FAQs About Access Equipment Hire
Access equipment covers a broad range of machines designed to lift people, tools and materials safely to height where ladders or scaffolding fall short. The right machine depends on the working height you need to reach, whether the work is indoors or outdoors, the ground conditions on site, and whether you need straight vertical lift or the ability to reach up and over obstacles. United Rentals supplies access equipment for hire across multiple categories, including scissor lifts, boom lifts, vertical lifts, spider lifts and glass and panel lifts. Learn more about access equipment hire in our FAQ section below.
Scissor lifts raise a large platform straight up on a folding mechanism, giving plenty of room for people and materials but only vertical reach. They suit fit-out, maintenance and installation on level surfaces. Boom lifts have an extending arm that reaches up and outward, letting the platform get over obstacles or into hard-to-access positions. They suit outdoor construction, facade and structural work. The right choice depends on whether you need a stable working area or extended directional reach.
It depends on the machine. Boom-type elevating work platforms with a boom length of 11 metres or more require a high-risk work licence (class WP). Scissor lifts and smaller platforms under 11 metres don't require a licence, but most commercial sites require operators to hold a verification of competency or industry-recognised training card. Always check both the legal requirement and your site's induction rules before operating any access equipment.
Yes. United Rentals offers flexible hire periods from a single day through to long-term hire over weeks, months or years. Short-term hire suits one-off maintenance jobs and quick installs, while long-term hire suits ongoing construction and fit-out projects where machines are needed on site for an extended period. Long-term hire often comes with better daily rates and the option to swap machines if your requirements change.