The Storage Glossary: Every Term, in Plain Language

Self storage (التخزين الذاتي)

You rent storage space and manage it yourself: choose the size, load your things, lock with your own padlock, and access it when you need. The difference from a warehouse is that you pay for space only, not for labour and inventory management.

At WheeKeep: At WheeKeep, self storage is portable: the space comes to you instead of you going to it.

Portable or mobile storage (التخزين المتنقل)

A storage unit delivered to your location, loaded where you are, then moved as it is to the storage facility, or left with you. Belongings are loaded once and not unloaded until they come back.

At WheeKeep: This is our portable storage: we deliver, you load, we collect and store it sealed with your key. Some customers call it a mobile storage unit or a portable container.

Warehouse (المستودع)

A large building for storing goods in volume, usually on an annual lease, with operations (labour, forklifts, systems). Right for daily movement of goods.

At WheeKeep: For seasonal stock, archives and equipment, our units replace a small warehouse at a monthly per-unit price, see warehouse for rent.

Storeroom (المخزن)

A small room or space for keeping things, often inside the building itself, a guard’s room or a basement. Usually no temperature control and no insurance.

At WheeKeep: Our unit is insulated (under 29 °C in summer), sealed against dust, and insured, the basic difference from a storeroom.

Storage container or pod (حاوية التخزين)

A closed, movable unit in fixed sizes used as a standalone store. Modern units are insulated and designed for household goods, not sea freight.

At WheeKeep: Our units: Small 2.4 × 1.5 × 2.35 m, Medium 3.6 × 1.5 × 2.35 m, Large 3.6 × 2.4 × 2.5 m, carrying 1,500 kg.

On-site storage (التخزين في الموقع)

A storage unit that stays at the customer’s location, the yard, the project site, the event, instead of moving to a facility. An extra store without building one.

At WheeKeep: On-site storage with us uses the same units, and the same key stays with you.

Climate-controlled or air-conditioned storage (التخزين المكيّف)

A unit kept within a fixed temperature range (sometimes humidity too) to protect sensitive items: fine wood, leather, instruments, art, electronics, paper.

At WheeKeep: Our air-conditioned unit runs 18–28 °C. The ordinary dry unit is insulated and stays under 29 °C in summer, enough for most things.

Cold storage (التخزين المبرّد)

Low-temperature storage for anything needing a cold chain: food, cosmetics, medical supplies. Covers chilled (above zero) and frozen (below zero).

At WheeKeep: Our refrigerated unit runs 0–20 °C, freezer below zero, Large footprint.