Gas Detector Hire: How It Works and When It Beats Buying
Not every job justifies buying a gas detector. A one-off confined space entry, a short contract, a new starter waiting for their own monitor, or a fleet of instruments away for calibration can all leave a gap in your gas detection. Gas detector hire fills that gap. This guide explains how gas detector hire in the UK typically works, when hiring beats buying, and what to check before you rent.
How gas detector hire works
Hiring a portable gas detector is straightforward. You choose the type of instrument you need, it is supplied calibrated and ready to use with a calibration certificate, and you return it at the end of the hire period. At 7 Solutions, our portable gas detectors are available on weekly hire.
The main hire options are:
Single gas monitor hire: for a single known hazard, such as H2S, CO or oxygen
4 gas monitor hire: the standard confined space monitor, measuring O2, LEL, CO and H2S
Multi-gas monitor hire: for applications that need additional or different sensors
PID hire: for volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
You can see all of our hire instruments on our gas detector hire page.
When gas detector hire beats buying
Short or one-off projects
If you only need gas detection for a few days or weeks, hiring avoids paying for an instrument that then sits unused. It also avoids the ongoing cost of calibration and maintenance on equipment you rarely use.
Covering instruments away for calibration
Most manufacturers recommend that gas detectors are calibrated at least every six months. While your own instruments are being calibrated, a hired monitor keeps your team working safely. This is one of the most common reasons customers use 4 gas monitor hire.
Specialist instruments
Instruments such as PIDs and multi-gas monitors are more specialised than everyday single gas monitors. Hiring lets you use the right instrument for a specific job, or try one before deciding whether to buy.
Peaks in workload
If a project temporarily increases the number of people working in confined spaces or hazardous areas, hire lets you scale up without permanently expanding your fleet.
When buying makes more sense
If your team uses gas detectors every day, buying is usually better value over time. Owned instruments are always on hand, can be configured to your requirements, and can be supported with regular calibration. Browse our gas detectors for sale, including 4 gas and single gas monitors.
Many organisations use a mix: they own instruments for routine work and hire for short projects, specialist tasks or calibration cover.
What to check before you hire
Which gases your risk assessment identifies, so the sensors match the hazards
Whether you need a pumped instrument for pre-entry sampling of confined spaces
How long you need the instrument, bearing in mind hire is weekly
That users are trained to use the monitor, carry out bump tests and respond to alarms
That a bump test is carried out before each day's use, as most manufacturers recommend
Our article on calibration and bump testing explains why daily bump testing matters even with a freshly calibrated instrument.
Gas detector hire and calibration from one supplier
Because we also calibrate and service portable gas detectors, we can provide a hire instrument while your own monitors are with us. Our manufacturer-trained engineers work on instruments from Honeywell (BW and RAE), Crowcon, Dräger, MSA, Industrial Scientific, WatchGas, GMI, Oldham and more. Calibration prices (plus VAT) are £40 for single gas, £50 for 4-gas, £90 for multi-gas and £140 for PID instruments. Find out more on our calibration and service page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the hired gas detector calibrated?
Yes. Every hire instrument is supplied with a calibration certificate.
What is the minimum hire period?
Our portable gas detectors are hired on a weekly basis.
Which gas detector should I hire for confined space work?
In most cases a 4 gas monitor measuring O2, LEL, CO and H2S, but your risk assessment should confirm the hazards.
Can I hire a detector while mine is being calibrated?
Yes. This is one of the most common reasons customers hire. Get in touch to arrange both together.
Arrange gas detector hire
To hire a gas detector, call 01489 326031 or email info@7solutions.co.uk.
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