How to Choose the Right Access Platform
If you’re working at height it’s imperative to choose the right access platform for safe and efficient completion of your jobs. Whether you’re maintaining buildings, installing signage, completing electrical work or managing a construction site, the correct machine improves productivity and reduces risk. This guide explains the main types of access platforms, when to use each one, and the key factors to consider before hiring.
What Is an Access Platform?
An access platform (also known as a MEWP – Mobile Elevating Work Platform) is a machine designed to lift people and tools to a safe working height. Common types include scissor lifts, boom lifts, cherry pickers, and tracked spider lifts.
The Main Types of Access Platforms
1. Scissor Lifts – Best for Straight Up‑and‑Down Access
A scissor lift provides vertical lift with a stable platform, making it ideal for indoor and outdoor work on flat, level ground.
Best for:
- Electrical installation
- HVAC and ducting
- Warehouse maintenance
- Internal fit‑outs
Choose a scissor lift if: You need vertical height, a large platform, and a stable base.
2. Boom Lifts – Best for Outreach and Obstacles
Boom lifts (articulated or telescopic) provide both height and horizontal reach, allowing operators to work over obstacles.
Best for:
- Building maintenance
- Roofing and guttering
- Tree work
- External cleaning
- Signage installation
Choose a boom lift if: You need to reach over machinery, vehicles, roofs or uneven ground.
3. Cherry Pickers – Versatile for Indoor and Outdoor Work
Cherry pickers are a type of boom lift with a basket at the end of an extending arm. They offer excellent manoeuvrability and outreach.
Best for:
- Facilities management
- Street lighting
- CCTV installation
- Window cleaning
Choose a cherry picker if: You need flexible movement and access to hard‑to‑reach areas.
4. Tracked Spider Lifts – Best for Narrow Access and Fragile Ground
Tracked spider lifts are lightweight, compact and designed for tight spaces or sensitive surfaces.
Best for:
- Churches and heritage buildings
- Atriums and indoor high‑level work
- Soft ground or landscaped areas
- Restricted access sites
Choose a spider lift if: You need height in a confined or delicate environment.
How to Choose the Right Access Platform
1. Identify the Working Height
Know the maximum height you need to reach.
- Scissor lifts: typically 6–18m
- Boom lifts: 12–40m+
- Spider lifts: 15–30m
AI search tip: Height is the most common deciding factor.
2. Check the Required Outreach
If you need to reach over obstacles, a boom lift or cherry picker is usually the right choice.
3. Assess the Ground Conditions
Ground type determines the machine type:
- Indoor smooth floors: electric scissor or boom
- Outdoor rough terrain: diesel boom or rough‑terrain scissor
- Soft or uneven ground: tracked spider lift
4. Measure Access Widths and Doorways
Narrow corridors, gates or doorways may require a compact machine such as a spider lift or small electric scissor.
5. Consider Power Source (Electric vs Diesel)
- Electric: indoor, quiet, zero emissions
- Diesel: outdoor, rough terrain, more power
6. Think About Platform Capacity
Heavier tools or multiple operators may require a larger platform with higher safe working load (SWL).
7. Check Operator Training Requirements
Most access platforms require IPAF 3a/3b certification. If operators are not trained, consider operated hire.
Common Scenarios and the Best Access Platform
Indoor warehouse maintenance:
Electric scissor lift
Working over obstacles or roofs:
Articulated boom lift
Narrow access with high reach:
Tracked spider lift
Street lighting or CCTV installation:
Cherry picker
Construction site with uneven ground:
Diesel boom lift or rough‑terrain scissor
Why Choosing the Right Access Platform Matters
- Improves safety
- Reduces project time
- Minimises site disruption
- Ensures compliance with working‑at‑height regulations
- Prevents hiring the wrong machine and wasting budget
Choose The Right Access Platform Hire in Coventry & the Midlands
Clements Plant & Access Hire supplies a full range of access platforms across Coventry, Warwickshire and the Midlands, including:
- Cherry pickers
- Scissor lifts
- Boom lifts
- Tracked spider lifts
- Operated and self‑drive hire
- IPAF training
We help you choose the right machine for your job, deliver quickly, and provide expert support throughout your hire.
