Think of your project or facility and all the tasks that are too high for workers to easily reach. Whether it’s painting, facility maintenance, moving materials through a warehouse, running IT cabling or outdoor construction, you’ll need a way to elevate workers and their equipment to their job sites that’s more practical than a ladder and more flexible than scaffolding. Enter the scissor lift.
Scissor lifts are a popular type of mobile elevated work platform (MEWP), or aerial lift, that can lift one or more workers plus equipment to project sites that are anywhere from 13- to 50-feet high.
Great for retail, manufacturing, construction or any other industry where work is done at height, scissor lifts differ from other aerial lifts in that they raise the work platform straight up or down using a series of crossed beams. They offer a wide elevated work platform like scaffolding. But instead of being stationary, scissor lifts allow operators to move and customize the height of the platform as needed. In this article, you’ll learn about the different types of scissor lifts and scissor lift sizes. This will help you know how to select the scissor lift rental for your project.
- Read more: How a Scissor Lift Works
The Importance of Scissor Lift Sizing
Although scissor lifts are versatile and can be used for many applications and projects, they aren’t one-size-fits-all. It’s not enough to simply pick the first scissor lift you can find that offers the platform heights and weight capacities your team needs.
You need to rent the right scissor lift size, and type of scissor lift, so that your team can do their jobs safely and efficiently.
For example, if you need to do maintenance within the ceiling of a crowded warehouse but you rent a powerful rough terrain scissor lift, you probably won’t be able to maneuver through the warehouse aisles safely. Using too large of a lift in a narrow space can result in costly delays and damages. In this case, a compact electric scissor lift may best fit those needs.
Similarly, if there’s work to be done outside on uneven or unstable terrain, using a scissor lift designed for indoor use or that is too small can also put people and property at risk. For these situations, you need a rough terrain scissor lift, which gives you enough power and stabilizers to navigate steep inclines and reduce the risk of tipping on uneven surfaces.
Types of Scissor Lifts and Scissor Lift Sizes
To help keep your teams safe and projects on schedule, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the types of scissor lifts and scissor lift dimensions on the market.
There are three categories of mobile scissor lifts that are commonly available to rent: compact electric, electric and rough terrain scissor lifts. Each category offers a variety of features and a range of working heights.
- Compact Electric Scissor Lifts — Max Working Height 26 ft.: These are the smallest and most maneuverable type of scissor lift. Designed for lightweight tasks in crowded indoor spaces, such as warehouse picking or running IT cables, these battery-powered lifts tend to have smaller platforms, shorter heights and lower weight capacities than other scissor lifts.
- Electric Scissor Lifts — Max Working Height 45 ft.: These larger electric scissor lifts can reach taller heights, support more weight and carry more workers and equipment than compact scissor lifts. They are still battery powered and do not give off harmful fumes, making them perfect for larger indoor projects.
- Rough Terrain Scissor Lifts — Max Working Height 50-53 ft.: Just like their name implies, rough terrain scissor lifts are designed to handle outdoor work at height, especially projects where you need to navigate obstacles across uneven or unstable ground such as bridge construction or utility work. These powerful lifts have the biggest weight capacity and reach. They can be diesel, gasoline, or hybrid.
How to Select the Right Scissor Lift for Your Project
Now that you know what types and sizes of scissor lifts are available, you may be wondering how to make the right selection.
To choose the right scissor lift for your project, you need to know what your team will be doing, where they’ll be working, and how they will move around the area. Start with the broadest considerations when choosing a scissor lift and then narrow it down to the specific features your team will need.
1. Understand the Project Site and How to Navigate It
Start by analyzing the terrain of the project site and the paths the scissor lift will need to take. Asking the following questions can help you determine what category of scissor lift to choose.
- Is the project site indoors or outdoors? If it’s indoors, you’ll need to minimize harmful emissions, so an electric scissor lift will be best. If it’s outdoors, you’ll need a scissor lift designed to withstand various weather conditions. This could be a rough terrain scissor lift or an electric scissor lift designed for outdoor use.
- Is the terrain flat and paved? Is it rough, unstable or uneven? If the terrain is unpaved, steep or unstable, you’ll need a rough terrain scissor lift.
- How will the scissor lift move around the project site? Does it need to navigate narrow spaces, including elevators? If the project site requires maneuvering through narrow spaces or work inside elevators, then you’ll likely need a compact electric scissor lift, or a narrow lift with good maneuverability.
2. Determine Working Height and Load Capacity
Now that you’ve identified what category or type of scissor lift you need, it’s time to determine what size to pick based on working height and load capacity.
- Working Height: Scissor lifts are listed by their maximum working height, which is the maximum platform height plus an additional six feet. Select a scissor lift with a maximum working height that is at least a few feet taller than the highest point where your team will be working. If the working height is too short, then crews can’t do their jobs without stretching and reaching, which is not only tiring but also increases their fall risk.
- Weight/Platform Capacity: Likewise, be sure to choose a scissor lift with ample weight (or load) capacity. The total load capacity needs to include the weight of the workers using the lift plus the equipment and materials that will be lifted with them. Overloading the scissor lift increases the risk of damage to the lift and could change the center of balance, potentially increasing the risk of a tip over.
3. Consider How Your Team Works and Choose Features to Match
Today’s scissor lifts come with a variety of features to help teams work safely, efficiently and comfortably. Once you’ve narrowed your choice to the right type and size of lift, consider how your team does their job.
Select the scissor lift that offers the best combination of the following features:
- Extendable Work Platforms: Scissor lifts of the same type, height and load capacity may have different platform sizes. Some also have extendable work platforms or extra decks, allowing crews more horizontal or vertical reach without having to move the scissor lift.
- Safety Measures: From automatic parking brakes to extendable guardrails and integrated motion alarms, choose the scissor lift with features that help keep workers and those around the lift safe.
- Scissor Lift Battery Size: For electric or hybrid scissor lifts, make sure the battery will last long enough to allow crews to work without interruption for recharging.
- Convenience Features: Some scissor lift platforms come equipped with AC outlets, USB ports and storage or trays for tools. Especially helpful for long shifts or projects with lots of little parts, these features help workers maximize efficiency by keeping their phones and tools charged up and close at hand.
Don’t Forget Training: Benefits of Scissor Lift Safety and Training
All elevated work comes with safety risks, such as falling or equipment tip overs. Selecting the right type and size of scissor lift is one way you can help minimize safety risks. You also need to make sure all workers receive adequate training.
Investing in aerial work platform safety training is essential if you want to maximize project and job sites’ efficiency and productivity while minimizing costly delays and the risk of injury. Not only is it a wise investment, it’s also often a legal requirement. In the U.S., OSHA requires employers to provide scissor lift training to all employees working with, or near, scissor lifts.
OSHA-compliant aerial lift training and certification programs provide hands-on training for a scissor lift’s operation, safety features, and accessibility tools, giving trainees the skills and confidence they need to work safely and efficiently.
Find Quality Scissor Lift Rentals at Herc Rentals
Whether crews need to move product in a warehouse, perform ceiling repairs or build a bridge, Herc Rentals has the scissor lift rental you need. We offer a variety of compact electric, electric, and rough terrain scissor lift models from leading manufacturers, including multiple Genie scissor lift sizes, ensuring superior quality and reliable performance.
All our rental equipment receives comprehensive maintenance so it’s in peak condition and ready to work at your site, saving you the hassle and costs of regular maintenance that comes with equipment ownership. We’ll even coordinate delivery of the scissor lift to and from your project sites, freeing your teams to focus on what they do best.
Explore our broad selection of aerial solutions, including scissor lifts, or give us a call at 888-777-2700 to discuss options with an expert today.
