A good hire enquiry gives the supplier enough information to recommend a machine without guessing. The most useful details are application, required airflow, pressure, number of simultaneous tools, location, start date and hire duration.
Key points
- Know your airflow and pressure
- Confirm power source and site access
- Allow for hose length and air treatment
- Clarify transport, fuel and return terms
The information that gets a better quote
A useful enquiry states the work, location, start date, duration, tool count, airflow, pressure and whether delivery is required. For industrial work, include connection size, air-quality requirements, expected operating hours and whether the compressor is supporting production-critical equipment.
Photographs of the connection point, access path and work area can save time on complicated jobs. Confirm whether the supplier expects you to provide fuel, power, lifting equipment or a licensed towing vehicle.
How to specify the job
Start with the equipment or process that will consume the air. Record the number of tools that may run at the same time, each tool's required airflow, and the highest operating pressure. For industrial temporary-air jobs, also note required air quality, duty cycle, connection size and whether the process can tolerate interruption.
Airflow, pressure and operating margin
Compressor capacity is usually described by airflow and pressure. In Australia you will commonly see airflow in CFM or m³/min and pressure in PSI or bar. The compressor must meet both requirements at the point of use. Long hose runs, fittings, filters and simultaneous demand can reduce effective performance, so a practical sizing margin is useful.
What to ask the hire supplier
Machine
Confirm rated free-air delivery, working pressure, fuel or electrical requirements and whether the exact model may vary.
Accessories
Ask about hoses, manifolds, aftercoolers, dryers, filtration, receivers, fittings and any tool-specific accessories.
Logistics
Confirm towing or delivery, access, placement, refuelling, collection, operating hours and any site induction requirements.
Safety
Follow the supplier's risk assessment and operating manual. Verify hose, coupling and accessory pressure ratings.
Use the sizing calculator
If your application is based on pneumatic tools, our calculator can total approximate airflow and suggest a compressor class. It is a planning tool only; final selection should be confirmed against the actual equipment specifications.
Open compressor calculator