Renting aerial platforms is usually done by businesses that don’t have one at their disposal. As owning one would cost a fortune, this is seen as the most viable options for when the occasion presents itself. Since it is a pretty niche thing to own an aerial platform, these businesses and companies take the option of renting one.

With a lot of different models out there, each one capable of performing the task you would require, it is seen as a great choice to rent one, rather than to buy one and have it sit in storage collecting dust. So instead of buying one, which can cost up to thousands of dollars, why not go for the more affordable and viable option of renting one?

If you are in the market of renting aerial platforms, this article will serve as the complete renting guide to one.

Height

Aerial platforms give you a key advantage, and that advantage is height. So chances are, you are renting an aerial platform to gain additional height to perform a certain task or job.

This is a pretty straight forward thing and height plays a huge role in determining the platform for you. Namely, there are two types of heights that aerial platforms are used for.

The first one is called platform height. This is the total distance from the ground that the equipment is sitting on, to the total height you will be getting while the platform is fully stretched. Platform height could be expressed in a couple of ways, but regardless, you will know exactly the heights you can reach.

The second one is called “working height”. Working height is higher than the platform height, usually about six feet higher. Working height takes into consideration the person’s age when standing on the platform.

You can click here for more information about the two, and how they can impact your decision.

Type of Platform

There are multiple types of aerial platforms that you can rent for a specific job.

•    Scissor Lift

Scissor lifts are predominantly used to move people and equipment up and down, or if you need to bypass some obstacles around the job site.

•    Boom Lift

The great thing about boom lifts is that they can move in a full circle. These aerial platforms can reach heights up to 120 feet, but they have a smaller platform than scissor lifts. Boom lifts can be eighter telescopic or articulated. Telescopic boom lifts have a much smaller platform, usually, they have one straight arm that extends to the heights you need. The latter ones, articulated, can maneuver in a full circle and can bypass any obstacles that reach their path. Telescopic aerial platforms are best for a single person who needs to go higher, and articulated aerial platforms are best for maneuvering around obstacles and objects to reach the desired height or destination.

Capacity

Another important category to look into is the capacity levels on each aerial platform. If you’re renting aerial platforms, chances are you will need to move eighter equipment or people from point A to point B. But there is a limit to how much people or equipment you can take into the air, as safety is always a concern in this area of expertise. Each aerial platform has a clear sign that says how much weight the platform can handle, and how many people it can support. This is a very important thing to consider as going anything close to or above the limit can be considered extremely dangerous for the people involved.