install quickly without the use of fasteners. Panel types include vinyl, FRP, steel, and paintable panels.
Willscot Office Trailers has a full range of cost-effective office solutions that can be used as temporary workspace or for long term use. The company’s selection of office trailers is immediately available for delivery and come in a wide range of sizes with or without restrooms. All units come with necessary amenities to make them immediately functional including steps, ramps, furniture, electronics, and security measures. Available sizes of Willscot office trailers range from 20 feet by 8 feet up to 64 feet by 12 feet to the company’s trademarked Flex units.
Mobile Modular offers a wide selection of standard floor plans and ones that are custom built. The key to the success of Mobile Modular is their exceptional add on services that include various types of furniture, room accessories, and everything that is needed to complete an office space. The company offers a wide selection of mobile offices that are available for lease, rent, or purchase. Assembly of a portable office is quick and efficient making additional office space ready for use in a short time.
Pac-Van offers portable office trailers and ground level container offices that do not require steps or skirting and can be occupied upon delivery. The sizes and types of portable offices that the company offers have a wide range of uses from ticket offices to field offices for construction sites. Pac-Van normally delivers a portable office in one to three days but is able to have an office set up in one day in emergency situations. The company offers upgrades for their portable offices including carpeting, glass doors, wood siding, and mansard roofing.
Satellite takes a different approach to the construction of portable offices and offers features that are not available from other providers. One variety of the company’s portable offices comes with built in desks and planning tables that allow for increased office space and efficient design. Satellite offers a selection of paneling that include aluminum or steel and wood. Each portable office has economical fluorescent lighting and has a selection of furniture packages. The use of Satellite offices covers the full spectrum of office types from simple break areas to complex conference rooms.
In the modern era, there are portable phones, computers, equipment, and portable sensitive machinery. The logical next step in this world of portability is portable workspaces that are immediately available regardless of the location or business. Although the use of portable offices is defined as a place for completing paperwork and office activities, the use of portable offices expands far beyond that limited definition and includes a wide spectrum of other functions.
Jobsite portable offices is a very common use for portable offices and was their initial purpose since managing by phone or paperwork did not provide real time information. The quick assembly and construction of portable offices make them an ideal solution for providing an instant office space to confront problems, manage workers, and offer comfort.
Portable offices assist with patient flow and offer extra space for gathering patient information. They make it possible to complete administrative tasks away from the performance of medical procedures. Portable offices provide a clean and comfortable location when construction is being completed at a hospital or clinic.
A common use of portable offices is when an addition is being completed to an office building. The durability and sturdiness of portable offices makes them the perfect solution for times when on site construction is being completed. Staff can complete their everyday tasks without concern or inconvenience.
One of the aspects of portable office usage is as a part of events, which normally use tents that are not sturdy enough to withstand long use. In most cases, special events are held in locations that do not have any form of permanent space for meetings and storage. Portable offices can be reserved in advance or be requested for immediate placement in times of emergency.
The uses for portable offices during a disaster cover a wide range of functions and activities. Their most important feature is their immediate availability since they can be ordered, placed, and put to use in less than a day. Portable offices, like all forms of structures, are built to local and regional construction codes, which makes them an ideal and safe location for all forms of emergency and disaster services.
A common problem in manufacturing operations is the amount of noise that is created by assembly machinery and equipment, which makes it difficult to speak to workers and offer guidance. Factory operations have offices and meeting rooms that are located away from the noise. The distance from the offices to the factory floor causes delays in providing information and places management personnel away from the operation.
In-plant portable offices with sound proofing can be located near manufacturing processes and provide a place to meet and manage personnel. They are constructed of highly durable materials that are sound deadening and offer easy access to personnel.
Portable offices for security personnel have become a requirement and necessity due to the fact that they need to be located where security issues are most critical. Every large corporation has security personnel at points of entry. These miniature locations are placed at every entrance. For large areas of land where security is an issue, portable offices are used to place management personnel close to the positions of their officers and provide a site for security vehicles.
Business management is in constant pursuit of methods for improving production and efficiency at a cost savings. Several corporations have found that the use of portable offices is one solution for meeting those goals. Portable offices can be planned, configured, constructed, and installed in far less time than it takes to create and place a permanent structure.
The placement of portable offices can reduce the time that it takes for employees to get to work and avoid the need for long commutes. Instead of wasting time driving to work, employees can be at their work location and ready to work in a comfortable and easily accessible location.
Every office has the problem of piles of completed projects that need to be stored. This is especially true for businesses that are starting out. Portable offices offer a cost-effective way to remove clutter and store it securely.
The installation of a permanent structure may give the appearance of success and growth and provide additional space to complete work. Unfortunately, permanent buildings cannot be removed or repositioned and remain in place. Portable offices offer a wide range of choices from rentals for temporary use to leases for long term use. Additionally, they can be purchased, which leaves the owner with the option to place a portable office where it is most needed.
One of the certainties of business is change, which includes personnel, customers, products, and locations. In recent years, change has been happening at an alarming rate and requires a business to be prepared and ready. Portable offices are the perfect solution since they allow for increasing and decreasing the size of workspaces when there is a need for major adjustments.
Much of the emphasis on portable offices is their mobility, flexibility, and accessibility, which may give the impression that they are vulnerable. Portable offices are constructed following the same local and regional requirements that are stipulated for permanent structures. They are just as secure, safe, and impenetrable as any permanent structure.
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