Ventilating A Shipping Container

Boss asked me about adding some ventilation to a shipping container used for storage. He's wanting to use a turban vent through the roof.

This is a typical 40' container with the wide, deep corrugation in the sides and roof.

Any recommendations on how to flange the opening? I can hack a hole with the angle grinder, prefer not to have to weld, but can if I have to.

I'm hoping one will be enough, it has some small vent holes in the corners that would let air in. This thing gets seriously hot in the 100+ Texas heat!

Rather than a turbine vent, I would probably look for a square natural vent - unless he's intentionally wanting to "draw" air out quickly, like opening windows.

To make a square hole, cut the peaks to the size needed and the troughs to a shorter amount so that the tabs can be bent up equal to the peaks. You'll then need to weld or JB Weld the seals to prevent water leaking into the container. Then fit the vent cap over top. Not sure about making a hole for a rounded cap, but there are probably adapters available to go from a square hole to a round vent.

You'll also need air inlets near the bottom to draw in cooler air. If the container is sitting on blacktop, then would actually be better to draw the air from about halfway up on the outside, but then pipe it down to floor level on the inside to promote ventilation. The air vents should have hardware cloth and then screen; the cloth to keep larger critters out, then screen to keep bugs/wasps out.

Another possibility for the top vent might be trying to make a continuous vent out of ridge vent. Could take the top layer off of one or two of the peaks along the top of container and then secure the ridge vent in place. The troughs would act naturally to drain water away. ....Actually, I like the sounds of this better, if it can be done.

At a local chem plant down the road, one of the contractors put in three of them last summer,all have turbo vents in the roof. They put the vents on the high rib, and used aluminum flashing to make it water tight.

If he realy wants to keep it cooler inside I would put a gable roof on it with either white or galvanized steel, and insulate and vent the attic. But that's probably way more money than he wants to spend!

Maybe turbine vents up high on the sides, with 90 deg elbows? Wouldn't have to be so concerned about roof leaks.

I put 4 very cheap square vents in the side wall up near the roof and they don't leak and they do a good job of venting my 20 foot container.

I would rather go through the wall than put a turbine through the top. It will be difficult to keep watertight going through the top. As hot as they get if you have power there you might consider something fan forced.

I agree, better go through the walls, less likely to leak. Need at least a vent at each end, one for air to come in and one to go out. They make power vents for walls. Power vent in pole barn is both temp and humidity activated.

If you put a turbine vent on the roof, Make an angle iron frame and weld it so it raises the flange above the roof to keep it from leaaking