Start with the tools and their use

List the tools that need air and which will run at the same time. Include the required pressure and airflow from their documentation if available. Explain whether the work is intermittent, spread across a shift or expected to continue for long periods.

For work moving around a site, describe each intended operating position and the air-line route to the tools. Ask how positioning or relocation would be managed for the proposed equipment. The delivery arrangement, compressor position and point where air is used are separate parts of the brief.

Discuss a suitable outdoor position

Diesel equipment must not be treated as an indoor air-supply solution simply because the tools are inside. Describe the proposed outdoor position, nearby doors, windows and air intakes, and refer the arrangement to the responsible site team. Do not run an engine in an enclosed space.

Include ground conditions, pedestrian routes and access for inspection or refuelling. Explain any site restrictions on engine use and any written noise requirements. Ask for the proposed equipment’s operating and siting instructions to be reviewed before the installation is agreed.

Agree fuel and handover arrangements

Give the expected hours of use and who will manage fuel on site. Ask which fuel is specified, what the hire quote includes and how refuelling, storage and spill arrangements will be handled. Avoid estimating consumption from a different machine or an unrelated job.

For delivery and collection, provide the entrance, unloading space and site contact. Road charging or emission-zone checks concern the delivery vehicle and route; they do not determine whether the compressor itself is suitable for the job. Agree the equipment position and the transport plan separately.

Useful details for your enquiry

Work to supply
Tool specifications, simultaneous use, working pressure and operating hours.
Proposed position
Outdoor space, nearby openings, ground conditions and air-line route.
Site responsibilities
Fuel arrangements, site restrictions, receiving contact and collection access.

Hire questions

Can diesel hire be considered without grid power?

Yes. Explain that a suitable electrical supply is unavailable and describe the outdoor position and application. Equipment suitability, transport and timing still need to be discussed.

Can the compressor run inside while supplying indoor tools?

Do not plan to run a diesel engine in an enclosed space. Discuss a suitable outdoor position and air-line arrangement with the responsible site team, or explore an electric option with its own installation assessment.

Is fuel included in the hire?

Ask for the quotation to state the fuel arrangements, equipment supplied and responsibilities during the hire. Include expected operating hours so those arrangements can be discussed for the actual job.