How to use the roof bracket for shipping containers

We developed the new Shipping Container Roof Bracket to give extra support to material along the long side of your container. Designed specifically for attaching to the top side rail of shipping containers, this bracket makes it possible to add structural support along the middle of the container without welding or drilling into the container.

The roof bracket can be used for projects like roofing, framing, mounting photovoltaic solar panels, adding extra stability and reducing movement of your structure along the length of the container.

If you are interested in other types of brackets you can check our full range of shipping container brackets for all sorts of purposes here.

 

 

Which part of the shipping container does the roof bracket attach to?

The roof bracket attaches to the top side rail of the container which is the structural member which runs from the top corner castings on the front (door side) of the container to the rear.

There are two types of side rail on a shipping container. The first is made from 30x30mm steel box section, as shown in the diagram below. On a few shipping containers, this horizontal member is simply a piece of flat steel. The roof clamp will not work on the flat steel style without replacing the lower bolt with an 85mm M12 set screw.

 

 

How does the roof bracket work?

 The roof bracket grips onto the top side of the top side rail with three tightening bolts; two at the top and one long one at the bottom. The top two bolts are used to keep the bracket flat on the uneven roof, the third bolt tighten up into the underneath of the top side rail to secure it in place.

It is important to note that the roof bracket is not suitable for use on its own. It is designed for supporting the middle of long pieces of material which have been attached to the front and back of the shipping container using Domino Clamps.

The bracket has been designed so that the M12 threads on the roof bracket stick out the same amount from the container as the Domino Clamp, and at the same height.

It is made from stainless steel, it resists corrosion even in harsh weather conditions.

 

What can the roof bracket be used for?

 

 

1. Roofing, framing or cladding support  

The primary use for this roof bracket is to provide additional support for long, horizontal lengths of material along the side of your container which have been fixed at either end with a Domino Clamp. Especially when working on a 40-foot container, long horizontal lengths of material will sag in the middle if they are not adequately supported. By attaching the bracket to the container's top side rail, you can secure the timber along its length, maintaining a straight, stable beam when roofing or cladding a shipping container.

Add one or more roof brackets to the top side rail of your container and bolt your timber or steel beam to the roof bracket. Simply choose the appropriate length M12 set screws for the thickness of material you will be attaching to it. If they are more than 20mm too long they will hit the side top rail of the container.

Materials which can be supported with the roof bracket:

• Timber
• Steel box section
• Steel C section
• Unistrut & other Perforated Channel systems

2. Supporting tubes for additional structures (48mm (1.5” NPS) tubes)

The roof bracket can also be used to support tubes along the length of the container. To attach a horizontal 48mm steel scaffolding tube (1.5" NPS pipe) to the side of the container, use our horizontal parallel tube clamps bolted to a Domino Clamp. For additional support in the middle, pair one or more roof brackets with another horizontal parallel tube clamp to prevent it from sagging or moving.
This can be particularly helpful when adding railings, banners, or shade structures alongside the container using scaffold tubes.

Materials which can be supported this way:

• 48mm scaffold tube
• 48mm aluminium tube
• 1.5” NPS pipe

3. Securing Unistrut channels on top of the top side rail 

By turning the bracket upside down, the roof bracket can be used to secure Unistrut channel and other materials along the top of the container's top side rail.

This will be particularly useful in stabilising a large, roof mounted solar panel frame, such as the one built in this Case study by students at the University of Leeds.

Materials which can be supported this way:

• Unistrut & other Perforated Channel systems
• Timber and Steel section up to 40mm (1.5”) deep

 

 

Benefits of adding the roof bracket:

• Prevents sagging: Ensures structural integrity for extended materials.
• Add extra support to your horizontal material wherever it is needed, and in as many positions along the container as you like.
• Makes cladding a 40’ container possible, by supporting timbers which have been joined end to end to span the full 40’ length.
• Easy but sturdy installation: Easily attach the bracket and tubes without specialised tools.
• Flexible configurations: Five threaded holes allow for various bolt placements.
• No damage to the container: No need for welding or drilling. Protects the integrity of your shipping container.
• Enhanced stability for many projects: Secures timber, steel, tubing etc. for safer, more robust constructions.

 

 

Technical Details

Here’s a quick overview of the technical specifications for the shipping container roof bracket:

Material: Stainless steel (50x6mm flatbar)
Compatibility: Designed to be used with Domino Clamps
Corrosion resistance: Stainless steel: Ideal for marine and outdoor environments
Included hardware: Comes with M12 set screws and washers, with various bolt length options available.

The roof bracket is not a standalone fixing: It must be used in conjunction with Domino Clamps on each corner of the container.

 

 

Do you have more ideas on how to use this roof bracket?

We hope this new product helps you with your projects. Let us know what you would like to use this bracket for in the comments. Share your projects or ask us any questions you might have.

We are always keen to hear how our customers use our inventions.

Further Reads & Links:

Buy the roof bracket here in our webshop

Check out our YouTube channel to see all our brackets in action and learn how to use them.

Check our blog article introducing the different shipping container brackets to learn about their uses and find the right one for your project.