Commercial building sites in metropolitan areas are often tight, bounded by neighbours, traffic and existing structures, with deliveries restricted to set windows. Plant hire for these projects is about choosing machines that fit the site, the structure and local rules, and sequencing them as the building rises.
01 / Plant through the phases of a commercial build
Early works typically include demolition, bulk excavation and piling. Compact and mid-size excavators with hydraulic hammers, pulverisers or grabs handle demolition and excavation, while skid steers and compact track loaders shift material in confined areas. Basement excavations may have excavators working well below street level with tippers queued outside, plus dewatering pumps if groundwater is encountered. Piling and ground anchor rigs are usually brought in by specialist contractors, with hire suppliers providing support plant.
As the structure rises, the focus moves to lifting and access. Tower cranes are common on multi-level builds and are usually engaged through specialist contracts, while mobile cranes, franna cranes and spider cranes handle lighter lifts or locations where a tower crane is impractical. Material and personnel hoists, boom lifts, scissor lifts and telehandlers support facade, services and fit-out trades. Concrete pumping, whether line or boom, is normally booked pour by pour through specialist providers.
02 / Choosing compact and low-impact equipment
On constrained sites, machine dimensions and ground loads matter as much as capacity. Zero tail swing excavators reduce the risk of striking hoarding or adjoining walls, and narrow-chassis scissor lifts and compact booms fit through doorways and work on suspended slabs. Check slab load limits before placing EWPs, telehandlers or mobile plant on suspended floors, as engineering confirmation may be needed. Spider cranes can lift inside buildings or over obstructions where larger cranes cannot set up.
Noise, emissions and vibration carry more weight in dense areas and enclosed spaces. Electric or battery-powered equipment, including electric scissor lifts, compact excavators and small loaders, may be preferred for indoor work or sites with strict noise conditions. Ask suppliers about low-emission options and whether their chargers need a particular power supply on site. Vibration monitoring may be required near sensitive neighbouring structures when hammers or vibrating compaction plant are in use.
03 / Deliveries, road occupancy and authority permits
Deliveries to city sites are often restricted to defined time windows and may require council or road authority approval for road occupancy, lane closures or footpath use. Mobile crane set-ups on public roads commonly need permits, traffic management and pedestrian diversions. Coordinate plant delivery times with the site logistics plan, because trucks usually cannot wait in the street and a missed window can lead to a second delivery charge or a lost working day.
Internal logistics matter just as much. Decide where plant will be stored, charged or refuelled, and how it will move between levels by hoist, crane or ramp. Check hoist car dimensions and rated loads before ordering EWPs or scissor lifts that must reach upper floors. On multi-trade sites, a central register of hired plant showing which subcontractor is responsible for each item stops forgotten equipment sitting on a floor and accumulating charges.
04 / Safety and compliance on commercial sites
Principal contractors on commercial projects generally require plant to arrive with current inspection records, a plant risk assessment and evidence of operator competency, and many run their own verification before plant is used. Cranes and boom-type EWPs above certain heights require operators with high-risk work licences. Work at building edges or near public areas needs controls such as exclusion zones, spotters and overhead protection, captured in the SWMS for the relevant activities.
Lifting over public areas or adjoining properties raises particular issues. Crane lifts over roads, footpaths or neighbouring buildings may need approvals, exclusion zones or agreements with neighbours, and wind limits in the lift plan must be observed. For EWPs, ground conditions, overhead structures and crush risks need assessment, and secondary guarding or anti-crush devices are increasingly expected by principal contractors. Confirm the site's rules and ask suppliers for units that already comply.
05 / Commercial traps and supplier questions
Minimum hire periods, delivery and collection charges, and after-hours or weekend delivery surcharges can significantly inflate the cost of short-term hire on city sites. Ask whether delivery rates include time waiting for a loading dock or crane, and whether collections can be scheduled flexibly around site constraints. Where several subcontractors share plant, agree how hire costs and damage responsibility will be split before the machine arrives, not after the invoice lands.
Damage on commercial sites often involves platform controls, tyres, panels and glass, along with paint, render or plaster contamination during fit-out. Read the damage waiver and cleaning charges before signing. For longer hires, ask about servicing arrangements and breakdown response times, especially for hoists and EWPs the programme depends on. A quick replacement commitment can stop several trades standing idle when a single machine fails on an upper level.
Field checklist
- Confirm site access widths, hoist dimensions and slab load limits before ordering plant.
- Obtain council or road authority permits for crane set-ups and road occupancy.
- Book deliveries into the site logistics plan's approved time windows.
- Consider electric or low-noise equipment for indoor work and sensitive neighbours.
- Check licence and plant verification requirements with the principal contractor.
- Keep a register of hired plant showing the responsible subcontractor.
- Clarify waiting time, after-hours delivery and cleaning charges.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put an EWP on a suspended concrete slab?
Possibly, but only after confirming the slab can carry the machine's wheel or outrigger loads. Suppliers can provide load data, and a structural engineer may need to assess the slab, particularly while it is curing or still back-propped. Load-spreading measures may also be required. Do not assume a slab designed for occupancy loads can take concentrated plant loads.
What is a spider crane used for?
A spider crane is a compact crane with fold-out outriggers that can pass through narrow openings and set up in confined spaces, including inside buildings. It is used for installing glass, precast panels, steel and plant where larger cranes cannot reach or set up. Its capacity drops quickly with radius, so lift weights and radii must be checked carefully against the load chart.
Do I need a permit to set up a mobile crane on the street?
In most metropolitan areas, using a public road or footpath for a crane set-up requires approval from the relevant council or road authority, and often a traffic management plan. Requirements and lead times vary between locations. Check with the local authority early and allow for approval time before scheduling the lift and booking the crane.
Is electric plant worth hiring for commercial construction?
Electric plant is well suited to indoor work, enclosed areas and sites with strict noise or emission conditions, and it can help meet project sustainability commitments. Before choosing it, check charging requirements, runtime per charge and site power availability. For heavy or long-duration outdoor work, diesel equipment may still be the more practical option.