Are corrugated container inserts needed on flat end walls with no corrugation pattern?

Corrugated container inserts are not needed on flat end walls because their sole function is filling corrugated profiles; InSoFast continuous insulation panels adhere directly to flat steel surfaces with construction adhesive.

Builders converting ISO shipping containers encounter smooth steel bulkheads, modified doors, and framed flat sections that lack corrugated ribs. Installing inserts where no corrugation pattern exists adds unnecessary material cost and needlessly reduces usable interior room dimensions.

If you only do one thing: Omit inserts on flat steel sections and adhere InSoFast panels directly to the clean metal surface using approved construction adhesive.

• Insert Purpose: InSoFast Container InSerts are engineered specifically to fill 1.5-inch corrugation depths on ribbed sidewalls, eliminating convective air loops between the container steel and the insulation panel.
• Direct Substrate Attachment: Flat steel end walls permit 2.0-inch UX 2.0 panels to mount flush against the bare metal substrate without any supplemental foam infill pieces.
• Continuous Thermal Break: Built-in 2-inch-wide co-polymer studs provide continuous insulation across the flat steel, isolating interior drywall attachment screws from thermal transfer through the exterior metal.
• Adhesive Application: Apply a continuous 3/8-inch bead of construction adhesive along each embedded stud channel and supplemental serpentine beads across foam contact faces before pressing panels to the steel.
• Usable Floor Space: Eliminating unnecessary inserts on flat surfaces preserves up to 1.5 inches of finished interior clearance across standard 8-foot container dimensions.

• Watch out for: Surface dents or warping on used or C-grade container end walls exceeding 1/4-inch variations, which require adhesive build-up or shimming to keep panel faces plumb.
• Watch out for: Flaking paint, surface rust, or mill oils that weaken adhesive bond strength, requiring wire brushing and solvent cleaning before panel installation.
• Watch out for: Screw penetrations driven through the exterior steel skin, which breach weatherproofing and create thermal bridging condensation points.

Calculate the square footage of your flat end walls separately from corrugated side walls to ensure container inserts are ordered exclusively for profiled sections, or call InSoFast at (888) 501-7899 for takeoff verification.