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Essential equipment you need when starting on site

Before the first foundation is poured or the first brick is laid, getting your site set up correctly is one of the most important, and most overlooked, stages of any construction project. From securing the perimeter to keeping your team comfortable and compliant, here's a practical walk through of the plant and non-mechanical equipment and essential equipment you need when starting on site. All you'll need to get phase one off the ground.

Security Fencing

The very first thing to go up on any new site should be your perimeter fencing. This isn't just about protecting your equipment, it's a legal requirement. Site fencing hire keeps the public safe from hazards, deters theft and vandalism, and demonstrates to regulators and clients alike that you're running a professional, safety-conscious operation.

Heras fence panels are the industry standard for temporary perimeter security, offering a robust and flexible solution that can be configured around almost any site boundary. For access points, you'll need to consider both pedestrian and vehicle gate options - the right combination depends on your traffic volumes and delivery schedule. Barriers and crowd control equipment round out a complete perimeter setup, particularly on sites close to the public.

• Heras fence panels

• Pedestrian gates

• Vehicle gates

• Site barriers

Storage & Welfare

Health and safety law is clear: workers must have access to adequate welfare facilities. Beyond legal compliance, getting your welfare provision right from the outset directly impacts productivity. A team that's comfortable, warm, and well-equipped works better and stays safer.

Welfare units combine rest space, drying facilities, and sometimes basic kitchen amenities into a single portable building. For larger sites or longer-term projects, dedicated canteens and site offices create a proper operational hub. Storage containers, meanwhile, are indispensable for securing tools, materials, and documentation against theft and the elements.

• Welfare units

• Canteens

• Site offices

• Storage containers

Site Toilets

Adequate sanitation is a non-negotiable legal requirement, and it's more nuanced than many site managers expect. The number of toilet facilities required scales with your workforce, and you'll need to think about accessibility from the very beginning.

Portable chemical toilets for hire are the go-to for remote or early-stage sites, but hot and cold water options, mains-connected units, and disabled-access facilities should all be factored into your welfare plan. Getting sanitation right from day one also reduces time lost as workers leave site to find alternatives - a surprisingly significant drag on productivity when tracked over the course of a project.

• Portable chemical toilets

• Hot & cold water units

• Mains-connected options

• Disabled access toilets

Skips & Waste Management

Waste management is one of those areas where under-planning causes disproportionate disruption. Getting the right skip configuration early, and having a clear waste disposal strategy, keeps your site clean, safe, and compliant with waste carrier regulations.

Skip sizes range from compact 4-yard units suitable for smaller clearances right up to 40-yard options for major demolition or groundwork phases. Roll-on/roll-off (RORO) containers in the 20–40 yard range are ideal where high volumes of material need to be moved quickly. For sites with restricted access or bulk soil and aggregate removal, hoppers, chutes, and grab hire services provide practical alternatives to traditional skip delivery.

• 4–40 yard skips

• 20–40 yard RORO

• Hoppers & chutes

• Grab hire

• Muck away

Tree Trunk Guards

Retained trees on or adjacent to a construction site are both an asset and a responsibility. Damage to root systems or trunks during groundwork can have long-term consequences and can expose you to planning penalties if protected trees are harmed.

Trunk Protecta® guards are designed for trees with trunks between 100cm and 160cm in diameter, providing a robust physical barrier against abrasion and impact from vehicles and plant machinery. Available in 1.2m and 1.8m heights and finished in high-visibility orange, they're fully compliant with BS5837:2012 - the standard governing trees in relation to design, demolition, and construction.

• Trunk Protecta® system

• 1.2m & 1.8m heights

•  Hi-vis orange

• BS5837:2012 compliant

Ground Protection

Heavy plant machinery and repeated vehicle movements can quickly destroy grass, compact soil, and destabilise soft ground, creating safety hazards and costly reinstatement work. Ground guards for hire are the simple, practical solution.

Standard panels measure 2.4m x 1.2m and connect together with joiner clips to create a continuous, load-bearing surface across virtually any terrain. They protect the ground below while providing stable traction for plant machines and site traffic - reducing the risk of vehicles becoming bogged down and minimising the footprint of damage once the project is complete.

• 2.4m x 1.2m ground guards

• Joiner clip connection

• Suitable for soft ground

Fuel & Water Bowsers

Sites without reliable access to mains water or a nearby fuel supplier face a hidden productivity drain. Every trip off-site to refuel or collect water costs time…and time costs money. Bowsers solve this problem by bringing the supply directly to your site and machines.

Water bowsers (non-drinking) are available in a range of capacities and can be towed between locations as the site evolves. Bunded fuel tanks store diesel and other fuels safely on-site, fully compliant with environmental regulations. Bunded tanks are double-walled by design, providing a secondary containment layer that protects against spills and reduces your environmental liability.

• Fuel bowsers

• Water bowsers

• Bowser pressure washers

• Bunded fuel tank box cubes

• Diesel trolley

Tower & Site Lighting

As the days shorten through autumn and winter, or where your site is naturally shaded, adequate lighting stops being a comfort and becomes a safety imperative. Poor visibility on site is a leading cause of accidents - and extended working hours are often essential to keep projects on programme.

Mobile 9m tower lights can illuminate large areas of a site from a single unit, making them ideal for open groundwork zones or access roads. Floodlights provide targeted illumination for specific work areas, while portable LED lights offer flexible, low-energy solutions for confined spaces, inside structures, or areas where power access is limited.

• 9m tower lights

• Floodlights

• Portable LED lights

Plant for Groundwork & Materials Handling

The plant specification for any site depends heavily on the scope of groundwork involved - but for most construction projects starting from scratch, a core set of machines underpins almost everything that happens in phase one.

• Excavators are the workhorse of early-stage groundworks, handling trenching, bulk excavation and grading.

• Dumpers move spoil and material efficiently around the site.

• Telehandlers come into their own as the build progresses, lifting steel, bricks, and scaffolding to height with a reach and capacity that forklifts simply can't match.

• Rollers are essential for compacting sub-base and fill material ahead of paving or foundation work.

Beyond these core machines, an extensive range of specialist plant is available depending on your project's specific requirements.

Hire Today with FTH

FTH Hire Group supplies plant machinery and tools to trade professionals and home DIYers across the South East of England, Scotland, and Wales. Our hire hubs are in Farnborough, Farnham, Basingstoke, Guildford, Reading, Maidstone, Horsham, Worthing, Southampton, Airdrie, Bridgend, Cardiff, Cwmbran, Newport, Pontypridd, and Swansea.

Many of our most in-demand products, including a wide selection of plant tools, are part of our Core 80 range, held in stock across our network and ready to hire with no waiting around. And with our online hire platform, booking couldn't be simpler - choose your equipment, select collection or delivery, and you're sorted.