BROUGHT TO YOU BY
What You Need to Know Before
Renting Gas Detection Equipment
By Candace Adrian and Jason Wright
There are plenty of instances in which it makes perfect sense to rent versus buy
– a car to make a short road trip, a venue to host a party, a truck on moving
day, and more. With more gas detection rental programs becoming available,
deciding to rent versus buy equipment for short-term needs is becoming an
easy decision.
One instance in which it is common to rent equipment includes a
turnaround/shutdown at a refinery. In this case, extra gas detection equipment
is required for contractors who will be assisting with the work. Other
applications in which rental equipment is commonly used includes outages,
emergencies or special projects.
Why rent? Some say that the expenses and maintenance burdens of owning
gas detection equipment for these short-term needs makes renting equipment
the better option. But, before choosing a manufacturer to rent your equipment
from, be sure to do your homework on gas detection rental programs to
ensure you are getting the high-quality equipment that you require for your
application. Following are some helpful questions to ask.
What gas detector accessories would be ideal for a given application?
If you are not sure about the application and the best accessories for the job,
ask the rental company about accessories that might make the job easier.
Do I need to pay for sensors that fail while in use?
Some rental companies make up the internal expenses of maintaining their
rental fleet by charging customers for sensors that fail while in use, even if the
sensors fail due to normal use.
When does the rental period start, and when does it end?
Some rental companies start the clock the day the equipment leaves their
facility; others start it the day it is received. Similarly, the end date could
either be when the equipment leaves your facility or when it is received by
the rental company.
How will freight charges be handled?
If the equipment is being shipped to the job site, find out how the freight will
be charged. Some rental companies may issue pre-paid return labels with the
order so that the customer does not pay the return freight charges.
Here are some final questions to consider; Are the monitors pre-calibrated
and, if so, are calibration certificates provided with each rental unit? Are the
rental units serviced by factory-trained technicians? Will normal wear and tear
be covered by the cost of the rental?
Often, renting gas detection equipment is the most cost-effective and
efficient means of keeping workers safe from hazardous gases throughout
shorter-term projects. When selecting a provider of your rental equipment, be
sure to ask the right questions to ensure you are renting the equipment you
need for your application.
What is included with the gas detectors?
For example, if you are getting a monitor with a rechargeable battery, ask if the
charger will be included. If you are getting a detector with a sampling pump,
ask if the sample tubing and filter will be included.
Candace Adrian, Marketing Communications Specialist, can be reached at
cadrian@indsci.com. Jason Wright, National Account Manager - Rental,
can be reached at jwright@indsci.com.