Electrical Specification by Destination: Voltage, Frequency, Plug Type and Breaker
Updated 2026-11-01 · JIUJIAN GLOBAL technical team
Electricity in a container house is specified by three independent things: system voltage and frequency, socket type, and the breaker and certification regime (UL/ETL for North America, IEC with CE for Europe, RCM for Australia, SASO/GCC for the Gulf). Get all three from the destination, not from the factory default.
Container houses are made to a single steel frame, but they are wired to a national standard. The factory can build to any of them, provided the destination is known at the quotation stage. Where an order goes wrong it is almost always because the electrical section of the specification was left as "standard" and the standard turned out to be the factory's domestic one.
Voltage, frequency and socket type
| Market | Voltage / frequency | Socket | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States, Canada | 120/240 V, 60 Hz | Type B (NEMA 5-15) | Split-phase panel, UL or ETL listed devices, AFCI/GFCI requirements by state |
| United Kingdom | 230 V, 50 Hz | Type G | Fused plugs, BS 7671 wiring, RCD protection commonly required |
| EU / most of Europe | 230 V, 50 Hz | Type C/F (Schuko) | CE marking, declaration of performance for the assembly |
| Australia, New Zealand | 230/240 V, 50 Hz | Type I | RCM marking, AS/NZS 3000 wiring rules |
| Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar | 230 V, 50 Hz | Type G (also D in KSA) | SASO/SABER conformity for the Gulf; check 400 V three-phase for kitchens |
| Nigeria, Kenya | 230/240 V, 50 Hz | Type G | Voltage swings are common — specify a voltage stabiliser for sensitive equipment |
| Philippines | 220 V, 60 Hz | Type A/B | 60 Hz like North America, but 220 V — an unusual combination that is often got wrong |
| Chile, most of South America | 220 V, 50 Hz | Type C/L | SEC approval for electrical products |
The breaker regime matters as much as the voltage
A 230 V socket is the same everywhere; the protection behind it is not. North America uses UL 489 branch breakers and a split-phase panel with two live legs. Europe and most of the rest use IEC miniature circuit breakers on a single-phase 230 V supply. A unit built for one will not pass inspection in the other, and the devices are not interchangeable even where the voltage matches.
- Earth leakage: 30 mA RCD/GFCI protection on socket circuits is the norm in most markets and is a life-safety item in wet areas.
- Earthing system: confirm whether the site supplies a TN-S, TN-C-S or TT system — it changes the upstream protection design.
- Cable sizing: sized for the load and the run, then checked for voltage drop. Long camp runs at 220 V drop quickly.
- Main isolator: every unit needs its own accessible isolator, labelled in the destination language.
What to put in the specification
- Destination country and city (not just "Africa" or "Middle East")
- Site supply: single or three phase, voltage, frequency, and whether it is generator or grid
- Load schedule: air conditioners, water heater, kitchen equipment — these three dominate
- Certification marks required for the devices and for the assembly
- Any local inspector requirements: test certificates, circuit charts, labelling language
Testing before shipment
Insulation resistance, earth continuity and a functional test of every circuit should be carried out in the factory and recorded, with the report in the shipping documents. A buyer who receives a test sheet with the unit has a baseline; a buyer who does not starts the argument at commissioning. Where a third-party inspector is used, make the electrical test part of their scope, not a separate visit.
Need this priced for your project?
Send the unit type, quantity, destination port and any layout drawing. We reply with a specification-matched quotation and lead time, usually within one working day.
Request a quotation WhatsApp our team
Related: all container house products · custom container house · contact
Next step: get a real quotation
Tell us the destination port and the quantity, and we send a priced offer with drawings and a loading plan. Most enquiries are answered within one working day.