Buy 20ft Refrigerated Containers in Leeds

A 20ft refrigerated shipping container, usually called a reefer, is designed to maintain a controlled internal temperature. Unlike a standard dry container, it combines an insulated body with refrigeration machinery and an airflow floor, making it suitable for goods that need controlled chilled or frozen storage.

Shipping Containers of Leeds supplies 20ft refrigerated containers in new and used condition. They can suit food and drink, catering, floral stock, pharmaceuticals and other temperature-sensitive products, subject to the operating requirements of the individual unit and the goods being stored.

A reefer is primarily intended to maintain the temperature of goods rather than rapidly bring a large warm load down to its required temperature. Before choosing one, establish the temperature you need to maintain, how the container will be loaded, and the electrical supply available at the site.

How a 20ft Reefer Container Works

The refrigeration machinery circulates conditioned air through the container. Reefer floors commonly use a T-bar design that allows air to travel beneath the load and circulate through the cargo space. For this system to work properly, goods need to be loaded with airflow in mind rather than packed in a way that obstructs circulation.

The insulated walls, ceiling and sub-floor reduce heat transfer between the cargo space and the outside environment. The refrigeration system then works to maintain the selected conditions. The exact operating range depends on the machinery fitted, so the required temperature should be confirmed against the particular unit rather than assumed from the container size alone.

Reefers normally need a suitable electrical supply. Used 20ft units can be fitted with machinery from manufacturers such as Thermo King, Carrier or Daikin, and 3-phase electrical supply is commonly required. The site power arrangements should therefore be checked before purchase and before the container is delivered.

20ft Refrigerated Container Dimensions

Refrigeration equipment and insulation reduce the internal dimensions compared with a standard dry container. The following figures provide a useful indication for a 20ft reefer, but specifications can vary between manufacturers and individual units. Check the data for the container offered if a dimension, capacity or weight is critical to your operation.

For more detail when checking site space, door clearance and usable capacity, see the 20ft refrigerated container dimensions.

What Can a 20ft Reefer Be Used For?

A working reefer is useful where temperature control is central to the storage requirement. Its relatively compact footprint can make a 20ft unit practical where a larger refrigerated container would take up unnecessary site space.

• Food and beverage storage
• Chilled or frozen goods
• Catering stock
• Fruit, vegetables and floral products
• Pharmaceutical and laboratory products where the unit specification is suitable

Temperature-sensitive goods can have specific storage, monitoring and hygiene requirements. A reefer being capable of refrigeration does not by itself establish that it is suitable for a particular regulated product. Check the applicable requirements for the goods and confirm that the individual container and refrigeration system meet them before use.

For food applications, our guide to using reefer containers for food storage covers further considerations.

Used and New 20ft Refrigerated Containers

Condition matters more with a working reefer than external appearance alone. A refrigerated container includes machinery as well as the container structure, insulation, doors and seals. With a used unit, previous service, repairs, and the condition of the refrigeration equipment can therefore affect suitability.

Before buying, establish whether you need an operational refrigerated container or simply an insulated container. A non-operational reefer can provide an insulated storage space, but it should not be treated as temperature-controlled storage unless suitable working refrigeration equipment is present.

For an operational unit, confirm the machinery fitted, required electrical supply and expected operating range. If precise temperature control is critical, discuss the required set point and intended goods before selecting the container.

Buying or Hiring a 20ft Reefer

Buying can suit businesses with an ongoing cold-storage requirement or those that want control over the container for future use. Ownership also means taking responsibility for maintenance and dealing with refrigeration or structural repairs as the unit ages.

For a temporary requirement, 20ft refrigerated container hire may be more appropriate. Before hiring, check the hire terms covering the period required, permitted use, damage responsibility, maintenance arrangements and eventual collection.

Whichever route you choose, access must remain available. A hired reefer that is surrounded by later building work, fencing or stored materials may be difficult to collect, while an owned unit will still need suitable access if it is relocated in future.

Power, Loading and Airflow

Power requirements should be dealt with early. A reefer cannot maintain temperature without a suitable supply, and the electrical requirements depend on the machinery fitted. Have the proposed supply checked by a suitably qualified person and confirm the connection requirements for the individual container.

Loading also affects performance. The T-bar floor is designed to help conditioned air move through the container, so blocking the airflow can create uneven conditions around the load. Leave the necessary clearance around goods and follow the operating requirements for the particular reefer and cargo.

Door opening introduces warmer outside air and makes the refrigeration system work to restore the required conditions. Where the container will be accessed frequently, consider how goods will be organised so that loading and retrieval can be carried out efficiently.

Delivery and Siting in Leeds

Before arranging delivery, check the complete access route as well as the space where the reefer will stand. Measure entrances and gates and consider bends, parked vehicles, walls, fences and the manoeuvring room available for the delivery vehicle.

HIAB delivery uses a lorry-mounted hydraulic crane to lift the container from the vehicle and place it on the prepared site. Overhead cables, branches and structures can restrict crane operation, while crane reach can limit how far a container can be positioned from the vehicle. Tell the supplier about these restrictions before delivery arrangements are confirmed.

The container should be placed on firm, level support with suitable drainage. Uneven support can distort the frame and affect door operation. The container foundations guide explains the main points to consider when preparing the site.

Door orientation deserves attention too. Allow enough space for the doors to open fully and for goods to be moved in and out safely. The refrigeration end also needs to remain accessible for operation, inspection and maintenance.

Using a 20ft Reefer for Transport or Export

A refrigerated container intended for international shipping needs to meet different requirements from a reefer used only for static storage. CSC refers to the International Convention for Safe Containers and the associated safety approval plate used for containers in international transport. The current CSC status of an individual used reefer should be checked rather than assumed.

Carrier acceptance, inspection requirements and documentation can vary. Export shipments may also involve Verified Gross Mass (VGM), customs documentation, insurance, freight arrangements and charges associated with delays, storage, detention or demurrage.

If the container will be shipped with cargo, confirm the requirements with the shipping line, freight forwarder, customs agent, insurer and other relevant advisers before purchase or loading. Our Shippers Own Containers guide explains further points to consider when using your own container for shipping.

Choosing the Right Refrigerated Container

A 20ft reefer is not automatically the right choice simply because the available site will accommodate one. Start with the goods, required temperature, quantity, loading method and frequency of access. Then check the electrical supply, internal dimensions and delivery access.

If the required volume exceeds the practical capacity of a 20ft unit, compare it with a 40ft refrigerated container. If temperature control is not actually required, a standard 20ft shipping container may be a simpler option for dry storage.

Once the temperature requirement, intended use and delivery site are known, contact Shipping Containers of Leeds to discuss the appropriate 20ft refrigerated container and the requirements for delivery and placement.