Hiring access equipment is a vital part of any construction project, no matter how big or small it is. Access equipment ensures that workers can reach heights or difficult to reach places with ease and in a safe manner.
Although choosing the right equipment is essential, it’s also important that you evaluate how long you will need to hire the equipment for.
This can be difficult to tell, so in this guide, we provide some advice to help you decide how long you should hire access equipment for your project.
How Long Should I Hire Access Equipment For My Project?
There is, of course, no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. It depends on a few different factors, including:
1. The Specific Requirements Of Your Project
All projects and requirements are different, so you need to have a close look at your plans and risk assessment. Ask yourself how long is the project likely to take?
What type of equipment do you need and how many times will it need to be used? What is your budget?
Having a dedicated risk assessment manager will really help to streamline this process, but if you don’t have one, our team will be happy to work with you to best advise on the appropriate hiring length.
2. The Equipment You Require
It is also very important that you contact the hiring company before signing your contract so that you can ask them about the nature of the equipment.
Some equipment isn’t suitable for use over a long period of time, so this can affect how long you can hire it for or how much equipment you need. For example, some machinery may run on electricity and need to be recharged, which can add unexpected delays to your project.
3. The Project Schedule
Your project schedule might require a short-term hire. You could hire access equipment for as little as a few hours or days if you only need the access equipment for a one-off, quick job.
However, you should always overestimate the time you think it will take in case you fall behind schedule or something doesn’t go according to plan. You want the job to be done properly, and if your workers feel rushed because the hire period for the access equipment is running out, the job may not be done up to scratch.
This will cost you more in the long term.
4. The Budget
For major projects, you can hire access equipment in the long term, for weeks or months at a time. This will give you peace of mind that the equipment you require is always on hand should you need it.
However, think carefully about your budget before committing to a long term hire. If you only need certain machinery at the start and end of a 6-month project, you may be better taking out two short-term contracts rather than one long one.
Not only will this be cheaper, but you don’t have to worry about storing the machinery during this gap either.
Still Need Help? Contact Global Hire And Services
Because this question is so difficult to answer, our most important piece of advice is to contact your hiring company and ask them for help well in advance of your project.
Here at Global Hire and Services, we’re more than happy to evaluate your requirements and help you choose the most suitable equipment, with tailored advice for all your needs.
