Customized social container - to give rest and to please the eye

Customers' countryNorge

Designationrelaxation area for employees

Interesting information about the project

Directive 89/654/EEC of November 30, 1989, became a key legal act of the European Union, creating the foundations for the organization of break rooms and sanitary facilities in workplaces across member states. Although the solutions adopted in national legal systems are not uniform, this directive has triggered several significant changes throughout the EU. Most notably, awareness of occupational safety and health has increased, and differences in sanitary and social standards between member states have decreased. This has primarily benefited manual workers, as working conditions in many sectors were inadequate or completely neglected prior to the directive’s introduction.

Social containers – who uses them?

One of the consequences of introducing Directive 89/654/EEC was the development of a market for products and services related to organizing rest and refreshment rooms and sanitary facilities for workers. The demand for stationary and mobile social containers has grown, with usage expanding to:

  • construction companies carrying out projects in various locations,
  • organizers of mass events, such as festivals, fairs, or sporting events,
  • manufacturing firms and companies in the logistics, transport, and warehousing sectors, particularly those operating in areas where there is a lack of proper, permanent infrastructure, and where work is carried out in locations distant from built-up areas

Types of social containers

Manufacturers of social containers quickly adapted to the diverse needs and requirements of clients. Today, it is possible to choose from a variety of options. They differ not only in dimensions and mobility but also in:

  1. • type of construction:
    • traditional steel containers – based on standard shipping containers or modeled after them; durable, damage-resistant, intended for long-term use even in difficult conditions,
    • modular containers – designed for easy connection into larger structures; frames are made of robust steel profiles, and walls consist of insulated sandwich panels,
    • light containers – made from lighter materials (such as aluminum frames, sandwich panels, PVC, etc.), intended for short-term use.
  2. purpose:
    • standard social containers – used as changing rooms, dining areas, and toilets,
    • sanitary containers – equipped with showers, toilets, and sinks,
    • residential containers – fully equipped for temporary living,
    • office containers – adapted for office work in the field.

Aesthetics and functionality of social containers

EU directives primarily focus on functional and practical aspects related to social and sanitary conditions. The aesthetics of social room finishes remain at the choice of employers. Both basic sanitary-social containers with minimal equipment and premium social containers equipped with air conditioning, modern installations, and high-quality furniture are utilized. It all depends on the standards adopted by a given entrepreneur.

One of our clients decided to use a social container not only to provide employees with a comfortable place to have meals and rest during breaks. An equally important goal was to provide the team with a facility that meets three criteria in terms of aesthetics, finish type, and overall design:

  • it will be consistent with the Corporate Identity,
  • it will create visual associations with the industry in which the company operates,
  • it will become a “showcase” that distinguishes the entrepreneur in the local market.

As part of the commissioned project, we developed a fully personalized social container with a non-standard structure and layout. The cylindrical construction, finished outside with brushed aluminum panels, resembles an aboveground fuel tank. This provides a visual reference to the fuel distribution industry in which the company operates. The interior design includes three zones:

  • a dining area with a functional kitchenette equipped with appliances for comfortable meal consumption,
  • relaxation area with four comfortable manually adjustable chairs (allowing for changes in the angle of the footrest and backrest) featuring cup holders in the armrests and a television,
  • a sanitary zone, meaning a functional bathroom equipped with a toilet, sink, and shower stall

We ensured that the users of this social container have adequate storage space as well as easy access to electrical outlets.

This custom cylindrical social container is approximately 14 meters long and has a diameter of about 3 meters. It has been thermally insulated to provide internal comfort during breaks. We equipped it with air conditioning, a moisture absorber, and electric heaters. This makes it ideal for locations characterized by changing weather conditions and a wide range of outdoor air temperatures. The construction has been designed to simplify transport and ensure easy and quick implementation of the container for use. Once positioned at the target location, it requires only a connection to the electrical and water supply systems.

This unit will serve as a rest area for drivers. If necessary, the container can also function as a temporary office.

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