This year marks a significant milestone for Evacu8 as we celebrate our 20th anniversary in the evacuation safety industry. For two decades, we’ve been dedicated to keeping people safe and making buildings accessible with effective evacuation solutions. This year, we’re improving our services with updates to our CRM software and remaining committed to our environmental responsibilities – including our annual tree planting initiative in the Forest of Marston Vale.
Twenty years of experience has taught us that safety needs aren’t always permanent. That’s why our rental services have become an essential offering, alongside our equipment sales and training programs. Whether you’re planning an event or have other shorter term evacuation requirements, our rental options ensure you remain compliant without unnecessary financial burden.
Who might need to rent evacuation equipment?
There are many situations in which you might benefit from evacuation equipment rental:
- Event organisers planning conferences, exhibitions, or public gatherings
- Businesses and offices, especially during renovations when normal evacuation routes may be compromised
- Schools and universities hosting graduation ceremonies or special events
- Venues and destinations that need to ensure accessibility for all guests
Why rent evacuation equipment?
Cost-effectiveness
Buying evacuation equipment includes a significant upfront cost that may not be justified for short-term needs. Renting allows you to stay compliant without the financial commitment of purchasing outright.
When you purchase evacuation equipment, you also take on the responsibility for maintenance, servicing, and inspection. By choosing to rent, all these responsibilities remain with us – saving you time and resources.
Our flexible pricing structure means you only pay for the time you actually need the equipment. This makes our rental service ideal for temporary events or short-term projects where purchasing would be impractical.
Up-to-date compliance
At Evacu8, we never rent out expired or outdated equipment. All of our evacuation equipment is well-maintained and thoroughly tested. We guarantee you’ll always receive equipment that complies with the latest safety regulations. Our rental equipment is certified to British standards and meets current fire safety legislation.
Hassle-free maintenance
We handle all aspects of maintenance, repairs, and inspections. Any equipment you receive from us is in top condition and ready for immediate use.
With our rental service, there’s no need to worry about annual servicing or compliance checks – we take care of everything before, during and after your rental period. In the unlikely event of an issue arising, we can quickly replace any faulty equipment, ensuring your safety measures remain uninterrupted.
How our rental service works
Consultation and site assessment
The first step in our rental process involves gathering essential information about your specific needs.
Information about your site
We ask about lifts in your building, the number and shape of staircases (including any weight limits), whether there are spiral staircases, and the number of floors and basements on your premises. This helps us determine the most appropriate equipment for your building layout.
Information about your event
We consider the size, length, and nature of your event. For office renovations, you might require equipment over an extended period. For general events, we’ll make suggestions depending on whether it is a single day, multiple days in a row, or an event that occurs regularly. School graduations generally require one-day solutions but may need varied equipment for elderly or less mobile attendees.
Information about your end users
We need to understand the mobility impairments of those who may need evacuation assistance. Will wheelchair users be present? If so, can they self-transfer to an evacuation chair? Do they use a powered or custom wheelchair? Will anyone be using other mobility aids like walking frames or crutches? These details are crucial for selecting the right equipment.
Equipment selection based on needs
We ask detailed questions about your situation because different users and sites require different evacuation solutions. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach – every situation needs an individualised response.
Weight limits on your staircases may restrict the use of certain equipment, particularly for bariatric users. Spiral staircases require specialised equipment due to their unique shape. If you need both ascending and descending capabilities (for general mobility or basement evacuation), a stair climber is more suitable than a traditional manual evacuation chair.
The duration of your event also influences our recommendations. For short events, we might remain on-site ourselves. For longer events spanning multiple days or weeks, we typically recommend training designated staff trainers on how to operate the evacuation equipment.
Different end users have vastly different needs. Someone who occasionally uses a walking stick has very different requirements compared to an amputee. Some users have short-term needs (like crutches for a broken leg or mobility challenges during late pregnancy), while others have long-term requirements (such as lifelong wheelchair users or those with severe learning disabilities).
For wheelchair users, we prioritise selecting equipment that can accommodate their personal wheelchairs. This is especially important for those with custom wheelchairs who would be disadvantaged without them.
Training and demonstration of safe use
If your event is brief and we remain on site, our team will be available to operate the equipment if necessary. For long-term use of equipment, we conduct comprehensive evacuation training sessions for your designated staff members.
All of our evacuation training is specifically designed for your site, with the needs of your end users in mind. This includes hands-on practice with our knowledgeable trainers, as well as detailed training literature for future reference.
Equipment delivery, collection, and inspection
All of our evacuation equipment undergoes regular maintenance in accordance with PUWER and LOLER guidelines. Manual evacuation equipment is serviced at least annually, and powered evacuation equipment receives servicing every 6 months.
We also thoroughly check all equipment both before and after renting it out to ensure it remains in perfect working condition. Our nationwide coverage means we can deliver equipment directly to you and collect it again afterwards, regardless of your location in the UK.
Ensuring compliance through our rental services
Understanding compliance requirements
- The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires that when implementing fire precautions, you should do what is “reasonably practical” to protect others from fire. This includes reducing fire risks, limiting fire spread, providing escape routes, and ensuring people can use those routes safely and effectively at all times. The fundamental principle is that all building users need a safe, effective way to escape in the event of a fire.
- The Equality Act 2010 stipulates that if a disabled person is at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled individuals, steps should be taken to prevent this disadvantage. If auxiliary aids are required to prevent disadvantage, these should be provided. In essence, if evacuation aids are necessary in a given situation, failing to provide them could constitute discrimination.
- The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 places a duty on employers to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of all employees at work, as far as reasonably practical. This includes providing and maintaining safe equipment and systems of work – including evacuation equipment. Employers must also provide adequate training to ensure employees understand health and safety procedures and can operate equipment safely.
The importance of compliance
Compliance with these regulations is crucial for several reasons. Legally, non-compliance can lead to penalties, fines, or prosecution. From a safety perspective, you have both a moral and legal responsibility to keep all building occupants safe. Furthermore, adhering to safety regulations demonstrates that you value the wellbeing of everyone in your building, helping you to build trust with your employees or end users.
How we ensure your compliance
At Evacu8, we help you meet all requirements by:
With two decades of experience behind us, we understand that every situation requiring evacuation equipment is unique. Our rental service provides the perfect balance of professional-grade safety solutions without the long-term investment of purchasing.
Don’t leave the safety of your employees or guests to chance. Contact our team for a no-obligation consultation. We’ll assess your needs and recommend the right equipment package – whether you need us to simply provide equipment and training or prefer our team to attend with equipment and trained personnel.
For more information about our evacuation equipment rental services, call us on 01908 585655 or email at information@evacu8.co.uk.