Remote work sites need proper office infrastructure, but building permanent facilities doesn’t make sense for projects that last two or three years. I’ve watched project managers try to run operations from shipping containers with a desk thrown in, and it’s painful to see. A decent portable office for sale solves this problem by giving you actual workspace that doesn’t feel like you’re working inside a storage unit. These units come equipped with everything from data cabling to air conditioning, and they’re built to handle Australian weather conditions that would destroy cheaper alternatives. The market has changed significantly in the past five years as manufacturers figured out what people actually need versus what they think they need.
Technical Specifications That Actually Matter
Most portable offices use sandwich panel construction with polyurethane foam cores. This gives you an R-value between 2.5 and 3.5, which means the building stays comfortable without running the air conditioner constantly. The exterior panels are Colorbond steel in most Australian models, rated to withstand cyclonic winds up to category 3.
Electrical systems come standard with 15-amp circuits, though you can upgrade to 32-amp if you’re running servers or multiple computers. The wiring meets AS/NZS 3000 standards, and most manufacturers include RCD protection as baseline now. Data cabling typically uses Cat6 ethernet, which handles up to 10 gigabits per second. That’s way more than most sites need, but it means you won’t have network bottlenecks even with multiple users streaming video calls.
Size Options and Layout Configurations
Standard portable offices start at 3 meters by 6 meters, giving you about 18 square meters of workspace. That fits two desks comfortably with room for a small meeting table. But you’re not stuck with that size. Manufacturers offer units up to 12 meters long, and you can combine multiple units to create larger office complexes.
The layout flexibility surprised me when I started researching this. You can get units with internal partitions that create private offices and open workspace in the same structure. Some models include raised flooring systems that hide cabling and make rearranging desks super easy. Others have mezzanine options that double your usable space without increasing the building’s footprint.
Climate Control Systems That Work
Here’s where portable offices have improved dramatically. Early models used window air conditioners that barely kept up with summer heat. Modern units come with split system air conditioners sized properly for the space. A 20-square-meter office typically needs a 3.5kW system to maintain comfortable temperatures even when it’s 40 degrees outside.
Insulation plays a bigger role than most people realize. The floor, walls, and ceiling all need proper insulation to prevent heat transfer. Double-glazed windows make a huge difference too. Single-pane windows in portable offices lose about 30% of your cooling or heating efficiency. Double glazing cuts that loss down to around 10%.
Real Costs Beyond the Purchase Price
A basic portable office runs between $15,000 and $25,000 depending on size and features. But that’s just the unit itself. You need to factor in delivery, which typically costs $500 to $2,000 depending on distance. Installation and setup add another $1,000 to $3,000.
Then there’s site preparation. The ground needs to be relatively level, and you’ll want a compacted gravel base or concrete pads. Most codes require the building to sit at least 150mm above ground level to prevent moisture issues. Some companies skip this step and regret it six months later when they’re dealing with rust and water damage.
