Additional steps to make sure your hookah coals arrive to you dry and safe – vacuum-sealed thermal insulation for shisha charcoal
Why Moisture Protection is Critical for Shisha Charcoal
Moisture is a major problem when shipping shisha charcoal. If exposed to humidity, charcoal can absorb water, making it harder to light and reducing its heat output. In extreme cases, moisture can cause mold, contamination, or self-heating, which can be dangerous during transport.
To ensure our hookah coals arrive dry and in perfect condition, we use vacuum thermal blankets—a highly effective solution for moisture and temperature control.
One of our ways to make sure you receive your hookah coals dry is to use a vacuum thermal blanket. It is a big silver-colored thick foil that wraps inside the container, then we load boxes inside in and suck out air and seal it.
It not only keeps your charcoal dry but also protects from self-heating, as a thermal blanket holds a stable temperature and prevents your hookah coals from being contaminated or damaged by water and temperature changes.
How a Vacuum Thermal Blanket Works
A vacuum thermal blanket is a thick, silver-colored foil lining that wraps around the interior of a shipping container. Here’s how it protects your charcoal:
- Moisture Barrier – Prevents external humidity from reaching the charcoal.
- Temperature Control – Maintains stable conditions, reducing the risk of self-heating.
- Air-Tight Seal – We remove excess air and seal the container, minimizing condensation.
- Additional Protection – Prevents contamination from dust, water leaks, or sudden temperature changes.
Additional Moisture Control Measures for your shisha charcoal
We also add Non-toxic Calcium Chloride Moisture Absorbers (silica gel) to keep inside moisture and condensation out from your charcoal). These absorbers capture any remaining moisture, preventing condensation from forming inside the packaging. Again, it helps to keep your charcoal dry.
Using a thermal blanket is very important to ensure your charcoal arrives dry at your warehouse.
What is a thermal blanket, and why do we have to use it?
A thermal blanket (or thermal container liner) is a heavy-duty aluminum barrier installed inside freight containers to regulate internal temperatures.
Using a vacuum thermal blanket as the protection from moisture for shisha charcoal and as requierement from shipping lines is critical for preventing condensation and maintaining the stability of shisha charcoal during shipping.
This insulation layer mitigates the risk of cargo damage caused by extreme temperature fluctuations during ocean transit.
The Problem: Dew Point and Container Rain
During transit from Indonesia to colder climates (e.g., Europe or Russia), the temperature differential between the warm air inside the container and the cold steel walls causes condensation. This phenomenon, known as “container rain,” results in water dripping onto the cargo.
- Moisture Absorption: If charcoal absorbs water, its structural integrity is compromised, rendering the briquettes unusable for hookah applications.
- Exothermic Reaction: Wet charcoal can undergo an exothermic oxidation process. This self-heating mechanism increases the internal temperature of the cargo, significantly raising the risk of fire.
The Solution: Radiant Barrier
The thermal blanket functions as a radiant barrier, reflecting up to 97% of radiant heat. By stabilizing the temperature, it prevents the internal air from reaching its dew point, thereby inhibiting the formation of condensation and keeping the relative humidity stable around the cargo.
If you think using a vacuum thermal blanket as the protection from moisture for shisha charcoal and as requierement from shipping lines is just another bureaucratic tick-box, you are profoundly mistaken. It is a matter of survival for the cargo. And, quite possibly, the ship itself.
Here is how it actually works, stripped of the corporate polish.
The Physics (Or Why Things Go Wrong)
Picture this: You load a container in Indonesia. It’s hot. It’s humid. Then that steel box floats off to somewhere like Europe or Russia. The outside temperature plummets. The steel walls get freezing cold. But inside? Inside, it is still the tropics.
And then the dew point hits.
- “Container Rain”: The air inside cools down, moisture condenses on the icy ceiling and walls, and it starts raining. Literally inside the box. Sounds poetic, but it’s a disaster.
- The Chemistry: Charcoal is hygroscopic; it drinks that water like a sponge. And here is where it gets scary. Wet charcoal doesn’t just get soggy. It starts to heat up. An exothermic reaction kicks in. Oxidation. If you are unlucky, spontaneous combustion.
I don’t think anyone wants a fire in the middle of the ocean.
Installing the Thermal Blanket in the Container
Installing this thing is a whole other story. It’s not “set and forget.” You have to create what is essentially a vacuum effect.
- Suspension: You hang the blanket from the lashing rings on the ceiling.
- Loading: The pallets or boxes go inside the liner.
- The Seal: This is the critical moment. You have to zip or tape the front shut, hermetically. You must isolate the cargo from the container doors, because that is where the moisture and fresh air try to sneak in.
If you mess up the seal, you’ve basically just wrapped your dangerous goods in expensive tinfoil for no reason.
Bureaucracy and Fear (The DG Rules)
Shipping lines… they are paranoid. And you can’t blame them. Shisha charcoal travels under code UN1361. It’s Class DG 4.2—substances liable to spontaneous combustion. Sounds like a death sentence, doesn’t it?
That is why using vacuum thermal blanket as the protection from moisture for shisha charcoal and as requierement from shipping lines is often a non-negotiable condition for booking. Lines see it as a secondary containment that chokes off the oxygen supply.
They will often demand a surveyor to stand there and watch you pack it before the doors close. Plus the MSDS with the N.4 self-heating test results. Without the paperwork, you are… well, you know.
Basically, don’t skimp on the liner. It’s cheaper than explaining yourself to the insurance adjusters.
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